Why is my hydraulic contactor shorting out

Lawg Dawg · January 24, 2018, 08:05:13 AM

Only problem I've had with this mill so far..and has been doing this from the beginning..I've adjusted, tightened and sanded clean multiple times. Every couple days it starts doing it again

paul case · January 24, 2018, 08:14:41 AM

Activating hydraulics before the head stops.

That was our problem.
My mill has the command control station so we ran a hot lead through the supply track to the hydraulic pumps and did away with the contact strip.

PC

pineywoods · January 24, 2018, 09:32:53 AM

Frozen sawdust...Are you aware there is another brush under the bottom of the frame ??

Chuck White · January 25, 2018, 07:18:31 AM

Good replies!

If you were sawing at night, you might see sparks when the block is on the contact strip if you're running the hydraulic system!

Come to a stop before engaging the hydraulics, and you should eliminate the problem!

Ga Mtn Man · January 25, 2018, 08:06:10 AM

Technically speaking, it is arcing not shorting out. franken-smiley

YellowHammer · January 25, 2018, 09:13:00 AM

Severe arcing caused by intermittent electrical connectors contact for me was caused by activating the hydraulics while the head was moving and bouncing. I installed a permanent cable like others did to fix the problem and provide anywhere hydraulics.
It also looks like you are not getting even contact along the mill strip, as the marks are in the same relative place, along the bottom.

Lawg Dawg · January 26, 2018, 06:34:15 AM

Quote from: paul case on January 24, 2018, 08:14:41 AM
Activating hydraulics before the head stops.

That was our problem.
My mill has the command control station so we ran a hot lead through the supply track to the hydraulic pumps and did away with the contact strip.

Quote from: Chuck White on January 25, 2018, 07:18:31 AM
Good replies!

If you were sawing at night, you might see sparks when the block is on the contact strip if you're running the hydraulic system!

Come to a stop before engaging the hydraulics, and you should eliminate the problem!

PC

Quote from: YellowHammer on January 25, 2018, 09:13:00 AM
Severe arcing caused by intermittent electrical connectors contact for me was caused by activating the hydraulics while the head was moving and bouncing. I installed a permanent cable like others did to fix the problem and provide anywhere hydraulics.
It also looks like you are not getting even contact along the mill strip, as the marks are in the same relative place, along the bottom.

That was the problem...guess I'm in a hurry trying to get all this lumber sawed up with my new mill :D

Chuck White · January 26, 2018, 07:15:25 AM

Most of us have been there and done that, LD! ;)

paul case · January 26, 2018, 08:51:23 AM

Even if you dont have command control you can fix it up to be live hydraulics. Live hydraulics are SWEET.

PC

Lawg Dawg · January 26, 2018, 03:42:03 PM

Quote from: paul case on January 26, 2018, 08:51:23 AM
Even if you dont have command control you can fix it up to be live hydraulics. Live hydraulics are SWEET.

PC

I'm going to have to research that mod...I can see where it would be very useful! Thanks!

sparks · January 29, 2018, 03:43:12 PM

This usually happens when you either have a bad ground at the ground contact or too little spring pressure on the positive contact.

Clean the copper strip and the block real good. Move the block toward the strip until it touches. push it in another 1/8" to 3/8" to put it under spring pressure. Tighten up the mounting bolts.

To check for a bad ground on the ground block, take a volt meter and put the red lead on the ground block and the black lead on the weld rod the block is touching. Activate the hydraulics. If you read more than 1 volt you have a bad ground. Clean up the weld rod and the block and test again.

starmac · January 29, 2018, 04:39:00 PM

Some good info Sparks, I will have to store that info in this noggin of mine and hope it stays there.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 29, 2018, 07:13:03 PM

Keep the strip clean.

Southside · January 29, 2018, 08:55:55 PM

Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on January 29, 2018, 07:13:03 PM
Keep the strip clean.

Poston, you the official Sanitization Engineer Spokes Person for Vegas too? :D

LeeB · January 30, 2018, 08:13:23 AM

Show us that brand new strip in a couple years.

wolf nemeth · January 30, 2018, 09:57:13 AM

Well, I'm interested in continuous hydraulics! Can someone please write some specific information as to wire/cable size, routing, and where to make the connections? thanks

Ga Mtn Man · January 30, 2018, 11:39:14 AM

What mill do you have?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 30, 2018, 10:10:23 PM

Quote from: LeeB on January 30, 2018, 08:13:23 AM
Show us that brand new strip in a couple years.

That strip my friend is on my 7 year old mill. I keep em clean.

YellowHammer · January 30, 2018, 10:38:32 PM

Goats are fastidious.

Chuck White · January 31, 2018, 03:21:56 PM

My powerstrip was so pitted that I pulled it off and turned it over!

If you do this, you'll need to unsolder the power lead at the front end and resolder it onto the other side!

customsawyer · January 31, 2018, 07:47:20 PM

It might be just me but I have never slowed down to wait for the head to come to a stop before grabbing a hyd. leaver.

YellowHammer · January 31, 2018, 09:32:01 PM

Quote from: wolf nemeth on January 30, 2018, 09:57:13 AM
Well, I'm interested in continuous hydraulics! Can someone please write some specific information as to wire/cable size, routing, and where to make the connections? thanks

There are several references to it in this thread. Several people did it before me and it was pretty easy. I consider it the most useful modification that can be done to a mill.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 31, 2018, 09:36:40 PM

Quote from: YellowHammer on January 31, 2018, 09:32:01 PM
Quote from: wolf nemeth on January 30, 2018, 09:57:13 AM
Well, I'm interested in continuous hydraulics! Can someone please write some specific information as to wire/cable size, routing, and where to make the connections? thanks

There are several references to it in this thread. Several people did it before me and it was pretty easy. I consider it the most useful modification that can be done to a mill.

I'd like to see some pictures of the hook up.

Southside · January 31, 2018, 10:50:24 PM

Just run a spare set of battery cables out of the hydraulic box about 18" long, one end hooked up to the same spots on the pump and ground, on the other end put a snow plow disconnect. Then grab a spare battery, make up a set of cables that are attached to it with a matching snow plow disconnect on the end of that one, instant live hydraulics, no lines to route and about $30 worth of parts not including the spare battery. The plugs are polarized so you can't hook them up together wrong. When you want to move the mill just un hook the spare battery.

So easy even a goat can do it!!

YellowHammer · January 31, 2018, 11:14:49 PM

I didn't take any pictures of my hookup, but with a Command and Control station which has a caterpillar track, it was a simple matter to run a couple flexible welding wires from the engine/hydraulic battery of the head assembly under the mast, down through the cat track, and then unto the hydraulic pump box to the pump relay terminals. This bypasses the contact strip entirely, but I didn't bother to remove mine. Doesn't matter if the mill is running or where the head is, the hydraulics will function.