John B Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 Thought I was ready to be put out to pasture this arvo. Went to replace the blade in the Ex21, fitted it in the top clamp and I'd be buggered it was to short to fit in the lower clamp. 1st thoughts, " I must of grabbed a broken blade" nope it checked out against another from the packet "Maybe the whole damn packet was short?". Nope it was the same size as an old blade I had handy. Well that was just bloody marvellous, something had to be wrong with the saw, it was all I needed. Then I noticed the tension wheel, arm adjusting wheel's white line had disappeared. Grabbed a tape and sure enough, the front of the arm was 10mm wider apart than then the rear,. I have never had this happen before. The culprit was the Dewalt which I had been using, It's fixed to the same bench. The vibrations must of turned the knob. A sigh of relief, adjust the arms parallel again and of we went. The air was pretty blue by this time scrollingforsanity, bobscroll, OCtoolguy and 5 others 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 Dewalt and an Ex sharing the same bench - always new siblings would mess with each other LOL Reaffirms the old adage, check the simple stuff first, glad you found it John B and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Fengstad Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 I just got a new Seyco and it is sitting beside the Dewalt but not sharing the bench. There is strange noises from the Dewalt everytime I use the Seyco and I had the short blade scar yesterday. Must be sibling rivalry OCtoolguy, Dave Monk and John B 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 Even a bigger "duh", I have, not just once but several times had the short blade scare only to find the quick release tension lever is in the tension position.... this usually happens after I have had a blade break and I am putting in a new blade. John B, Dave Monk and OCtoolguy 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 I have been having the same "short blade" problem with my new to me Hawk. I determined that I still don't quite understand the tension system on the saw. Once I backed off the tension lever, the blades grew about 3/8". Lol. Dave Monk and John B 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 The only thing I don't like about the Hawk is the tension lever at the back. The release at the front works just fine. I purchased a 16VS Hawk a couple of years ago. The previous owner had replaced the lever with a 2" 1/4-20 threaded knob. Not knowing anything about the saw I immediately replaced the knob with the proper wedge and lever. Now, on my 220VS Ultra Hawk I do not use the lever adjuster. The idea is to move it via it's cam action to adjust the blade tension and then rely on the quick release on front to change blades. I find that as I'm scrolling the lever does not remain in place. I have stopped using it. I leave the lever completely forward and set the adjustment by just turning the 1/4-20 rod with my fingers. One set it stays set. I like Hawk's theory with the lever but find it does not work for me. If I am doing something wrong I hope someone will let me know. It is supposed to work but does not for me. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 5 minutes ago, Rockytime said: The only thing I don't like about the Hawk is the tension lever at the back. The release at the front works just fine. I purchased a 16VS Hawk a couple of years ago. The previous owner had replaced the lever with a 2" 1/4-20 threaded knob. Not knowing anything about the saw I immediately replaced the knob with the proper wedge and lever. Now, on my 220VS Ultra Hawk I do not use the lever adjuster. The idea is to move it via it's cam action to adjust the blade tension and then rely on the quick release on front to change blades. I find that as I'm scrolling the lever does not remain in place. I have stopped using it. I leave the lever completely forward and set the adjustment by just turning the 1/4-20 rod with my fingers. One set it stays set. I like Hawk's theory with the lever but find it does not work for me. If I am doing something wrong I hope someone will let me know. It is supposed to work but does not for me. Les, have you ever gone to the Bushton website and watched the video that describes the whole process? I just did it again this morning and it cleared up what I was doing wrong. Now that I understand the whole operation, I no longer have problems with the blades being too short and I am now getting the proper tension on them. I also found out that I was inserting the blades into the holders wrong. Anyway, the lever nearest to the user, (you) works great if everything else is correct. Unless the mechanism is worn out or not functioning correctly. Have you ever put any oil on the lever? The more I find out about this saw and get used to it, the more I like it. I have just finished cutting all the pieces and parts for the jewelry box that I'm making, all on this saw. I love my EX but I'm growing very fond of the Hawk 226 VS Ultra also. I don't see myself ever needing another saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 Thanks Ray. I'll check the Bushton video. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 4 minutes ago, Rockytime said: Thanks Ray. I'll check the Bushton video. I thought I understood the whole thing but after watching the video and listening to somebody here on SSV talk about breaking blades, it all of a sudden hit me that I had the saw adjusted all wrong. No more problems now though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 Glad you managed to find the problem. I think we have all had a dose of the short blades at one time or another. Marg John B and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crupiea Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 I certainly have done this and right away I think the worst that the saw is hard down for heaven knows what. lol I think we all do it at some point. OCtoolguy and John B 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis123 Posted June 11, 2019 Report Share Posted June 11, 2019 I"ve had to adjust my Hawk on occasion for just the opposite reason. Once in a while I find my blades getting too long. Sure enough, a slight adjustment at the back end of the saw solves the problem. John B and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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