Trouble sawing logs on a taper

[ForestMan]

My mill was working fine a few weeks ago.  Now, when I started it up tonight, not sure why, but it is sawing at a taper.  It starts at one end fine at one inch, but the other end is less than a quarter inch?????  Anybody know what is going on?  Could it be the blade?  Off level?  It got too dark, so I could not check for level.  What could cause that?  Thanks for any advice.

[Cypress Sam]

What make and model mill?

[ForestMan]

I have a Woodmizer LT10.

[hackberry jake]

My guess would be the cant raising up, or faulty toe board

[ForestMan]

I only have one clamp and the log tends to drift from side to side while cutting.  But I haven't seen it lift up.  I'm sawing large mesquite logs, pretty heavy.

[bandmiller2]

Try changing the band before making any adjustments. Frank C.

[Cypress Sam]

My old lumbermate had a spring loaded counter balance on the head and when the break that held it started to get worn or when I did not tighten it enough would let the head rise up during the cut.

[Cypress Sam]

I think Hackberry is talking about the cant bowing up or doun due to stress.

[ForestMan]

Tomorrow when it is light I'll replace the band and see if that fixes it.

[redbeard]

This worked pretty good when a beam or cant keeps wanting to move. I pinned the end with a mount and put a ratchet strap on it.

 

[tyb525]

I am 99% sure the clamp that holds the head of the mill in place needs adjusting.

That same thing was happening on my mill. You need to make sure the nut & bolt on the left side of the clamp is present (mine was missing!) and tight, very tight. Then adjust the clamp handle so it is fairly tight when you engage it (pressing downwards). Not too tight or you will bend the handle over time (I did that...) but tight enough to keep the head from drifting up or down. You may need to tighten it periodically as time goes on.

[ForestMan]

So the clamp that keeps the head from moving up and down to lock in to a certain cut?

[ladylake]

 As Frank said, try a different blade first.  Check the set and sharpness on the one that's doing it.      Steve

[dgdrls]

As a new LT10 owner I have a keen interest in this.

If the mast head clamp is slipping wouldn't you should see a difference
on the cut gauge from start to finish 

best
DGDrls

[tyb525]

ForestMan, yes that clamp. I saw a difference on the height gauge when it happened to me.

The single clamp supplied with the LT10 is hardly enough to keep anything clamped down, you have to pay very close attention to it while sawing because it can and will work loose eventually. I don't think that would cause you to cut tapered board though, unless you were down to a pretty small size cant.

I would check the mast clamp, along with the other suggestions.

[ForestMan]

I put on a new blade and that seems to have fixed it.  Problem solved thanks to FF members.  Thanks everyone!