Woodmizer LT 35

[kmarshia]

While I have been reading the great info on the forum for about a year, this is my first post.  I bought an LT 35 hydraulic a little over a year ago and am just learning.  This summer things were going well, but since late fall, it seems to be one headache after another.   While I realize these are probably simple issues, I thought I would seek input before going crazy!  Any advice would be very much appreciated.

1. I am sawing completely frozen hemlock.  I went from a 10 degree blade to a 9 degree after a call to WM tech support.  I am still getting an occasional wavy cut and have varied my feed rate.  Even getting these cuts with a pretty new blade.  Is the answer 4 degree blades or are there other things I can try. 

2. Power feed.  It will not work at all when I start the mill up.   After a dozen or so passes it starts to jump a little and reverse will work with a little push.  After an hour or so it works pretty well.  I can't find any bark or sawdust binding it up, but maybe I am missing something. 

3.  Debarker stopped working.  The other day the Debarker just stopped working.  I have attempted to reset the fuse in the black box on the back of the head.  Still no luck. 

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

[Dave Shepard]

Welcome to the Forum! I use 4° bands for hard or frozen wood. The power feed belt may not be tight enough. Not sure about the debarker. Sudden stops usually mean fuse/circuit breaker, I wonder if there is more than one breaker, maybe a master breaker that controls all accessories?

[NMFP]

Use 4 degree bands.  Contrary to what others say, I have numerous customers running 4 degree on low hp mills.  Look at the geometry and the size chips you are taking with each tooth.  Chip sizes are smaller with 4 degree and you are actually chiseling through the wood where as 10 degre, you are slacing into the wood and have larger chips.

As for your power feed and debarker, have you tested for electrical continuity everywhere?  How about a ground thats weak or something that would be affecting the ground?

[dgdrls]

Welcome aboard.

Lots of great folks here who will help you have your mill running great and sawing straight!!

best
DGDrls

[47sawdust]

kmarshia,
I live just north of montpelier.
Frozen wood presents its own special problems,4 degree blades work well for me in nasty spruce ,give them a try.
The  Woodmizer Techs are top notch and should be contacted for your power feed and debarker issues.
Best regards,
Mick

[AdamT]

Definitely check the power feed belt first. I went through the same thing a few months after buying my mill, and after checking fuses and connections, I decided to pull the cover off the belt housing and look at it. I just wish I did that first!

[Magicman]

Hello kmarshia, and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.   

There are a few basic test that you need to make concerning your Debarker.  Do you have voltage getting to the Debarker?  If not, do you have voltage getting to the breaker that you "reset"?  After resetting, is there voltage on the output side of the breaker?

As was previously mentioned, WM service techs are always ready to lend assistance.   

[sparks]

Give us a call when you are at the sawmill and we can walk you through some troubleshooting on the PF and the Debarker and get you going again.   Thanks

[Dave Shepard]

Sometimes you don't have to call the techs, they find you. :D

[thechknhwk]

My power feed motor went bad the first winter I had it.  The brushes would stick in the "out" position and then of course the head wouldn't move.  I had it apart a few times to free them up or you might be able to free them up by tapping the motor with a mallet.  I would definately seek a replacement though if it's under warranty.  I do not know if they revised the motor at all.  They replaced it for free (under warranty), and I had the WM tech change it when they came to do my alignment/service call.