Wood Mizer LT70 Super Wide (Vidjayo on da way)

[4x4American]

I took a video of sawing a few logs on the new mill about a month ago after I had a couple weeks to get used to the controls.  I had a hard time uploading it to youtube because youtube said it was too long.  So I kinda gave up on it...until now, I was looking back at some pictures on my phone and came across the video that I had forgotten about.  I went on the internet and looked up to see if there was a way to get around it and there was.  Took me a little while, but here I figgered it out...uploading it right from my phone, right now it's at 4% and says there's 40 minutes left so if it finishes before I fall asleep I'll post it here.


Getting used to the controls on the mill took a little while.  I'm still not 100% in sync with them but getting closer.  See what we do is run the mill for a day or half a day and make stock to further process into pallet cutstock depending on what my main pallet guys needs that day.  Their needs change daily sometimes hourly.  Keeping up with them can be a challenge and that was a big part of going to a faster mill, not to mention trying to take care of some other pallet shops in addition to retail orders.  So I'm not running the thing all the time every day (yet). 


The biggest problem I have with the controls is the feed stick is too finicky.  You don't have a dial that you use to set the speed typically.  There is a dial that sets the max speed, and there is a cruise control that needs a little bit of work.  I think that the cruise control should be like how it is on a car.  You set the cruise control, and if you need to go a bit faster, hit the accelerator and it speeds up, then when you let off it goes back to where it was set.  On this cruise control, you set it, and then if you want to go faster, you have to cancel out of cruise control mode (stopping the head) and then get back on the joystick and try to figure out where you wanted to be.  By that time you coulda finished the cut sometimes so you might as well leave it and lose production from sawing too slow.  In normal sawing, you wanna go faster, pull it harder.  Which is fine, but you have to be real steady holding it cause it's soo touchy that you can jerk the head too fast and it will overfeed and stall the engine if you don't save it in time, or the blade will just rise out of the cut.  Something I've found interesting:  on this mill the blade tends to rise when it gets into trouble.  On the lt40, the blade would more frequently dive if it got into trouble.  I'm sure it has something to do with the alignment, I haven't touched the alignment on this saw since I got it a few months ago. 


This mill has pretty much done everything I've asked it to do.  The headrig is much beefier, it can stand up to dragging back heavy cants and ties.  The 40 could do it but it really didn't want to and I constantly broke the welds on the dragback.  The only thing I think it really needs is heated joysticks cause in any kinda cold my fingers that had pins put in them get so cold I can't hardly press the buttons.  Also, you're just standing there, not moving around so that gets cold quick, think about sitting in a tree stand, that kinda deep cold that goes down to your bones and takes the fun away.  I mentioned it to a rep at the WM NY dealer and he said he doesn't see why they couldn't make em heated I'm gonna nudge him again see if he can look into that for me...I know, I know, this kinda mill should be set up with some sort of operator station/cab...but it is a portable mill really..so I think heated joysticks.  Other than that, skookum choocher, I love the thing.  The 70 has solved alot of issues for me and for what I'm doing it works great.


Good lord willing and the internet don't cut out (new saying) I'll have the video up in a little bit.

[Kbeitz]

Slide a balloon over you joystick...

[dgdrls]

congratulations on the new mill,  glad its working out for you,

how's the Pup?


D

[4x4American]

And it's uploaded.  May take a few minutes to complete the process.  Took this video with 60 hours on the mill so go easy lol




https://youtu.be/XCAZhGz3c_w

[ScottAR]

I've been wanting to see this machine in real world type situation.   
It looks like a beast!  8)

[newoodguy78]

WOW those hydraulics are fast. You'll have that thing mastered in no time.Glad it's working out for ya

[4x4American]

I've been wanting to see this machine in real world type situation.   
It looks like a beast!  8)

That was another reason for a vidja, there's slim pickens on the internet world for 70 super vidjas. It is a beast!

[Andries]

Holy Moly!
Feeel the Powah ! !
Sawdust flies STRAIGHT outta the chute.
. . . and that chain turner is totally frisky! Watch out for the glass on your Cat.  :D
I loved the log arm recovery for that one piece that decided to run back to the log pile.
At 60 hrs on the controls, I'm thinking the training wheels are off, DUG.
Congrats and happy slicing and dicing.

[Treehack]

I want one of those when I grow up :D

[Ljohnsaw]

Cool.  Just wondering, why were you cutting off what looks like a 4x with the bark and only getting one 4x4 from the center?  Looked like you could have gotten some 2x4's out of it.

[Percy]

Oh my!!! That is cutting!!!! That looks like it could keep
Up with your resaw. Impressive. My feed rates are similar on my 2003 70 but handling is so slow compared to yours. I'm impressed. It just throws the logs around.

[longtime lurker]

If I thought she could cut like that in my timbers id have to think real hard about going to the orange dark side of thin band sawyers. Impressive.

[Crossroads]

Wow! That thing is crazy fast

[ladylake]

 

They sell heated pads for motorcycle handlebars that should fit your joy sticks on fleebay. I run my mill with mittens when cold, a lot warmer than gloves if you can run the controls with them.  WM really has that mill speeded up compared to the older ones. ASt 4:12 in the vid I'd have turned the log 180, would have been faster plus a little more out of the log.  Steve

[Peter Drouin]

Looking good.  8) 8)

[ladylake]

Cool.  Just wondering, why were you cutting off what looks like a 4x with the bark and only getting one 4x4 from the center?  Looked like you could have gotten some 2x4's out of it.

  John  Their sending those cants through a resaw  sawing off the bottom, the bark will come off there.   Steve

[4x4American]

Steve Ladylake the reason I turn 90 was to get a flat to be able to clamp..when they have wicked hooks like that they will ride up over the middle bottom dog thing and then I won't have a uniform thickness cant.  If I could dog the piece in good enough every time I wouldnt ever turn 90.  I definitely need to get some good mitts.  Those gloves I put on in the beginning are cheapo dollar general gloves I think they make it worse.  I'll have to look into those heated pads long as they dont get in the way of the triggers should work I'm sure.


Ljohnsaw I'm cutting 3sided cants to feed the resaw.  Each piece that has 3 sides will get every usable piece out of it at the resaw if you notice they get stacked in the pile of the cants. 


dgdrls thanks and the pup says hes cold he needs a warm office lol

[4x4American]

Thanks Andries yea gotta be careful with that log loader and watch it dont throw the log over the squaring arms happy gilmore style and hit the neighbors dog lol

[WDH]

You are Speedy Gonzales  ;D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZBzvTDhGU

[paul case]

What kind of logs are those?

I am guessing not pecan or hickory.

PC

[69bronco]

I'll bet yer tailer don't get cold hands! Looks great, why don't you build a little outhouse for your end, maybe run a heat lamp on yer paws? You'll really feel it when you hit 140!

[drobertson]

V very nice! Mercy , you bet that's sawing! Happy for you Doug,  70's are it, bad to the bone,

[Weekend_Sawyer]

Thanks for the video, very enjoyable.

I'm thinking you need to set up a 3 sided tent to stand in with a salamander type heater pointing into it.
Just thinkin.

Jon

[Hilltop366]

 Fast!! I'm wonder if ATV handlebar mitts would work, if you don't need to see the buttons.

[terrifictimbersllc]

I'm trying to get a pair of these:
http://www.superiorglove.com/endura-deluxe-kevlar-lined-one-finger-lineman-mitts-with-6-reflective-gauntlet-cuffs

Thinsulate and Kevlar lined

[terrifictimbersllc]

WOW those hydraulics are fast. You'll have that thing mastered in no time.Glad it's working out for ya

They need to be fast to keep the steel out of the way of the blade.  :D

[Resonator]

"I want one of those when I grow up."
       X2   

[Dave Shepard]

If I thought she could cut like that in my timbers id have to think real hard about going to the orange dark side of thin band sawyers. Impressive.

WM has a lot of experience cutting tropical hardwoods, especially with their LT300 through WM4000 series mills. There are plenty of YouTubes.

[MobileSawMilSlo]

Hi

Very fast machine indeed I would like to see this cutting speed on European spruce and quality of boards than

Just one friendly suggestion ... do not use debarker this way. Slowly approach to the wood and not with that kind of speed and force. If doing it this way, debarker axle would not last more than 200 hours.

Regards, Dejan

[Ljohnsaw]

Ljohnsaw I'm cutting 3sided cants to feed the resaw.  Each piece that has 3 sides will get every usable piece out of it at the resaw if you notice they get stacked in the pile of the cants. 

I see, thanks for the info.  So is your resaw even faster than the mill (I don't see how! ) or is it cutting with multiple blade (circular?)?

Also, it looks like your log clamp is a double pointed thing (two clamps side by side)?  Is there another clamp set when handling longer stock?  It's just that I thought I saw stress lift a couple cants that you might have been able to pull flat if there were clamps nearer the ends. 

But, still a VERY impressive machine.  My daughter wanted to know if I'd like to buy one to upgrade from my home built saw :D

[Southside]

Wow - yea, wow.  Good thing those come with a remote, you would need to buy new running shoes each week to keep up with her.

By the way - does it play George Thororgood "Bad to the Bone" on it's own?   :D

[4x4American]

What kind of logs are those?

I am guessing not pecan or hickory.

PC

It's popple..which is a cluster of like 5 diff species of aspen iirc.  Theres some big tooth aspen and quaking aspen and balm of gilead and cottonwood, etc.  This is custom sawing for the pallet mill.  They don't like to saw popple down there they say it dulls their blades too fast so I reckon that must be why they send me T/T loads of the stuff. lol

[4x4American]

Hi

Very fast machine indeed I would like to see this cutting speed on European spruce and quality of boards than

Just one friendly suggestion ... do not use debarker this way. Slowly approach to the wood and not with that kind of speed and force. If doing it this way, debarker axle would not last more than 200 hours.

Regards, Dejan

I'm not sure how fast it would cut through euro spruce but this wood is a soft stringy hardwood that I'm cutting here.  Yea that's the other thing, the debarker on the 70 compared to a 40 does just what a vacuum does.  But, I think it'll last.  Percy here rigged up an air compressor to his debarker and that thing really slams into the log too and he's got over 10k hours on his mill, not sure how long his debarker been slapping logs thataway but he may chime in and bring us out of the darkness and into the light..then again his debarker is a little bit different design, but the build is very similar and it is sturdy.  Ya dig

[YellowHammer]

That is a machine!  Good for you!

[flatrock58]

I noticed the debarker was working fine on smaller logs.  I had seen a LT50 wide a few months ago where the debarker would only work on larger logs but would not come in far enough for smaller logs.

[4x4American]

Thanks Robert.


Flatrock the debarker does tickle the logs fine, its the way it's activated.  The debarker on the 40 you pretty much set it and forget it where as the debarker on the 70 you have to pretty much babysit it throughout the whole cut otherwise it won't follow the contour of the log.  I have since graduated to just holding the button in the whole time when the log is really muddy.  If the log is fairly clean looking I don't worry about it so much and if the log has some major contour changes and it's not too dirty I won't use the debarker at all because when I use the debarker I can't see where the guide arm is.

[customsawyer]

Nice looking mill. Just think you will only get better at operating it. 

[red]

It's a Monster , I say any 70 is like having two LT 40's .  Very nice machine with all the bells and whistles. Run it like you stole it .

[WV Sawmiller]

   About fastest sawing I've seen. Any reason the sawdust chute is tied up in the travel mode? Looks to me like you're throwing sawdust 15-20 feet.

[Percy]

Hi

Very fast machine indeed I would like to see this cutting speed on European spruce and quality of boards than

Just one friendly suggestion ... do not use debarker this way. Slowly approach to the wood and not with that kind of speed and force. If doing it this way, debarker axle would not last more than 200 hours.

Regards, Dejan

I'm not sure how fast it would cut through euro spruce but this wood is a soft stringy hardwood that I'm cutting here.  Yea that's the other thing, the debarker on the 70 compared to a 40 does just what a vacuum does.  But, I think it'll last.  Percy here rigged up an air compressor to his debarker and that thing really slams into the log too and he's got over 10k hours on his mill, not sure how long his debarker been slapping logs thataway but he may chime in and bring us out of the darkness and into the light..then again his debarker is a little bit different design, but the build is very similar and it is sturdy.  Ya dig

Ya my debarker can hit pretty hard the way Ive got things rigged. The design of the debarker(on my old mill) is such that the impact is not sent to the motor at all but Just the bearing that is immediatley above the debarker blade. I did have to replace that bearing once at about 8500 hours.  I am continually amazed at how little grief the debarker gives me considering the abuse it gets and all the stupid things Ive done to it.

Here is the mod I made to it back in 2013. I now have an air line from the house compressor feeding it instead of the portable 12 volt compressor. The same air supply goes to my blade strain air bag making blade tensioning/slacking a push of a button.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFpxoOZRLUs

[Dave Shepard]

   About fastest sawing I've seen. Any reason the sawdust chute is tied up in the travel mode? Looks to me like you're throwing sawdust 15-20 feet.

If you leave the chute down, you are buried in about an hour. MyLT40 Super will blow dust over 25 feet. That saves shoveling near the mill.

D-U-G, looks like a hydraulic log deck would be the next bottleneck to address. But then your tailman might have trouble keeping up.

[terrifictimbersllc]

4x4, youve had both LT70 and LT40 supers. 

How would you compare setup and maneuverability of the 70 to the 40, for example taking a 70 to day or part day jobs including residential jobs? 

[4x4American]

Dennis, the lt70 and lt40 are very similar in setup.  Fast and simple.  I have moved the 70 around a few times at the yard and it is almost the same thing.  Only difference on the 70 is you have the board return table to slide down and set the legs.  Doesnt take long at all.  The frame on the 70 very similar.  I think the WM's are the best in portability.  Its also a light mill I think it only weighs 5000lbs.  I have had more than that on the bed of my truck lol.  I tipped the scales at 15,300 lbs one time with a 6000lb pack of cants on back and that was definitely not the heaviest I've been on the truck. 

[Larry]

Impressive mill.  The operator ain't to shabby either! 8) 8)

[redbeard]

That's a get out of the way give that room too work. Impressive mill.
The saw dust shoot will take your hat off. Thumbs up on the operator!

[50 Acre Jim]

Holy Moly!  I just watched more work get done in 5 minutes than I can do in several hours!  What a toy I have out there! 

[PAmizerman]

As I was watching this I was wondering how much you sped up the video. Then as I watched longer I realized the offbearer was working at a normal speed! Wow that is very impressive. And I'm running a lt40 super remote. I can't imagine running the lt70 super.
Thanks for posting.

[4x4American]

Speed up the video! lol lol I'm lucky I figured out how to get that long video onto the internet let alone do any modifications to it lol

[Peter Drouin]

When I all most bought that mill before you did. Ross said running that mill, there's no time to think. You have to know where your going with the log cut wise.
;D ;)

[terrifictimbersllc]

When I all most bought that mill before you did. Ross said running that mill, there's no time to think. You have to know where your going with the log cut wise.
;D ;)

Looked to me like he was tossing the log up in the air flipping it this way and that, to get ideas.  :D

[Peter Drouin]

Looked to me like he was tossing the log up in the air flipping it this way and that, to get ideas.  :D

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D good one, :D :D :D :D :D :D

[4x4American]

I'm glad I beat ya to it Pete lol lol Beachy's Lumber beat me to the one that WM NY had and Barry told me that the last 55hp 70 super available in the northeast was at the Maine ASC. 


One thing I dont like is there is no manual scale.  I didnt realize how much I used the scale as a reference on the 40 until I didnt have a scale anymore.  I also don't like that the chain turner can't turn the chain and raise/lower the arm at the same time.  I needa get that fixed.  Get the soldering iron out lol.




It was -9 here this morning.  The cat and the sawmill were gelled up wicked bad.  The cat is due for a pm anyways put about 750 hours on her since I got it (whenever that was lol).  So I changed the one fuel filter and put diesel 911 in it. Worked great.  The sawmill was so froze that I tented it up and put a kerosene heater under it and a hot light.  That worked pretty good. The fuel man cuts his fuel with power service additive.  I've never had luck with that garbage, it has left me gelled up so many times.  It's really my fault for not remembering to put the lucas extreme cold additive in.  But golly, I'm looking for a new fuel man who cuts his fuel with kerosene.

[Peter Drouin]

Like I said if it was a walk and ride one it would be here and not there. :D :D :D :D
I want to still cut 40' beams, With that mill that would not happen.
It was 2° here at 7am. My cat started, Would run, but not rev up. 2 hours later and some 911 to It, It came out of it.

[Magicman]

Looked to me like he was tossing the log up in the air flipping it this way and that, to get ideas.  :D 

"Dug" learned that flipping pancakes at the IHOP.  :D

[terrifictimbersllc]

I believe that surely. It's a good thing he cant ride with that mill  or when Amtrak went past he would forget what he's doing and take off after it!

[starmac]

Wow, the only way we get gelled up fuel anymore is to have summer fuel left over in a piece of equipment, it doesn't matter how cold it gets.

[Percy]

I'm glad I beat ya to it Pete lol lol Beachy's Lumber beat me to the one that WM NY had and Barry told me that the last 55hp 70 super available in the northeast was at the Maine ASC. 


One thing I dont like is there is no manual scale.  I didnt realize how much I used the scale as a reference on the 40 until I didnt have a scale anymore.  I also don't like that the chain turner can't turn the chain and raise/lower the arm at the same time.  I needa get that fixed.  Get the soldering iron out lol.




It was -9 here this morning.  The cat and the sawmill were gelled up wicked bad.  The cat is due for a pm anyways put about 750 hours on her since I got it (whenever that was lol).  So I changed the one fuel filter and put diesel 911 in it. Worked great.  The sawmill was so froze that I tented it up and put a kerosene heater under it and a hot light.  That worked pretty good. The fuel man cuts his fuel with power service additive.  I've never had luck with that garbage, it has left me gelled up so many times.  It's really my fault for not remembering to put the lucas extreme cold additive in.  But golly, I'm looking for a new fuel man who cuts his fuel with kerosene.

On the scale thing, dont you have a constant head height readout like the accuset?? I share the same operator position as you so I cant see my manual scale either as its where a walkalong guy would read it. Dont miss it. The readout is accurate. On the turner thing, Ive never even considered that problem as my mill is so slow compared to yours, its like I get moss growing on the cut face before the turner does its biddness compared to yours. I watched that vid maybe 8 times already and I learn something new every time. Did that chunk of wood taste good before you threw it at your grunt??

[Peter Drouin]

Percy, You just have to jump to a 70 super is all. :D

[4x4American]

lol lol Percy




Yea on the readout there is a constant readout but that means my head is looking down at the computer and not at the headrig.  Also, the head moves up and down so fast that the computer readout is just plain slow comparatively it can't quite keep up.  Myn doesn't even have a manual scale at all anywhere on it.  Which is fine anyways. 


The setworks on the super 70 are much more user friendly.  You can be in auto down or pattern mode, and raise the head up and down as you please.  The only time the head moves to the computer set is when you pull the trigger.  I love that, way less likely to set the head down on a cant that way.  Also there is a button you press with your thumb that bumps the head up 5/8" for to dragback at the right spot every time.  If you have a thinner piece just pick up slow.  I like the proportional hydraulics for the most part. 


haha and actually it tasted like grits!

[Peter Drouin]

I did not know about the 5/8 bump up, Nice

[4x4American]

There is also a button that puts you into your most recent setworks mode and cancels out of it too.  The setworks trigger also brings you to the nearest round number if you arent in setworks mode.  They need to put a button on there that will pick your nose when your hands are busy

[starmac]

Knowing what I do today, after watching that video, if I could go back 10 years in time, I would have to own one of those puppies.

I do have a question that concerns me though, you mentioned it doesn't have a manual scale. the way it is right now, is it just basically out of commission if the accuset fails?? I suppose a scale can be added easily.

[Grizzly]

They need to put a button on there that will pick your nose when your hands are busy

And then you'll want an automatic coffee perk/dispenser, and then you'll want a back scratcher, and then you'll want.............  ;D

[Percy]

I noticed that you often spool up the motor before you lift a log on. ??is that to speed up the hydraulics?? Also notice the clamp sometimes moves slower like mine and other times it's quick as ever. Is that selectable or just done with engine rpm?

[Southside]

The fuel man cuts his fuel with power service additive.  I've never had luck with that garbage, it has left me gelled up so many times.  It's really my fault for not remembering to put the lucas extreme cold additive in.  But golly, I'm looking for a new fuel man who cuts his fuel with kerosene.

That stuff is junk.  I was going from Ft Collins, CO to Laramie, WY one night with a load of stock, it was -22 in Ft Collins and -46 when I got to Laramie, took a picture of it and texted it to my wife.  The truck went into limp mode a couple of times as I got to Laramie so I pulled into the Fairgrounds and got out my bottle of Power Service.  "Guaranteed not to gel" is written on the front of it.  I tried to pour the stuff into the tank and the Power Service was as thick as honey.  So I rolled down to the Safeway and pulled up to the Kero pump and started to fill it up.  Poor attendant came running out of his nice and warm box trying to warn me I was pumping Kero.   Told him I didn't think the tax man was going to get his car to start in this cold so I was not going to worry about it.  Never shut the truck off that night I can tell ya. 

[starmac]

I have been known to put in a few gallons of genuine gasoline quite a few times.

[4x4American]

Starmac the accuset has a failsafe manual mode so if the setworks stopped working you could still use the readout.  However if the whole computer stopped working you'd be sol but the engine is computer controlled and the blade and everything so you kinda have to have that.


Percy, eveything is proportional.  Meaning you want something to go faster, pull it harder.  When its going slow its cause im gently carassing (lol) the joystick.  If it's going fast I'm crankin on it with a cheater pipe.  The reason I spool up the engine is to give the hydraulics more hormones.  It goes fast at idle but remember the super 70 has an engine driven hydraulic pump.  So the faster the engine spins the faster the hydraulics go. Once I got used to the hydraulics at full tilt going to idle just bores the snot outta me so I don't often do that. 




Yea that powerservice stuff has gelled up on me multjple times.  I like how the howes stuff says right on it they will pay your tow bill if you get stuck cause of gelling

[Dave Shepard]

If you don't have working setworks on that machine, you are going to have a hard time hitting the mark. Even on my 40 Super the head moves too fast to work efficiently.

If one reads the back of the Power Service bottle, you will see that you have to mix it above freezing. My father once dumped a quart in my Kubota when it was in the single digits. It settles to the bottom of the tank and goes straight to the injector pump. The tractor runs until the PS gets to the pump, then it dies. PS 911, I believe, can be added when it's cold, but I've been told the new ULSD fuel once gelled, will not ungel.

[moodnacreek]

Wow, but now who am I going to sell my real sawmill to ?

[moodnacreek]

Ok, I watched you cut 2 logs.  Great log turner and mud saw , faster feed than I expected. I wire an old hair dryer at my stick when cold.  NOW you need a gang saw.  When are you coming down to watch my antiques run ?

[Darrel]

My wife wants me to get one and I told her that she couldn't keep up off bearing behind the LT40. She said that she'd saw and I could off bear.

I want a LT70 super wide too but don't need one.

[Southside]

Yea - it's all about the need / want / checkbook balance... >:(  I was kinda depressed running my LT35 after watching this video...  someday it will grow up and become a 70.  Maybe for Christmas I will get a set of the LT70 stickers for it!!!   :D

[alanh]

Most impressive/depressing video I`ve seen on here....the lt 15 seems pretty darn lame...

[Kbeitz]

I think I'm to old to keep up with that...

[Resonator]

Couple tips to add to what the others posted about diesel gelling: Keep your tank full, air causes moisture to condensate, water is an enemy of fuel. Buy "Winter Blend" fuel if available. Add anti-gel while fueling to mix. I was told by a mechanic you can't put in too much anti-gel and over treat it. Keep a spare fuel filter handy, or apply gentle heat to it, (that's usually where it clogs), if it gels.

[ScottAR]

I second the Howe's additive. 

[4x4American]

Ok, I watched you cut 2 logs.  Great log turner and mud saw , faster feed than I expected. I wire an old hair dryer at my stick when cold.  NOW you need a gang saw.  When are you coming down to watch my antiques run ?

I like the hair dryer idea alot.  Maybe around Christmas time I'll swing down.

[Crossroads]

I keep coming back to your video, that is one impressive machine. I asked my wife if I could have one, she said I should probably stick with the one I have for a couple years.....

[starmac]

Looking at the specs, it seems like it lost a foot of log in length, I don't think I would like that though.

[JB Griffin]

I second the Howe's additive. 

Me too. I have run diesels on it straight.

[4x4American]

I like that Howe's even offers to pay your tow bill if their additive dont work.  I used to use Howe's all the time when I had my '89 W250 and never had any issues I can recall with it.  I been using it on and off since then, prolly just never shuda stopped using it. 

[starmac]

Howes offer to pay the tow bill is pretty much just that, an offer. While howes does as advertised and keeps fuel from gelling, it does nothing for water in the fuel. Most times anymore an engine quits it is because of ice in the filter, especially with winter blend fuel. All fuel has some water in it, the government even allows a certain percentage to be injected in diesel at the refinery, and if any moisture can be detected, they do not pay.

All that said when I use anything anymore (and for the last several years) it is howes, it does keep it from gelling, and lubricates the injectors.
I use it more to fill the filters when I change them than anything though.

[4x4American]

I remeber getting a lecture in school from a diesel pump rebuilding shop and they were trying to explain about the different additives being a dispersant vs something else.  Pretty much all I tool home with me was that the stanadyne additive was good and the power service was bad.  Something about one if the additives pushes the water through the system while one forces the water to settle to the bottom of the water seperator ir something.

[YellowHammer]

Ya know, the best way to keep diesel from gelling is to live down south! 

Being a southerner, I'm pretty sure I would gel before my fuel did.   :D

[Resonator]

Many times I hauled loads down south, and had to make sure to put in anti-gel when getting fuel before I headed home. (Don't think they sell "Winter Blend" south of I40). Many times saw trucks being towed that didn't treat before getting in the cold. Worst stories I heard were car drivers that went north with PURE WATER in their radiator.

[4x4American]

Who would put pure water in their raditator thats nuts!  Now I've forgotten about having pure water in my washer fluid tank and had that freeze up before.  Oh and also done that on the sawmill lube tank too.

[Kbeitz]

Who would put pure water in their raditator thats nuts!  Now I've forgotten about having pure water in my washer fluid tank and had that freeze up before.  Oh and also done that on the sawmill lube tank too.

Back in the old days that's all they had...

[4x4American]

Whatd the yankees do in the old days?  Drain the radiator and hope its cold enough out to keep the engine cool and stop when it starts overheating?

[Peter Drouin]

Whatd the yankees do in the old days?

Fill it with shine. :D :D :D

[4x4American]

Whatd the yankees do in the old days?

Fill it with shine. :D :D :D

You sure it wasnt purple drank?

[Grizzly]

Whatd the yankees do in the old days?  Drain the radiator and hope its cold enough out to keep the engine cool and stop when it starts overheating?

I've visited with lots of old timers who really appreciate that they don't have to drain the rads every time they shut down for night. They'd bring the rad fluid inside warm it up, pour it in in the morning and go for another day. Real pain. But then again i guess we're canucks.

[starmac]

He he, people used to, and a few still do have to drain their oil and keep it warm to crank the next morning, with antifreeze for the radiators, no problem.

When I had a shop on I 40, I do not know how many I towed in that had no or to little antifreeze in their rigs.

[scrout]

Lord, that thing is fast.  I am still all manual, that thing is like Star Wars compared to what I am used to....

[moodnacreek]

Like the other member said; keep the tank full. Also run the diesel often. On my tractor and diesel fork lift I keep adding kero  when its below 20 every nite. On the tractor I've noticed it starts faster with kerosene  in the fuel. The suspended water ,mostly from condensation, causes this 'snow flaking' in the fuel.  In an emergency you can ad gasoline to the fuel but it changes the timing of the engine and is not recommended.

[starmac]

gasoline changes the timing??  Over the years I must have changed the timing a lot of times when dealing with gelled fuel.

[Southside]

My guess is he means that you will see ignition sooner than normal as the gas would lower the necessary combustion pressure. Sort of along the lines of an automatic firing out of battery due to a cook off.

[moodnacreek]

Doug, thanks for the machine shop video. I've actually  done what he did on the horz. milling machine but by eye, dry and not accurate and I am not a machinest. [ just a wood butcher]  Any how with a friend like that you could build a nice edger like mine or better.

[double cut1]

what kind of resaw you have 4*4?

[4x4American]

Baker A model