Twisted power feed chain

[WV Sawmiller]

  I did my 900 hour service on my WM LT35 this afternoon and had to adjust the chain the power feed runs on a little. I had to tighten it a couple of turns to raise it about 1/2" to keep it in spec listed in the manual. I noticed the chain had about a quarter turn of twist in it. Have any of you noticed anything like this on your feed chain or do you have any idea what is causing it? The mill seems to run fine on it but I just never noticed a twist in it before.

[Southside]

Can you turn the chrome end retainer enough to straighten it out?

[WV Sawmiller]

  I can turn it enough to straighten the middle but then it is twisted at the end next to the connector for several feet.

[Magicman]

I am assuming that your carriage rolls freely from end to end with the power feed disconnected?

Your "twisted" description indicates that the chain is stretched and it is probably wearing the feed sprockets a bit but since it was not causing an obvious problem, I would continue to use it.  When the time comes, replace the chain and sprockets.

[Sawmill Man]

Sounds like he has a kink in his chain, dropping a heavy slab down the side could do it. Have had it happen a time or two. I bought a roll of chain and just replaced the kinked part.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I think Sawmill Man gets the award as the chain was stretched on my log cabin job by a tractor fork and possibly by a big poplar log that was rolled off the side - intentionally on to the forks of the waiting tractor only she backed up at the last minute and dropped the log.