I broke my mill

Darrel · May 11, 2018, 11:00:30 PM

It doesn't matter why one is in a hurry, haste makes waste. My mill has been at a neighbor's place and I decided that this afternoon was a good time to go get it because I have a job coming up on Monday. Now about 10' away from the operator's end of the mill were 3 fire killed Pondarosa pines about 18" each DBH. They have been dead for about 4 years and a stiff wind was blowing and one had broken off at ground level and was leaning hard on the other two and also leaning hard toward the mill. All I could think was hook up quick and get. And the whole time I had my eye on that busted tree and was ready to run. I could see it leaning more and more and branches were breaking so after what felt like forever I was ready to pull out, but I'm sure it was only a few minutes.

So I pulled out of harms way and did a quick walk around the mill and everything looked to be ok. But thinking about it now, I'm sure that my adrenaline was still flowing and my walk around was consequently a bit too hasty. I got in my truck and drove the half mile home.

My wife was helping me put the carriage cover on and she says, "is this supposed to be crooked?" My heart did a somersault in my chest and I looked where she was pointing. It is now quite evident that I had not opened the log clamp all the way.

Sheared off 3 of the 4 bolts on the rail side of the mill.

On the loading arm side of the mill, the bolts are larger and in slotted holes and it looks like there was enough wiggle room. I can't see that there was any major damage.

This is what I saw coming in the driveway.

However, da dawg is still happy.

Crossroads · May 11, 2018, 11:44:41 PM

Oh bummer I'm sorry to see this. I'm glad nothing major is broken.

Chuck White · May 12, 2018, 06:35:19 AM

WOW! That is looks like a very simple fix!

Sometimes we get lucky!

justallan1 · May 12, 2018, 07:55:43 AM

I don't know a thing about the stress you put on those bolts when working, but by the looks of them I'd say you caught a break by them breaking when you aren't relying on them, or standing real close.
Feeding cows a couple years ago, I lost a U-joint about 15' from my shop....I celebrated! :D
It's a good day when you get to turn wrenches inside a heated shop. ;D

scully · May 12, 2018, 08:31:04 AM

No big deal , should be a reasonably easy fix . I have ripped the front and rear legs clean off my mill and just put new bolts in .

Jim H · May 12, 2018, 04:55:45 PM

I did the same thing with the two plane clamp on my mill. Fixing it required a lot of heat and a little bending. :

Skipper11A · May 12, 2018, 09:55:03 PM

Kudos to Woodmizer for a good design, I am really impressed! Bolts should always shear off before something more dramatic happens. The alternative story would have been really ugly.

Darrel · May 12, 2018, 10:12:55 PM

Yes, it could have been a whole lot worse if knuckle heads weren't taken into consideration during the engineering process. :D

I'll post pics of the repair.

Chuck White · May 13, 2018, 07:58:11 AM

Good to hear you got it back together, could have been a whole lot worse! 8)

Darrel · May 14, 2018, 03:53:37 PM

Four 3/8 5" bolts hold the clamp to the rail side of the mill. I had to use an easy-out on the lower two.

Rail side rebolted. The feed chain dried out a bit over the winter so time for a dose of ATF.

Loading arm side ready to go back together.

All back together. And don't forget the anti-seize grease. This bottle has been in my possession for about 40 years. But it still is good.

Chuck White · May 14, 2018, 04:05:57 PM

I always put antiseize grease on any bolt or nut I remove from the mill, a little goes a long ways!

Every couple of years, I unbolt the square tube that the clamp rides on, just to clean the sawdust out of it!

slider · May 14, 2018, 04:22:23 PM

If you have had that bottle for 40 years you have not been using enough.

Darrel · May 14, 2018, 09:57:42 PM

I only needed it about once a year and the 20 years I was a nurse I only needed it maybe once. But then I got my old mill about 4 years ago and I have used it way more than ever before. I was scraping the bottom to get enough today so will be getting more soon.

LeeB · May 15, 2018, 07:31:00 AM

It does go a long ways. Put a dab on your elbow. By the end of the day you will be covered from head to toe. :D

petefrom bearswamp · May 15, 2018, 11:51:14 AM

Well no bolts sheared but this happened.
After replacing the pan gasket on my mill I had issues with the contact strip for the hydraulics and inadvertently left the clamp 1/2 way out instead of the in position.
My mill has a 5" step up to the concrete pad and when I pulled the mill in this happened.
Removed the part and it is a local shop too