My Mill Is Slowing Down Half Way Through

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 07:07:48 PM

What would cause my LT-40 to slow way down on every cut right in the middle, or center line of the mill?

It's the travel speed that slows...a few cuts It stopped.

I took the cover off the drive belt and It was not clogged, and did not appear to be slipping.

Ocklawahaboy · May 01, 2015, 07:40:24 PM

Mine has done that based on lack of chain maintenance. It happening is the same place every time reinforces that suspicion.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 07:48:01 PM

Its oiled up.
One more thing...last job I was on the chain...travel chain was hitting the main mill beam...Theres marks on it.
Let me get a picture.

Dave Shepard · May 01, 2015, 07:52:23 PM

Could be the speed pot.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 07:59:10 PM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on May 01, 2015, 07:52:23 PM
Could be the speed pot.

Were is the speed pot Dave?

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 08:02:15 PM

This happened last week...But it was not slowing down on travel.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 08:16:00 PM

I don't know what happened...maybe a stick got in there.

Dave Shepard · May 01, 2015, 08:16:35 PM

If that happened suddenly, then you may have a bad bearing on the feed shaft. Speed pot is the speed dial on the console.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 08:38:16 PM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on May 01, 2015, 08:16:35 PM
If that happened suddenly, then you may have a bad bearing on the feed shaft. Speed pot is the speed dial on the console.

Thanks Dave..I will have a look at that In the am

I have the week end to work on it...but Im back on the job on Mon.

This machine is kinda new...I just need to look it over tomorrow

Nomad · May 01, 2015, 08:39:02 PM

Are your rail and felt strip clean and lubed, so you're not getting binding there?

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 08:44:45 PM

Quote from: nomad on May 01, 2015, 08:39:02 PM
Are your rail and felt strip clean and lubed, so you're not getting binding there?

No binding in there...its lubed with Fluid Film.

The scratches on the main beam are not related to this...that was last week.

From the last job to the job today, It almost stops in the middle...then powers through at the end of the the 4 feet of log

chief613 · May 01, 2015, 08:54:40 PM

just a troubleshooting suggestion. turn ur speed down and manually push through. Might tell you if its friction or electrical problem

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 09:01:57 PM

Quote from: chief613 on May 01, 2015, 08:54:40 PM
just a troubleshooting suggestion. turn ur speed down and manually push through. Might tell you if its friction or electrical problem

I will try that ..Thanks

With no log on the mill the head travels back and forth free

Thanks for the help guys

4x4American · May 01, 2015, 09:08:56 PM

speed pot is the speed potentiometer (not sure spelling). Do you use fluid film on the chain? How do you like it, does sawdust stick to it much?

Ocklawahaboy · May 01, 2015, 09:11:47 PM

If the head travels through with no log on the mill, then it would lead me to think you have a problem caused somehow by the sawdust. If you were having a problem with power, I would think that it would get slower as you went farther down the log, not speed back up. Your mill is a lot newer than mine so I don't know exactly what components it has but I would be looking at every little thing that sawdust could be getting in. On mine, I would look the plastic rail wipers that keep the sawdust out of the way of the cam follower bearings.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 09:14:14 PM

Quote from: 4x4American on May 01, 2015, 09:08:56 PM
speed pot is the speed potentiometer (not sure spelling). Do you use fluid film on the chain? How do you like it, does sawdust stick to it much?

Hey 4 x ...I like the Fluid Film way better that Trans Oil

Keep a can by the mill all day long ;D :D

4x4American · May 01, 2015, 09:14:59 PM

how does the bottom rail look? Also, there is a ground on the bottom rail, I wonder if the spot where it slows down has a bad ground area on the rail. Not sure about how many hours you need to adjust the tension on the ground.

isawlogs · May 01, 2015, 09:26:10 PM

Have you found what is the issue yet ???
I would take the cover off the drive belt and cut a log with it off, the belt may look tight but may not be tight enough and slip once into the log and warmed up. I have had this on my mill and it had me scratchin' my nuggin.

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 09:26:22 PM

Quote from: 4x4American on May 01, 2015, 09:14:59 PM
how does the bottom rail look? Also, there is a ground on the bottom rail, I wonder if the spot where it slows down has a bad ground area on the rail. Not sure about how many hours you need to adjust the tension on the ground.

Not sure...I may need to get the big book out and see what I should have been doing

Could this be a leval problem?...Its strange it powered through on my last job...this job it slows right down in the middle....

isawlogs · May 01, 2015, 09:29:19 PM

Its not a level issue, you ncan run them mills quite off level.

How many hours on this mill?

Tree Dan · May 01, 2015, 09:29:58 PM

Quote from: isawlogs on May 01, 2015, 09:26:10 PM
Have you found what is the issue yet ???
I would take the cover off the drive belt and cut a log with it off, the belt may look tight but may not be tight enough and slip once into the log and warmed up. I have had this on my mill and it had me scratchin' my nuggin.

I did that....I ran the mill with the cover off...just so I could watch it...looked Ok

kenlt30 · May 01, 2015, 09:31:09 PM

On my mill, the set screw that holds the drive sprocket was loose. The chain made those same marks as yours and could be rubbing enough to slow the head.