Bent backstop - LT40

[JustinW_NZ]

Ok, while sawing yesterday on a 6m long LARGE log we had to shuffle it down the mill slightly after getting it on the mill.
A gentle nudge with the tractor while the roller toe-boards were up looked like the trick...
until a knot in the wood caught and held the most forward (to operator end) of my LT-40 hydraulic backstop.
The customer and tractor operator did like to push hard with his JD tractor  :-\  :'(

Now the backstop is awfully bowed.
So I'm guessing some good heat and a straighten up should be the cure?
Or once stressed just give up and buy a new backstop?

Anyone else care to admit going down this path?

Cheers
Justin

[Dave Shepard]

It is just mild steel, so straighten it if you can and realign. I don't allow anyone near my mill with heavy equipment, I can bend stuff all by myself. :D

[drobertson]

Sounds like a bummer, knots and nubs are a pain for sure, I once had a fellow try to help with the log deck, big cat, knocked the mill off the blocks, turned side ways,  just ugly, all while I was gone, saw it the next day,   Hope you get that rascal back straight soon enough, go slow,    david

[Magicman]

My sawmill 's previous owner was setup at a commercial sawmill operation and sawing cants.  His logs were regularly loaded by the big grapple machines and both of the side supports were bent outward. 

A rosebud and cheater pipe were needed to straighten both of them.

[CalebL]

My sawmill 's previous owner was setup at a commercial sawmill operation and sawing cants.  His logs were regularly loaded by the big grapple machines and both of the side supports were bent outward. 

A rosebud and cheater pipe were needed to straighten both of them.

Was it you or Bibby that made the manual backstops work like the hydraulic ones?  I seem to remember someone saying Woodmizer took a look at it and made a kit to retrofit their mills.  I have been searching for it on Woodmizer's site and on here but can't find it.  I would like to add that to my mill. 

[isawlogs]

 It bent cold, it will bend back cold, take it off , it aint a big job put it under a press and straighten it up, theres no need to heat it, unless you don't want to take it off the mill. Either way you will need to check the square after you're done.

[moandrich]

I always say if it is already broke I can't break it, I would try to straighten.

[Magicman]

CalebL, that was Bibbyman.  He actually invented the 4 powered side supports.

[haywire woodlot]

I'm surprised it bent, I got a little over enthusiastic loading a log with the hoe and tweaked the 2nd log stop once. It broke the weld where the pivot for the logstop attaches to the mono-tube. It was a lot easier to weld that back together than to heat and beat the stop back into square.

[Brucer]

Bibbyman "invented" the "four hydraulic side stops" and it is now available from Wood-Mizer as an option on new mills, or as a retrofit package.

My 2006 mill had that option already installed.

My friend John just showed me his version and as soon as I can get the picture uploaded I'll post it here. It's a heck of a lot simpler .

[petefrom bearswamp]

I agree with Dave Shepard, any breakage on my mill, saw cuts in bad places in steel etc,  is done by the only person I can blame.

[CalebL]

CalebL, that was Bibbyman.  He actually invented the 4 powered side supports.

Do you or anyone else know where I can find it on Woodmizer's site? 

[OneWithWood]

Be sure to check the pin and adjuster thingy also.  If the backstop is bent the holding hardware is probably also tweaked.

I bent the whole shebang turning an oversize log with extensions on the backstop.

[CalebL]

CalebL, that was Bibbyman.  He actually invented the 4 powered side supports.

Do you or anyone else know where I can find it on Woodmizer's site?

I got tired of looking and just called Woodmizer.  You can't find it on their site because it is standard equipment now.  I ordered the kit.  Should be here in a couple of weeks.  Thanks Bibby!