Modification to My Hawk

[Scrappile]

Still getting used to the Hawk saw I purchased in December.  I like simple.  One of the things on the Hawk that I kept looking at and could not see why it was done the way it was done is the tensioning.  Hegner is so simple, so stable, and straightforward.   I love how it works.  So after thinking about it, I made a simple modification to the Hawk.  I set my tension by the feel and sound of the blade.  It is just natural for me.  I think the engineer that designed Hawk's really went overboard.  Keep in mind this is just me, hundreds of Hawk owners like the way it is designed.  I went for the clunky: to simple knob.  Reach back a adjust the tension by turning the little knob.  Seems to work very well, smooth and simple.   Not sure if it will hurt anything, time will tell.

 

[kmmcrafts]

Hmm, well that's just dumb.. now when you break a blade there is no lever at the back that pops up out of place that makes you get up off the chair so you can reach back and pop it back over into place.

Great idea really.. as far as I know the lever action one has always been the design they have used and you're right.. it's over engineered and no reason i can see as to why it's like that.. other than years ago that's how they described how to tension the blade properly.. which was always way off from what they say on the sticker anyway.. at least for me on my saws..

IF you haven't maybe you should post that on the FB Hawk Group.. maybe Bushton will get the hint that we don't like that lever popping up out of place when a blade breaks..

BTW, I looked at a Hawk for sale once where they just threaded a nut on that rod.. I just assumed they lost the actual lever and too cheap to replace it.. now making me wonder if maybe someone did that on purpose

I will say if your front tension cam isn't adjusted properly and or worn out that it'll make that lever pop up and not hold the blade correctly.. not sure if the knob would keep it on tension better or not..That's usually how I learn that I need to adjust that little set screw underneath the upper arm at the front of the saw..

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I can not say if that  is a good idea or not. I am one of those that never touch that cam lever once I had it set. Never seen a need to. My tension is set up front with the blade lever. Now if I use thin blades I adjust the position in the clamps just a tad. That is all it takes to release some tension. Been doing that ever since I owned the saws. Works for me. Good luck with your idea. Hope it does what you are looking for.