Pto driven circular saw

[Justin@Wv]

I just bought a M-14 circular saw its not been used for about a year, but I saw it run before I purchased it. Everything is in okay working condition it just needs a good greasing and needs to get back in some logs! It's my first mill so I'm pretty excited about getting set up and running! I've got about a 70hp tractor and there's no doubt in my mind it will run the 42in. blade but my only question is how hard is that gonna be on my pto and in the tractor in the long run? Should I plan to get a different way to turn the blade?

[lyle niemi]

I just bought a M-14 circular saw its not been used for about a year, but I saw it run before I purchased it. Everything is in okay working condition it just needs a good greasing and needs to get back in some logs! It's my first mill so I'm pretty excited about getting set up and running! I've got about a 70hp tractor and there's no doubt in my mind it will run the 42in. blade but my only question is how hard is that gonna be on my pto and in the tractor in the long run? Should I plan to get a different way to turn the blade?

you wont have a problem, PTOs are made for that

[paul case]

Welcome to the forum Justin.

I dont know how hard it would be on your tractor, I guess it depends on how hard you push it. The deffinite trick to making it cut good is to not lose speed on the blade, but with 70 hp that shouldnt be a problem. The M-14 I had ran on the pto and had shear pins on the driveline so the tractor was protected, as was the saw.

Does your saw have tthe metal base or is it wood?

PC

[lyle niemi]

I just bought a M-14 circular saw its not been used for about a year, but I saw it run before I purchased it. Everything is in okay working condition it just needs a good greasing and needs to get back in some logs! It's my first mill so I'm pretty excited about getting set up and running! I've got about a 70hp tractor and there's no doubt in my mind it will run the 42in. blade but my only question is how hard is that gonna be on my pto and in the tractor in the long run? Should I plan to get a different way to turn the blade?

Forgot to mention that the PTO should be 540 and not a 1000

[thurlow]

Know less than nuthin about the late model 'yuppie' tractors (not knocking 'em, I just don't know);  if you've got a FARM tractor, just hook it up and let 'er go;  running a mill is not gonna be hard on the tractor, the pto, etc.  They're designed to be used...........

[Justin@Wv]

It's all metal or steel! Something else I've been thinking about is modifying the carriage bc it's only set up for ten feet. It's got two dogs on it, would that be enough to hold and cut a fourteen foot log without having any variance on board width? If not a problem then I can just modify my track!

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

And Welcome to The Forum Justin Its great to have another Circular Sawmill on here  ;) ;D ;D 8)

I have always liked the look of the Timberking sawmills pitty they dont make em anymore  ;) ;) You have more than enough to pull the 42" or even a 48" or 50" saw for that matter I have been running those size saws for years with 70/80hp tractors thats why I have alays loved the Insert saws they use your Horse Power at the Optimum and your clutch will be fine  ;) if your worried you can put a pto clutch on the end of your saw shaft and it will slip well before your tractors clutches ever will Sawmill work is one of the lighter occupations for a tractos pto train to have  ;)

With having two of them you could just bolt em togheter and mod your track sections together to give yourself an M-20 or 24 Mate ;) :D ;D ;D 8) 8)

Regards Chris 

[thurlow]

I've had a M-14 w/46 inch blade for a long time;  the manual says it will cut a 24 inch by 14 ft log, which is EXACTLY right.  I've cut some 30 inch-plus stuff and always say afterwards, "Never again".  You've got to 'gun barrel' the log, finish the cut with a chainsaw or ax, etc.  Of course, with the 'right' log, it's worth it.  I've sawn some 17 ft stuff.......usually beams.  (have to stop the blade before turning the log, because the end will only be a couple of inches from the blade)  You'll get some variance in thickness when trying to saw anything longer than 14 ft.  Only problem that immediately comes to mind when increasing the length of the carriage is that you may be tempted to overload the whole system by putting a heavier log on there than the thing is designed to handle.

[Meadows Miller]

You are rite there they are built for sawing light  or short stuff and it comes down to shaft sizes which was kept to the bare min as these where the econmy sawmill of their time and they have sawn alot of lumber Belsaw did do a M-20 & an M-24 though which was just the two m-10 0r M-14 carriges bolted together   

[Lambee10]

Welcome and thanks for giving life to another M-14.

I run mine on a 35 HP tractor and is fine for the stuff I do.  Best advice I got from this forum is to put new teeth on the blade and learn what sharp is. 

Like everything- I am working on a larger power plant but for now I use what I got.

[loggah]

I have the exact same mill,M 14 with a steel frame made new in 1992. Its a great little mill and i run mine with an old Case SC tractor, it only has about 31 H.P. at the P.T.O. it will cut pine fine but its underpowered for hardwood, and i do have to use the husky top saw on bigger logs.  ;D I am in the process of looking for a Diesel tractor with over 50 H.P., but im looking for one with a belt pulley and P.T.O. so i can use the pulley on my shingle mill.  One thing to watch out for is if you saw bigger logs that you have to finish cutting the slab off with a chain saw,you will have to shorten the board splitter,they are too tall and will bind in the slab !!!!!!! i shortened mine to just under the gullet height at the top of the saw,that stopped any problems. I also have another M 14 set up as a self contained portable mill with a built in Belsaw edger, i just got it a few weeks ago and been tinkering it up. Happy sawing !! Don

[francismilker]

I'm not that knowledgeable on blade mills, but I've got an hour or two under my belt with a tractor.  The tractor, no matter what horse it is, should be protected by a sheer pen like was mentioned above.  Provided there's a sheer pin you should do just fine.  Just keep an ear out and listen to the motor.  If it's laboring and changes pitch, you're pushing a little too fast.  You'll learn quick what cuts well and what don't. 

If my 70hp tractor can roll up a round bale, your's can cut logs!

[Magicman]

I know nothing about your saw but, Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Justin@Wv   

[sandhills]

I wouldn't be a bit concerned about the tractor, but would like to see some pictures of the mill  ;).

[Justin@Wv]

Another attempt to put pics on here! Cant do it from my phone so attempting the computer now! These pics are before I moved the mill home!

  

 

[Meadows Miller]

Gday Justin

Purrdy she looks the goods and should not take much to have in action Mate  ;) ;D ;D

Keep us posted Mate  ;)

Regards Chris

[captain_crunch]

Mine has belt drive which takes shock off pto rototiller is lots harder on tractor than mill

[Charles135]

Justin,
Welcome, I have a M-14 and ran it for a very short while on the PTO of a '48 Massey Harris 44 which dynoed about 45 hp at the PTO.  It pulled it fine unless your in bigger hardwood.  I am in the process of converting mine to a 90 horse diesel power unit on a belt pulley.  A friend has a similiar tractor set up on his M-14, which he has ran for years and has never had any issues with the tractor clutch or PTO Shaft.
Good luck
Charlie

[bandmiller2]

Justin,thats a pretty level piece of ground for WV,when I was down around Bluefield it was ether up or down.No problems with your tractor except needing it for something else.Use it but keep your eyes open for a dedicated power unit preferabley a diesel. Frank C.