LT15 Wide hydraulic blade tensioner

[booman]

Has anyone tried building a hydraulic blade tensioner for the newer model LT15?  This model has the cam over tensioner.

[ladylake]

 I'd go with acme tread and a heavy spring that has some give to it.   Steve

[Percy]

Sounds to me like you are designing a tensioner from scratch for your LT15 wide. Just a thought here but the airbag tensioner on my LT70 is pretty much flawless. Perhaps incorporate the airbag with the cam system already in place?? Air bag tensioners are pretty much set and forget compared to my old Lt40 tensioner. Just a thought.....

[Magicman]

A replacement one of  these  might work.

[booman]

I was thinking of keeping the cam over lever but add a pressure gauge into the tensioning system.   Not sure if I would need to add a small hydraulic ram with a gauge on it.

[Crusarius]

Just out of curiosity, whats wrong with the cam over tensioner?

[booman]

Really, nothing.   I like how quick it is and I have gotten used to the feel of what is the right tension.   Just wondering about repeating the tension exactly.

[Southside]

I have the same system on my 35 and hardly every adjust it, works great.  

[booman]

I see the hydraulic systems being cranked tight with a wrench of sorts and to loosen do just the opposite.   Looks slow.  I would like the accuracy of a hydraulic system with the speed of the cam over tightener.

[Crusarius]

My hydraulic one works great but it is screw it in and screw it out. best part of it is having the gauge. I do constantly adjust while sawing. its surprising how much a band will stretch in the first 4' of a cut. I can lose 500 psi on the gauge almost immediately.

[jpassardi]

On my LT15 there is a rubber bushing that performs the same function as a spring. I would think yours is the same. The intent is to maintain nearly the same load (blade tension) as the blade expands and contracts with temperature change. It's a proper design, I would recommend not changing it.

[booman]

I do like my present system, just thinking about adding a gauge.   Probably need hydraulics of some sort to do that.

[Crusarius]

Fish scale?

[Magicman]

Yup, Spring Scale LINK is what I was thinking.  It could be added in parallel to the actual blade tension.

[booman]

MM, I think I know what you are talking about.   Would that be accurate?   I guess as long as you go back to the same reading each time, it would be used as a reference point.

[Magicman]

Yes, I noticed that Crusarius mentioned fish scale last night which was along the same line that I was thinking.

It would not matter what the scale read because you are only looking for a constant and reliable benchmark.  You just need a movable leg to attach to and a stationary anchor point.