Sawmill Alignment & Maintenance and Sawing

Magicman · June 05, 2014, 06:04:36 PM

OK, I realize that normal preventative maintenance and alignment is just business as usual, but I did take the time to detail some sawmill touchup.

First on the list was the side supports. Both were about 1/8" out, so they needed squaring up. I use two sections of 1½" square aluminum tubing across the bed rails.

Over the years I had stretched and compromised the lower bracket on the up/down chain, so it got replaced. The replacement is spring loaded to maintain tension. (note that the powerfeed has been removed)

I had a bearing failure during the Goodwill Sawing trip and only replaced that bearing. Now it was time to do a power feed rebuild.

It got new sprockets and bearings.

It is not wise to replace worn sprockets without also replacing the chain. Mine had stretched well over an inch.

And then do a blade guide alignment. The driven (right) blade guide was 1/16" off, so it got tweaked.

I will be at the sawing location which is ~65 miles from home, at 6:00 tomorrow morning . The sawmill should be ready

POSTON WIDEHEAD · June 05, 2014, 06:12:55 PM

I guess your stars and mill finally aligned and it was time for a make over. :D

Good job and pics too, Lynn.

21incher · June 05, 2014, 06:42:14 PM

Looks like you are now ready for a busy summer. If you ever get tired of sawing I bet you could get a job at Woodmizer.

Darrel · June 05, 2014, 06:53:18 PM

Glad to see that you are a wise man. I've had disastrous results only replacing the sprockets. In just a few hours the new sprockets are worn to match the stretched chain and you are right back where you started.

AnthonyW · June 05, 2014, 08:20:28 PM

About two weeks back I finished up a complete alignment on the ol' LT25. The head was square to the frame but none of the bed rails were level and the backstops were all off. Adjusting the bed rails was a hoot. All the adjusting feet were rusted fast. I ended up taking off all the rails, using a 1 1/2 trailer hitch wrench and completely unscrewing the feet. I only broke one. I cleaned them all up with a wire wheel and chased the threads with a tap and/or die. Then while I had them off, gave them a quick sanding to remove some rust and and over coat of primer and paint.

Once put back together, I promptly milled 500 bdft of EWP, using up 3 blades and ruining a fourth. I'm still not sure what happened to that one. I put the blade on. Tensioned it. Started the motor. Engaged the clutch and sparks came flying out and the tips of all the teeth were gone, without ever having touched the log.

Magicman · June 05, 2014, 08:41:51 PM

I am still wondering why 3 blades for 500 bf of lumber. I certainly have no idea about the 4th, but there was metal involved somewhere. Something should have been shiny.

Sixacresand · June 05, 2014, 08:49:50 PM

Lynn, Wondering if all replacement parts are from Woodmizer or from local bearings/drive supply? BTW, Looks like good PM program.

Chuck White · June 05, 2014, 09:05:29 PM

Looks good Lynn, but I want to offer a suggestion!

Rather than moving the sawhead back and forth to measure from the front and the rear of the BGAT, lay one of your square tubing pieces from one bunk to another then just center the sawhead somewhere in between!

That way you don't have to move the sawhead to measure both ends of the BGAT!

Just speeds things up a little!

Good luck on your sawjob tomorrow!

AnthonyW · June 05, 2014, 09:08:46 PM

Quote from: Magicman on June 05, 2014, 08:41:51 PM
I am still wondering why 3 blades for 500 bf of lumber. I certainly have no idea about the 4th, but there was metal involved somewhere. Something should have been shiny.

The first I took off after cutting 2 logs, cutting the third log into a cant, and then knocked the blade off when I forgot to raise the blade and backed up the head. (teeth were still in good shape, but didn't want to dull the blade beyond the point of resharpening; which I don't know where it is)
The second was the one that sparked after putting it on. I can't tell what went wrong as there were already scratch marks inside the head from blade #1.
The third died upon contact with an eye bolt that was inside the cant.
The forth has sections of dulled teeth and the fifth is dulled all the way around. I'm trying to decide if these were over used, cut through too many knots, or cut through too many bullets? Yes, I found a series of lead bullets as I was sawing the cant. At first I though they were nails, then realized they didn't got all the way through the board. Finally I saw one that was cut in half and was in the shape of the mushroom you see on the CSI shows.

Magicman · June 05, 2014, 09:15:44 PM

Quote from: Chuck White on June 05, 2014, 09:05:29 PMRather than moving the sawhead back and forth to measure from the front and the rear of the BGAT, lay one of your square tubing pieces from one bunk to another then just center the sawhead somewhere in between!

Yup, like this, and it works very well.

Magicman · June 05, 2014, 09:18:12 PM

Wow AnthonyW, the best part of your day was finishing.

VictorH · June 05, 2014, 10:03:16 PM

I too spent the day doing repairs and maintenance on my mill. Replaced all 6 cam bearings. 2 were bad, 2 were iffy the other 2 were probably ok but I had the new ones so went ahead and replaced them all. Of course had to check and adjust the head tilt. I also installed a pressurized blade lube system as well. Changed the oil and new plugs. I had ordered new contacts for the bottom rail and contact strip but the packing strip indicated they were on back order. So that will have to wait a bit more.

Brucer · June 05, 2014, 11:13:19 PM

Quote from: Chuck White on June 05, 2014, 09:05:29 PM

Rather than moving the sawhead back and forth to measure from the front and the rear of the BGAT, lay one of your square tubing pieces from one bunk to another then just center the sawhead somewhere in between! ....

.... after you make sure the two bunks are the same level :(.

AnthonyW · June 06, 2014, 05:42:52 AM

Quote from: Magicman on June 05, 2014, 09:18:12 PM
Wow AnthonyW, the best part of your day was finishing.

I think the best part of the day was being able to start. Because of all the information and support available here and from WoodMizer, I was able to get the mill back in working order and actually put a log on it and turn it into lumber.

Dave Shepard · June 06, 2014, 08:20:16 AM

I highly recommend buying some aluminum tubing for the backstop alignment. I did backstops using a board like the manual said for years, and never felt it was really accurate enough. This spring I found an 8' piece of 1"x1" aluminum in the corner of the garage. I promptly cut it in half, and now it stays in the mill box next to the 4' level and the LTBGAT.

barbender · June 06, 2014, 09:14:34 AM

I always got a kick out of the "BGAT", it sounds almost military and then you find out it's a little strip of aluminum with a clip on it

Gadrock · June 06, 2014, 09:48:08 AM

I am glad you said what that means. I was thinking it was one of those I-Phone Facebook-Twitter sayings.

But I do like the suggestion of keeping a good piece of aluminum around for checking out the A-L-I-G-N-M-E-N-T

Carry on

backwoods sawyer · June 06, 2014, 11:25:56 AM

I keep a 1x1x12' tubing for leveling all the bed rails. Most times it will be just one or two bed rail bolts that need a turn or two. Then move on to check back stops and guide angle.
The long tubing allows you to check corner to corner across the four main bed rails then the swing bed rails in all positions.

MM You seem to have the drive motor off quite offten replacing bearings. I have only had to have mine off to change sprocks each time I have changed the drive chain. Seems to be a heavier built design that has held up over the years.

As we run these mills you can see the up coming issues like your up down chain holder. Glad to see you catching issues like those before they become a bigger issue while on the road ;)

slider · June 06, 2014, 11:56:49 AM

What I want to know is when are you going to paint that thing ?

Bill Gaiche · June 06, 2014, 12:42:49 PM

Paint would ruin its reputation and no one could recognize it. If by some chance if it was stolen, no one could identify it as belonging to MM with new paint. Good job MM on show and tell. bg

backwoods sawyer · June 06, 2014, 02:09:15 PM

MM I vote for a fresh coat of Pink paint ;D A fresh coat of paint helps protect the metal ;)

barbender · June 06, 2014, 02:22:40 PM

What's wrong with his paint? It's the same color as mine

Chuck White · June 06, 2014, 05:30:17 PM

Quote from: Gadrock on June 06, 2014, 09:48:08 AM
I am glad you said what that means. I was thinking it was one of those I-Phone Facebook-Twitter sayings.

But I do like the suggestion of keeping a good piece of aluminum around for checking out the A-L-I-G-N-M-E-N-T

Carry on

BGAT = Blade Guide Alignment Tool

Nomad · June 06, 2014, 06:47:31 PM

Quote from: barbender on June 06, 2014, 02:22:40 PM
What's wrong with his paint? It's the same color as mine

X2 :D

Magicman · June 06, 2014, 09:50:56 PM

I musta done something right. I failed to mentions that it got the drive belt tightened, autoclutch, and brake adjustment.

I drove 63 miles this morning and was setup and sawing before 6:30. I was under the umbrella but my help was in the sun and they all played out by 5:00 PM. We sawed 40 of 63 logs and I will be back to finish up in the morning. It's all ERC and I have a few pictures, but not tonight.