Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Mar 08, 2004 07:16pm | #1

   Matt,

   You'll probably find what you need here: http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/Publications.asp?ID=222

   Half way down the page there's a list of Craftsman bandsaw manuals, including several for the 12 inch machines.  I never saw a machine that didn't have some sort of tensioning mechanism, but it may be uncalibrated on a small machine.

   John W.

1. 
   tv190s | Mar 08, 2004 08:39pm | #2

   Thanks John.

   I may have misled you, it has a tensioner, just no way to adjust the

   tensioner. You just move the lever so its tensioned and thats it.

   My model number is 113-24261, which I don't see in this list. The saws

   listed here in these manuals show a knob on top of the saw which I would

   presume you can dial in more or less tension. Mine doesn't have that knob, nor does it have a hole in the outer cover where a knob would

   have gone (if it was missing.....). The spring is of course under

   the cover beneath there, just no way to adjust its pressure.

   I'm just wondering how you would ajust that tension to be more or less.

   Maybe it doesn't have a way to do that. Maybe my saw is a basic model

   that never got that feature?

   I'll look at these manuals and see if they say anything.....

   Matt

   Edited 3/8/2004 12:51 pm ET by campbem

1. 
   tv190s | Mar 08, 2004 09:04pm | #3

   Ha! Found it in the 1966 Craftsman Catalog! The ad says it has

   an automatic blade tensioner. Which is about what I expected it

   might have since there was no knob. OK, atleast I know what I"m

   dealing with. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of

   these manuals.

   Matt

2. 
   JohnWW | Mar 08, 2004 09:28pm | #4

   Matt,

   I'm not familiar with a Craftsman saw that tensions that way, and the manuals on the Old Woodworking Machinery site both show saws with conventional knob type adjusters.

   I would guess that the lever on your machine lifts or compresses a shaft that connects to the spring that actually tensions the blade.  There are a few possibilities for changing the tension with this type of a set up. 

   One possibility is that the shaft is threaded and there is a nut on the spring end that can be run up and down the threaded shaft to change the compression of the spring when the lever is thrown. 

   A second possibility, that is used on a number of saws, is that the linkage to the spring is threaded into the lever assembly and the tension is changed by simply rotating the lever around the shaft connection.

   Here is another source for information, copied from the OWWM site:

   Source of Manuals

   Copies of manuals for many vintage Craftsman machines with model numbers beginning 103. and 113. are available by emailing [email protected]. Include model number and your mailing address in the request. They may reply saying they have no info for your particular model number, but watch your mailbox. Sometimes they claim that, then mail it.

   You can also find diagrams and parts list for some Craftsman machines from the Sears Web Site.  Just put in your model number into the search box and search.John W. 

   I checked the Sears site and they do have an illustration of your machine but the the drawing was so poorly reproduced that I couldn't make out any useful details.

   Your machine almost has to have some way of adjusting the tension, I'd pull off the upper wheel, if needed, to get a good view of the tensioner and the answer to how the tensioner works will then, most likely, be obvious.

   John W.

   Edited 3/8/2004 1:46:05 PM ET by JohnW

2. 
   DaveMartins | Mar 09, 2004 05:42am | #5

   I don't mean to jump this thread but I just wanted to say thanks for the Craftsman info.  I too have a Craftsman bandsaw and one of the links actually had the manual I was looking for.  As for a bit of advice using these old saws it to buy a spindle sander and keep 1/in away from your line.  Its been the only way I can successfully cut with mine.

   Cheers,

   Dave

1. 
   DaveMartins | Mar 09, 2004 05:50pm | #6

   Opps, I mean 1/8in away.

   Dave