Picked up the LT28 Today

[Qweaver]

We made the trip to Shade Gap to pickup the new LT28 today.  Marty spent a couple hours showing us how the machine should be operated.  I've just got to say that Marty really knows how these machines work and he's a great teacher.  
We got home about 6:00 pm and got the machine setup beside our log pile ready to start sawing early tomorrow morning.  This machine is a huge step-up from the LT15.  I'm anxious to get started and I'll know much more about the saw by Miller Time tomorrow.
Quinton

[Tom]

Now you've done it.

You're into big-time saw milling now. 

[P.A. RESHARP]

Congratulations  Qweaver        P.A.

[Magicman]

Congratulations.  I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the "Easter Bunny" at work.....

Happy sawing......

[JBritt]

That's awesome, can't wait til I get a mill.

[Qweaver]

We sawed for 7 hours today and cut 1463 BdFt.  We also wasted at least an hour of that time getting everything organised.  We could have cut for another two hours but the 85 deg temps and sunny day took a toll on us old folks so we packed it in and popped a few cold Buds at 5:00 pm.
The saw ran great and I used the log turner a lot.  I love the toe boards.  I'm now firmly convinced that up grading from my LT15 was a good move.  The biggest log that we sawed was 26" dia and the turner handled it easily.  The turner is not always perfect but with one re-grasp it always worked.  I've sawed many logs with my trusty LT15 but for the large amount of sawing that I do, this is the saw that I should have had from the start.  I like it.
I have some pictures but the Gallery is off line so I will try later

[Busy Beaver Lumber]

Congrats on the new mill qweaver. Quite an impressive output for your first day on the new mill. I just picked up my new LT-10 this week and will be putting it together tomorrow. Already had a call today from a guy that heard I got the mill and wants me to cut up some walnut from his property to make a dining room table out of. Best of luck with the new machine.

Fred

[Wintergreen Mountain]

Congrats on the new mill.

LEON

[schakey]

Ok Qweaver if you want to pratice on some wp just come over to Wayne county
Wv

[gator gar]

Man..............Congratulations on that new mill. Mine will be ready and delivered on the 23rd of this month. I'm working a flange inspection turnaround, for the next 30 days straight. I told my wife that she was going to have to take the warranty walkthrough with the salesman and pick my mill up for me. I think she is a little intimidated with it, but she will do fine.

[Qweaver]

I do have a couple questions for other LT28 users.  When Marty was demonstrating the mill it jumped out of "gear" a few times.  He adjusted the actuator link to put a little more tension on the belt and that fixed it.  It started doing that again yesterday and I adjusted it some more and that worked again.  I'm just a little concerned that the belt tension would need to be adjusted two days in a row.  I'll take a closer look at this mechanism to see why this happens.  This saw head is very much the same as my LT15 and I never had this problem with it. 
Also, we sawed all day with one blade yesterday and it still looks and cuts OK.  I'm accustomed to being able to "feel" how the blade is cutting with the manual feed LT15.  So the power feed LT28 is a whole new thing for me.  We are going to re-saw/edge this morning and I will change the blade just to see the difference.
Quinton

[Jim_Rogers]

As you know, one way to tell whether or not your blade is dull is by looking at the lumber. Or course if it's wavy, it's dull.
And as you probably know, watch the blade as it leave the log, if it drops down it's dull and riding up and over the log, some. And if it raises up it's dull, most likely on one side, and it's diving.
Also, with a power feed mill, you can watch the feed rate knob. If you're sawing along at a feed rate that you like with a sharp blade on, look at the knob and see what position it is in. When you get sawing some and you notice that you can't turn the knob up to the point any more without the engine sounding like it's working harder to the lumber is wavy then the blade is dull.

Next, I have a tach on my mill engine to watch the rpm while sawing. You can use that to tell when the blade is dull, when you are at the same regular rpm speed and the feed rate knob isn't in the right spot (as it is with a sharp blade) the blade is dull.

Each machine takes some getting use to and you'll soon know when your blades are dull using this machine.

I think decided when my blade was dull was one of the hardest things for me to learn when I began sawing logs. I broke many a blade by going to far.... or sawing with it for too long.

I'm happy you're happy with your upgrade...

Jim Rogers

[timberjackrob]

qweaver,congrats on the lt28 ive had mine about 9 months,the first thing i replaced was the log turner winch with a 12v 2000lb winch.i bought a cheap one because i didnt know if it would work,about 80 bucks out of the northern catalog. it works great i have turned some very big logs with it.just ran a pigtail with a plug from the battery and put aplug on the other end going to the controller the controler handle even fits in the tube on the hitch so its easy to use.i have never had a problem with the mill staying in gear must be out of adjustment

[John S]

Quinton,
I am in the process of selling my LT-15 and upgrading to the LT-28 and am interested in your experience with it jumping out of gear.  I have not had any problems with the 15 and concerned that there might be a problem with the 28's.
John

[pineywoods]

Jim rogers mentioned installing a tachometer. This is something I highly recommend and it's cheep  cheep, $10. Buy yourself a cheap bicycle speedometer. Runs off and internal button battery, no mods to the mill whatso ever. Pickup is a small magnet glued to one of the bandwheels. (ductape?) Especially with the low horse power mills, a dull blade will show a noticeable drop in rpm.

[Jim_Rogers]

I got my tach from a Kohler engine dealer. But I believe WM now sells them. It works by wrapping the pick up wire around a spark plug wire and the other wire is a ground, battery inside, still working after years and years..... (now the thing will die because I mentioned it)....with my luck.....

Shows engine hours when engine is off....

[Qweaver]

Hey John,  The belt tension must have just been a little low because no further problem with it today.  I really like the saw.  We sawed another 1000 BdFt this morning.  I am having a little problem with the log turner trying to lift the far end of the log instead of turning it.  WM sells some rollers that will likely solve that problem.  I'm ordering them today.
BTW, I changed the blade after re-sawing this AM and I could not tell much difference between the used and the new.   Marty sawed at least part of a log checking out the saw, then we sawed one for the demo and then I sawed 1500 BdFt  and it was still sawing OK.

Quinton

[timberjackrob]

qweaver where do the rollers go how much do they cost? ihave trouble too uasually on the second turn the log wants to climb on top of the back supports. i think rollers may be what i need. do they go on top of the back supports like on the bigger mills

[MartyParsons]

The engine drive belts are made out of Kevlar fibers. It takes some time to get the Kevlar streached. In the manual it says check tension at the first 5 hours and then recheck or readjust at 50. ( I think the LT15 is 20 hours).
I have had LT28 owners call on this in the past and every time the drive belt tension solves the issue.
Hope this helps.
Marty
Support rollers 016652  $ 25.00 each
You can also purchase stainless steel covers for log supports to keep lumber stain low. 016798 kit all four for $ 45.00

[Burlkraft]

Congrats Q     

I love my 28. Sounds like you are pretty attached to yours too!