The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: 123maxbars on July 23, 2012, 09:33:01 PM

Title: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: 123maxbars on July 23, 2012, 09:33:01 PM
First, I run a Hyd LT35. It has 105hours on the mill. I am the only owner. This evening while sawing SYP the up/down failed. I finished a cut and backed up my saw head to the starting position to make my next cut. I had the accuset set to saw 2in boards. I was 6in from the deck, after hitting the down button the saw head went straight down and never stopped till it was resting on the frame/deck. I attempted to raise the head, it would go up about two inches, then pop and the saw head would come crashing back down and slam onto the saw deck. I tried this several times and got the same result. Tried a restart/letting machine cool for hour and got same result. I will be calling WM in the morning. Just wondering if anyone on here has had same experience. Any comments/advice would be appreciated,
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on July 23, 2012, 09:38:14 PM
Max, I have the simple set. I've not had any problems but Woodmizer will surely know what to tell you to do.

smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: kgbond on July 23, 2012, 09:46:13 PM
I am not familiar with your mill, but if
It is hydraulic, I think there is a foreign body in the
Hydraulic system. Had a like problem
On 40 foot man lift. There was s piece of
Metal stuck in the valve itself, the up down
Failed and was doing what you experiencing.
I had to call for service.

Kimball

A
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: 123maxbars on July 23, 2012, 09:52:36 PM
The Up/Down operates off an electric motor, 
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: ruren on July 23, 2012, 10:18:07 PM
I received a letter right after I bought my LT35 stating some people had a problem with the head dropping on their mill and Woodmizer was working to figure out what caused it. I would contact them about it and see if it fits the problem they were working on. It matches the description in the letter from what I remember.

Quote from: 123maxbars on July 23, 2012, 09:33:01 PM
First, I run a Hyd LT35. It has 105hours on the mill. I am the only owner. This evening while sawing SYP the up/down failed. I finished a cut and backed up my saw head to the starting position to make my next cut. I had the accuset set to saw 2in boards. I was 6in from the deck, after hitting the down button the saw head went straight down and never stopped till it was resting on the frame/deck. I attempted to raise the head, it would go up about two inches, then pop and the saw head would come crashing back down and slam onto the saw deck. I tried this several times and got the same result. Tried a restart/letting machine cool for hour and got same result. I will be calling WM in the morning. Just wondering if anyone on here has had same experience. Any comments/advice would be appreciated,
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: tyb525 on July 24, 2012, 12:16:34 AM
Sounds like a stripped gear or rack, I'm sure WM will take care of you. Remember the LT35 is a "new" model so not all the bugs have been worked out.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed
Post by: wormy on July 24, 2012, 03:19:17 PM
i dont know about 35 but on the 40 the head is chain driven up and down i would check the sprockets to see if there were any teeth missing.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: 123maxbars on July 24, 2012, 06:08:50 PM
Talked to WM this morning, they are shipping me what they call a "LT35 Up/Down Upgrade" he said this has happened a few time and when it does they upgrade the electric motor. He said it is caused by gears failing in the motor. Got my invoice and it goes for around $500 but luckily it's under warranty.  They say its about a two hour install. He said it also comes with some other upgrades that I cant remember at the moment. I will start a post this week when it arrives on the install.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: fishpharmer on July 24, 2012, 06:16:23 PM
Wow, that's great!  I wouldn't expect anything less from Woodmizer! 8)
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: wormy on July 24, 2012, 06:38:00 PM
thats good they sent that to you. but i would have been more impressed if they would have contacted you before it went out and sent the upgrade. since it is a part they know has problems
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: MartyParsons on July 24, 2012, 07:06:06 PM
Hello.
The new motor kit will take care of the issue. It will take some labor time to install the motor but not bad.
Marty
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on July 24, 2012, 07:15:21 PM
Max......I'm glad it all worked out. I had to replace an under warranty part on my mill when I first got it. What I tore up was due to ME not reading the manuel   stupid_smiley.

I kind of enjoyed working on my mill.....I learned some things.

You'll be sawing again in no time.  smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: Bibbyman on July 24, 2012, 07:43:33 PM
I just love a happy ending.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: Bandmill Bandit on July 24, 2012, 08:47:04 PM
Quote from: wormy on July 24, 2012, 06:38:00 PM
thats good they sent that to you. but i would have been more impressed if they would have contacted you before it went out and sent the upgrade. since it is a part they know has problems




Hey Wormy I hear what you are saying but most times it takes a few events like this one for the company to determine that a problem is widespread enough in the model and then it takes time to develop a real and reliable fix and not a bandaid. Generally once those issues are adressed the company will do a general upgrade for the problem without question. The first owners do end up as the "lab rats" but that is what warranty is for and Woodmizer is one of the best when it comes to warranty. That kind of warranty makes for Happy Endings.   
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: wormy on July 25, 2012, 02:26:51 PM
yea i probably jump the gun on that. i was a ford 6.0 owner and it really made me sick the way all the problems with it was adressed. i own a wooldmizer lt40 and i have to admit it is one of the most reliable and well built peices of equipment that i own.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: Chuck White on July 25, 2012, 04:09:43 PM
I think the biggest thing going for Wood-Mizer sawmills is that it is so easily maintained.

There are no special tools or ancillary equipment required to maintain them.

Simple basic mechanical skills is all that's required to maintain a Wood-Mizer sawmill.

I have never seen a more detailed operator/service manual on any piece of equipment.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: Bandmill Bandit on July 30, 2012, 09:22:30 AM
Quote from: Chuck White on July 25, 2012, 04:09:43 PM

I have never seen a more detailed operator/service manual on any piece of equipment.


A lot of shop service manuals aren't even close to as good as the Wood Mizer owners manuals.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: rmack on July 30, 2012, 10:17:49 AM
I have to agree, there is a lot of information available in the two volumes (owners manual, and sawmill options for lt40hd-lt70hd) that came with my mill.

unfortunately, the sawmill options volume is bound so poorly that the first time you open it to a specific page, that page breaks free from the binding. It literally started self-destructing from the first time I opened it. the owners manual is a bit better, but not much. I will definitely be contacting the dealer to see about getting a replacement set.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: drobertson on July 30, 2012, 11:01:15 AM
I own an 2004 lt-40 super. There has been some issues with various components, accuset, transducers, gear boxes going out, H bridges, but for the most part the quality that comes off the mill is second to none. WM is good enough at helping trouble shoot when you get through the wait line.  The H bridge on my 40 has been the biggest problem. they did finally get me one that works. Thanks to a fellow named Mike. My head was dropping,rising, just going nuts, after the replaced new bridge no problems.  but in the mean while they had upgrades such as electric motor brakes, at $78 bucks, and they knew the gear boxes were failing without telling. And of course down time always happens when there is plenty of work! good luck on your mill.
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: beenthere on July 30, 2012, 11:17:13 AM
rmack
Punch it and put your manual in a three ring binder.
Or take it to an office supply house and have them spiral bind it.

Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: drobertson on July 30, 2012, 11:45:16 AM
Hey beenthere, I just moved my daughter and new son-in-law to Paddock lake this past Feb. We were up for the forth week-end, where are you located? if you don't mind saying.   David
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: beenthere on July 30, 2012, 12:40:00 PM
drob
About 100 miles northwest of Paddock Lake.

Hope your daughter and SIL enjoy the state. Things are looking up with our non-recalled Gov.  ;D
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: drobertson on July 30, 2012, 01:51:42 PM
Yea man, Levi is in Kenosha Coast Guard, Caitlin is now with the Wisconsin Childrens Hospital.  Just love the state! We are in Missouri, but it looks like you guys are having the same heat and drought as the rest of the country.  Just hate this, but the course is set, so we will just sail till it gets better. thanks for the kickback.  Have a good week brother,  David
Title: Re: First Breakdown On WM/Advice needed UPDATED
Post by: rmack on July 30, 2012, 02:24:57 PM
Quote from: beenthere on July 30, 2012, 11:17:13 AM
rmack
Punch it and put your manual in a three ring binder.
Or take it to an office supply house and have them spiral bind it.

came up with a better idea...

called Woodmizer in Salmon Arm, new manuals are on the way. 8)

:)