Hyd-Mech H14A - New Blade Break; BLADE TRACKING and ADJUSTMENT

3.3
8. Place the new blade in the carbide guides and then slide the blade over the wheels. The teeth should be pointing
towards the drive side as they pass through the carbide guides.
9. Turn the Blade Tension Switch to TIGHTEN “+ RUN” and leave it in HOLD, to retain the blade lightly on the
wheels.
10. Adjust the blade position on the wheels so that the blade is not crooked on them, and the teeth overhang the front
edge of the wheels.
11. Turn the Blade Tension Switch to “+/RUN”. Close both the idler and drive doors.
12. Turn the Blade Change Mode key switch to the “OFF” position. Start and run the blade for about 20 seconds to
check that the blade is not moving in or out on the blade wheels.
13. STOP the blade, and then turn the blade change key switch to the “ON” position.
14. Open the idler and drive doors to inspect the blade tracking. Refer to the following pages for Blade Tracking Ad-
justments, if necessary.
15. After the required blade tracking is achieved; close both doors, turn the blade change key switch to the “OFF”
position, and then break in the new blade.
NEW BLADE BREAK-IN
To take advantage of the superiority of bi-metal blades, it is critical to properly “break-in” a new blade. The break-in
polishes the new teeth and selectively wears down teeth that may be a bit high so that they do not snag. To “Break-in” a
new blade:
1. Set the blade speed to the value indicated by the Cutting Parameter Chart.
2. Set feed rate to about half the value indicated by the chart.
3. Over a period of several cuts, gradually increase the feed rate to the full value indicated by the chart. The number
of cuts depends on the size and the toughness of the work piece – cut about 60 square inches of mild steel, or
about 30 square inches of stainless steel or tool steel.
If convenient, it is better to break-in a blade on a solid material, rather than on tubes or structurals, but even if break-in
must be performed on structurals do not skip it.
BLADE TRACKING and ADJUSTMENT
First, inspect the blade wheels for wear or damage and repair as required. Blade tracking adjustment should always begin
at the wheel where the tracking is farthest out of specication. Using the instructions below, adjust the worst wheel, jog the
blade, and then check both wheels. Repeat this process until both wheels are within specication: .270” to .290” (6.9mm
to 7.3mm) of tooth overhang from the front of the wheel. Adjustment should not be required unless the wheel is being
replaced. Hyd-Mech service should be contacted before making any adjustments to the wheel position.