LT 15 tracking and blade tension

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

I started milling with a Lt 15 in 2010. In 2015 I invested in a Lt 35. Basically the same head so I am familiar with this mill. I am currently helping a friend with his LT 15. During the summer it was throwing bands off every few cuts. He had hastily set it up. I spent a day reworking the set up and doing a full alignment. This mill sees very little use. Yesterday we sawed a large W.O. with no trouble at all. After lunch it threw 2 bands in three cuts??? Before I dive in and start adjusting tracking, I have a question with the band tension. When I put a band on and tension it, it takes very little effort to get it snugged against the factory stop. Both of the mills I have experience with take much more effort. I would like to address the obvious or simple problems first. Could the lack of tension be the issue? If so is heat causing it to happen after several hours of cutting? I don't run this mill (neither does he) more than half a dozen times a year so it seems we are always starting over. Any advice would be much appreciated. If it were my mill I would dig right in but it is not. Thank you for any ideas!! 

[John S]

Contact Marty Parsons at Parsons Woodmizer in Shade Gap, PA.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

Thank you John. I will likely contact Carolina Wood Mizer where all of these saws came from when I get back over there mid week. I felt sure it was a tracking issue but the ease of tensioning the blade has me scratching my head. I wonder if the factory stop could be in the wrong position.( from factory or from others helping) Hate to overlook something obvious and waste time. Thanks again for the response!

[Machinebuilder]

if you pluck the blade does it ring of thump?

I think on the newer LT15 the tensioning is different than on my old one, I tend to pluck the band to see if it sounds right.
A musician could probably tell you what not to listen for.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

Good idea Dave. I am now at the property where my mill is and I will definitely give that a try. Musician I am not but Ill check my tension for comparison!! 

[barbender]

Where did he get his bands? They sound like they might be too long to tension properly. I've had that happen when I got bands from local band sellers.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

Thats exactly what it seems like Barbender! The bands are Woodmizer bought with the mill. The mill is 4 to 5 years old and we were using bands 12 and 13 out of the original 15 bought with the mill. VERY little use. 

[jpassardi]

If they're WM blades I suspect someone changed the adjustment setting on the tensioner. I have an older LT15 that has a thread in tensioner with an indicator. The newer ones have a lever with an eccentric so I'm of no help. I'd check the manual to see how to properly adjust it or call WM.

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

Thank you for the response! This is just a bolt that the tension block snugs up to. Ive looked mine over and will get his manual out next week. Then Ill call Tyler at woodmizer Carolina if Im still not sure. Im trying to teach myself to keep it simple and start with the obvious