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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Stuart Caruk on December 28, 2017, 08:37:42 PM

Title: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on December 28, 2017, 08:37:42 PM
Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...

After 9 1/2 months of waiting my LX 450 is finally here. To be fair, if I'd stuck with the original gas powered version and no debarker, It would have been ready in July. But They told me if I wanted to wait a couple more weeks I could get a debarker. Then they had the diesel figured out and I could wait another couple months.... which, because of issues requiring the tier 4 diesel, took longer than planned. The weather caused some other issues getting the truck in their yard to unload, so training was delayed till today. For some odd reason they won't turn you loose without training...

So ya, I know... pictures...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20171228_115708.jpg)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20171228_115650.jpg)

I carefully measured this sucker at the show, and it has a greater capacity than the LT50 wide or LT70 wide. It has the dual hydraulic pumps of the LT40 super, that are really fast compared to my LT35 hyd. It is very nicely put together with some pretty stout components. A couple minor hiccups cropped up, but they will be easily addressed once it's installed in my sawmill shed, leveled, and bolted down. This will always be a stationary mill at my facility.

One issue I kick myself about is that this sucker goes way higher above the rails than I thought it would. I may be vertically challenged in my mill shed. I guess I'll know in a couple hours....

I still can't quite figure out why this mill is priced so cheaply. It's a huge step up from a 40 series, and matches the speed of the super, for way less money. I'm not complaining though.

Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on December 28, 2017, 08:39:43 PM
 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: YellowHammer on December 28, 2017, 08:53:42 PM
Congratulations, its very nice! 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: dbroswoods on December 28, 2017, 09:24:33 PM
Congrats that is one sweet mill.

😉

Mark
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: nativewolf on December 28, 2017, 09:29:18 PM
Hey hey nice!  With your fabrication skills you'd be one of the members that I wouldn't worry about with sawmill shed modifications.  Little jacking here, some custom welded braces there and your roof has gained 2 feet.  I am actual curious to see how you deal with the height challenge but am very pleased you've got the new mill.  Congrats!
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Peter Drouin on December 28, 2017, 09:36:34 PM
Very nice,  8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Southside on December 28, 2017, 09:37:49 PM
Congratulations - keep us posted on the real world production she will do. 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: barbender on December 28, 2017, 10:56:56 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: DPatton on December 29, 2017, 12:46:15 AM
WOW, that's a beauty Stuart! Congratulations on the new mill. That head and carriage design along with the bed looks so much different than most Wood-Mizer mills (Kinda resembles a TK mill) :o :o :o. Keep us posted on how it performs.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Crossroads on December 29, 2017, 03:50:48 AM
Congratulations, that's a fine looking unit!
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on December 29, 2017, 08:06:05 AM
Very nice
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: dgdrls on December 29, 2017, 09:00:19 AM
Congratulations SC.  I'll look forward to hearing your reports back on its performance
after a couple/few hundred hours of run time.

Question on your tier 4, what diesel is it and does it require any DEF ?

It's a current thread here
tier 4 diesel ? in Sawmills and Milling (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,99196.0.html)

D
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on December 29, 2017, 03:59:19 PM
It's a Yanmar tier 4. No DEF required, but it does have an automatic regen cycle that can apparantly be delayed when it pops up. The manual says it requires no change in operation. In theory, the mill shouldn't lose any power during regen, but the exhaust will get a lot hotter. I guess we'll just have to see how it works out. The engine looks massive and is quite a bit louder than the Kohler on my LT35. It's not objectionable, but my wife keeps wandering out thinking another semi truck has arrived that she needs to unload...

It's under cover now, but oddly it's soaked from the condensation with all the rain and cold. I'll get some pictures after I get some pads bolted down and weld the sucker to the floor. The head moves fast enough, and is heavy enough that the the mill creeps about 1/2" on every return of the head (further if it taps the end stop...). So far only a couple minor issues have cropped up that should be easy to fix.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: John S on December 29, 2017, 06:45:43 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Southside on December 29, 2017, 09:54:04 PM
We had a truck in for service at a garage once when one of the other trucks went into regen, set off the fire suppression system and filled the entire facility with foam. Personally I would be concerned with a regen cycle in a dusty environment, time will tell I guess.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Ohio_Bill on December 29, 2017, 10:27:10 PM
Congratulations. Looks like a very nice mill .
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: tobryant1 on December 30, 2017, 12:51:07 AM
Drooling right now, congratulations on a beautiful piece of machinery.  My John Deere tractor has a Yanmar 4 cylinder with the Regen cycle and no DEF.  You can continue to work through the Regen cycle with no noticable loss in power.  The exhaust tune sounds a bit different and temp goes up a bit but that's it.  More soot builds up at lower RPM speed.  If you keep it working over 2500 RPM the time between cycling is longer.  My tractor usually goes into Regen cycle when soot percentage is 80.

Again let us know how well the mill works out.  Whenever I retire from my day job I want to get a diesel mill like the LX 450.

Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: thecfarm on December 30, 2017, 06:08:00 AM
It looks like a keeper.  ;D
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: ladylake on December 30, 2017, 07:08:48 AM

Good to see their going with a Yanmar diesel.  Nice mill  . Steve
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: JB Griffin on December 30, 2017, 09:48:14 AM
Quote from: Southside logger on December 29, 2017, 09:54:04 PM
We had a truck in for service at a garage once when one of the other trucks went into regen, set off the fire suppression system and filled the entire facility with foam. Personally I would be concerned with a regen cycle in a dusty environment, time will tell I guess.

Theres been more then one hayfield set on fire because of those stupid dpf. The 6.4 PS was the one most commonly stated as the culprit around here. Apparently you can't delay the regen on a stock 6.4 and it kinda sneaks up on ya.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Magicman on January 01, 2018, 03:14:12 PM
Congrats Stuart on the end of your looong wait.   8)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on January 04, 2018, 08:21:46 PM
Got her home under cover and onto my slab. Major relief that I'd only made a minor tactical error. Turns out the diesel version is a lot taller than the gas rig. Fortunately my wife is more observant than myself, and while the saw cleared the cross brace at the end of my building with the head down, the radiator would plow through it if it was up more than about 18". She was yelling stop as I was coming down the rails. Good thing...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180103_121113.jpg)

Could have made a nasty dent in the radiator...

So I moved the mill down a couple feet from where I wanted it to end up. Funny thing is that this sucker was determined to move back. Leveled up on the slab, every time the head returned and stopped short of the bumpers the inertia would slide the mill an inch or so. So I fired up the Oxyfuel table and sliced out some metal plates and rawl bolted them to the concrete, then welded the pads down. This sucker should stay put now...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180103_121033.jpg)

This thing has a massive amount of room to hack up large logs...
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180103_120924.jpg)

It is a wee bit over 34 1/2" between the blade guides. 32 1/2" up from the deck to the blade, and my favorite... almost 17" on top of the blade. Even with the debarker installed, there is loads of clearance above the blade, which was always an issue on my LT35.

Overall it fits my shed really well. I need to whip up a 30' extension for the rails, lost the wheel, axle and hitch, add a green line laser level, and get my stop loader arms built for the log deck and get back to work.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180103_120958.jpg)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on January 04, 2018, 08:25:53 PM
Purdy......saw something!  :)


Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Ga Mtn Man on January 05, 2018, 03:59:31 PM
I'm interested to see what they did on the debarker.  Would you mind posting a couple of pics?
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: reswire on January 05, 2018, 10:51:58 PM
I'm still waiting to see another control system available for this mill.  Is it an engineering issue, or did they just push it to market too quickly?  Seems like a test run for more, four post mills from woodmizer....
     
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on January 05, 2018, 11:02:08 PM
Quote from: reswire on January 05, 2018, 10:51:58 PM
I'm still waiting to see another control system available for this mill.  Is it an engineering issue, or did they just push it to market too quickly?  Seems like a test run for more, four post mills from woodmizer....
   

What about the control system? Since I've only seen pictures of this mill, I'm not sure what you're talking about.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on January 05, 2018, 11:18:23 PM
I'd of course love to see a 3 axis servo drive, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon. I've gotten to the root of my speed variance issues, and now it's cutting at a consistent speed. Sure has more power and everything goes faster than the LT35. The log loader sucks in my application. You can't lower it a wee bit and use it to hold boards. The extension they use to bring the logs over the rails goes sticks up higher, and once you get down to 4" or so off the rails, it will hit. This won't really be an issue since I use a log deck, and was planning on removing the loader anyway.

So far I'm quite happy. I just need to find the time to make all the little upgrades I need.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: dean herring on January 07, 2018, 07:49:21 AM
You'll like the 4 post head
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: PA_Walnut on January 07, 2018, 08:10:16 AM
Congrats! Nice rig. I like your shed design...it may be my next hurdle! When I bought my 40Wide last year, I was seriously considering the 450 as well, but decided to stick with a legacy.

I have the Yanmar Tier4 on my LT40 Wide and the Regen doesn't bother me at all--unlike my Kubota tractor, and Chevy truck...both with regen and are a PITA.  The tractor isn't toooooo bad...just required you park it, run it at high-revs while it closes an exhaust baffle, allowing it to get hot enough to burn off the particulates. It takes 10-15 mins. The truck does is without intervention, but gets so hot it smells like something's burning up underneath and is HORRIBLE....dumbest thing EVER. Thank you Mr. Politician with an agenda. Please explain this global warming thing to all of us since about Christmas!! ::) >:(

The Yanmar's regen is rather transparent and unobstructive. It's a nice unit and has been trouble-free for me with appx 100 hours. Yeah-yeah....I know MagicMan must scoff at those kinda hours. LOL  :D :D
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: richhiway on January 07, 2018, 06:08:58 PM
Good Luck with that beauty. Nice shed too!
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 22, 2018, 10:04:47 PM
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/LX450_extension_B.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1518941982)

My extension is taking shape. I had a huge job in my CNC shop cancel out on me, so I found time last week to cut up the tubing for my mill extension. On Sunday night I had it bolted to the concrete, the rails and angle iron guides are in place, and the the drive chains are back on, so I can use the mill in its original form.

I should have the bed rails finished up and welded in by the weekend, and hopefully get my stop loader arms fabbed up as well.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: YellowHammer on February 22, 2018, 10:34:50 PM
Good work.
Can you show a few more pictures of your deck?  What are you using to drive the chains? What about rails? I like the design.  
Thanks
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 23, 2018, 02:59:58 AM
Hmnn, it dawns on me that I used a picture before I had the rails, chains, and angle iron keepers on. Let's try again...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180219_141410.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1519371423)

If you look close in the photo above, you can see the round rail that the gantry runs on, some 1/3/4" angle iron that runs along both sides (they use keepers on the gantry that go under this so it can't jump off the rails), and some 40 roller chain that runs down both sides.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180219_143536.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1519371377)

Looking at the end stops, there is a chain tension bracket on either side. There is one at each end of the rails on both sides. I simply unhooked the chain from the bracket, and added another 30 feet or so of chain and hooked them back up. The chain rests on the supports that go under the mill rails out to the feet. I couldn't figure out how to tension the chains, because I would normally look at the sag to get them even. I had the tension waaaaaaaay off initially. It was much higher on one side than the other and the machine would kind of wiggle down the rails with the chains making a horrid slapping sound inside the gantry frame. 

The drive is simple enough. There's a pretty beefy drive on the upper side of the gantry on the loader side. It drives a torque tube with sprockets on either side of the gantry. Chains are fixed to one end of the rails, go up through some idler sporckets to the torque tube back down, past another sprocket and go to the far end of the rails. The drive essentially just pulls the gantry along the chain, just like any chain driven Woodmizer, except it's on both sides.

Oh, the trick to getting even tension... I use a framing square and lifted the chains in the middle of the run, with the gantry at one end. I matched the height I was able to lift the chains. Originally I used the same # of links, and equal distances on both sides. The difference in the height I could lift the chains this way was substantial. By adjusting them to lift the same height, the drive is smooth again, and the noise is way less. I'm pretty sure it can be resolved with either more, or less tension. I hate to stretch the chain super tight, because I know that the force goes to infinity as the tension goes higher... 

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180219_143556.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1519371334)

If you look close you can see the angle, chains and round bar on the loader side.

Keen eyes will notice the log loader, hitch, wheels and axle have been removed. If you look close you can see the cutouts for my stop loader arms to lift logs up from my log deck to this mill height.  

I just finished welding up the deck cross beams, and they should go onto the mill tomorrow so I can tap them and have my version of Woodmizers adjustable bed rails. So far I'm pretty happy how this is turning out.

I'm happier that the hydraulics place called today and told me the fix I made to my Barko Log loader track drive motor worked this time and there are no leaks. After pulling and replacing the sucker 4 times, I figured I'd pressure test the sucker before reinstalling it this time.

I think I may have overkilled this extension a bit... I made the assumption that Woodmizer used 1/4" tubing on their frame. I was wrong... but heck nothing wrong with building a bit too strong I guess. I could have done with thinner pads for the feet, but I had loads of 3/4" plate on the table that was going to scrap that it was just as easy to squeeze the feet and jack plates out of. Sure is nice to have the right machines on hand for the job.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: YellowHammer on February 23, 2018, 06:04:43 AM


Very well done.  So I'm assuming you made a spacing jig to get the round main bearing rails welded accurately to match the WM spacing.  Are you going to weld and grind them to the WM rails or leave an open joint?

Also, the yellow cutoff saw in your picture, I can't make out the brand or crosscut capacity?  I'm looking for a wide capacity alternative to my current crosscut saw.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 23, 2018, 02:05:04 PM
Getting the rails on was easy. I took great pains to ensure that the frame was dead straight as I welded it up. Once it was complete, I aligned the rail sections with some stretched nichrome wire, and rawl bolted the extension to the ground. I got the extra rail sections from Woodmizer with the mill, because I wanted the hole in the center of the rods. I clamped short sections of flatbar to the edge of my 3" x 6" tubing with welders clamps so the rail would stay put. I pinned and joined the rail section on one side, then tacked it in place using the flat bar to keep it flush to the edge of the tubing. I welded it out alternating sides to keep the round bar from rolling, twisting or bending. You can see the join where the rail sections come together, but it's a perfect fit, and doesn't even click going across it.

One that side was complete, I removed the chains from the end of the rails and tied them up to the carriage. I rolled the carriage down and used it to align the 2nd rail, since it has V wheels on both sides. This also helped me solve my erratic drive issues, because the gantry was still binding in a few spots, shaving orange paint as it traveled down the rails.

The chop saw table is really handy for making proper length boards with straight ends. It's a pair of Ryobi 14" sliding compound miter saws that I bought at Home Depot for $249/ each. They will actually cleanly cut 14" x 4" material without flipping, but the rubber sawdust guard gets smooshed in the process. Great saws for the price. That table tunrs out to be a really handy tool that saves me a lot of work.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: CX3 on February 23, 2018, 08:33:25 PM
Nice mill!

I was actually thinking if height was a problem to reach in there with a little mini track hoe and dig the bottom out from under where the tires sit. But I'm lazy
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 24, 2018, 12:19:56 AM
I found it easier to take the tires and the axles off... besides, it makes it that much harder for the criminal element to steal when I'm gone to lunch.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 28, 2018, 03:04:55 PM
Well, the frame extension is mostly done. I've cut and welded up the individual bed rails and milled the adjustable support brackets that will hold them. Now I've got them in my Sharp CNC mill to drill and tap them.

Even with all the right tools, this is still a royal PITA. I swear, I must have as much time making the bed rails as I did the entire frame assembly.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180227_212821.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1519847948)

Drilling the mounting holes, holes to mount on the stainless bedrails, and the extra toe roller brackets.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180227_213945.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1519847946)

Tapping the 5/8"-11 holes for the adjustable bed leveling. It's almost an exact copy of a Woodmizer bed rail, only made out of 1/4" tubing.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Kbeitz on February 28, 2018, 05:33:42 PM
I think you got more money tied up in vises than you do the mill...
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on February 28, 2018, 07:05:37 PM
It usually has either 6 Kurt vices mounted, or 4 chick double locks and a pair of horizontal pneumatically indexed chick 4 vice tombstones.... for a total of 24 jaw sets.

It's a very handy tool, and darned accurate. Tool still costs waaaay more than the vices though. So far it's made back what I paid about a dozen times over plus a bit.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on March 14, 2018, 06:56:33 PM
I took the mill apart to paint the extension, and now it's back in place, hooked up and good to go.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164227.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521010964)

The adjustable bed rails are installed, just like factory. I think it took longer to make the rails and install that holders, that to build the extension.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164227.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521010964)

I got my stop loader built for the log deck. So far it works well, but it needs a bit of tweaking, especially for short logs. I also need to remove the existing Woodmizer loader hardware, as it turns out I don't need it.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164301.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521011153)

Turns out that the log deck chains and the stop loaders work just fine off an old LT40 hydraulic box that I got from a friend. I thought it might be ridiculously slow, but that's not the case.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164458.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521011821)

The biggest problem now is that my edger is about 5" to low. With my extension in the way, I can't fit more than 12' long boards through the edger. So, I'm going to weld in some 4" tubing + a couple plates to raise the edger. I think it's time to lose the axle and wheels as well. Might as well add my green line laser to match the guide, which will make trimming live edge flitches way easier.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164612.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521011969)


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164629.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521012128)

At least the edger is under cover...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180313_164659.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521012152)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Darrel on March 14, 2018, 07:29:26 PM
Pretty awesome setup you got there. Pretty cool how you send the flitches out the window to edge them. 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Ga Mtn Man on March 14, 2018, 08:35:30 PM
Wait a minute...who has an old WM hydraulic box just sittin around??  There's got to be a story here.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: 4x4American on March 14, 2018, 10:37:16 PM
Wow great work
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Rougespear on March 15, 2018, 12:07:45 AM
May I ask what paint you used/recommend for industrial equipment strength?  Did you sandblast?
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on March 15, 2018, 02:36:40 AM
The Woodmizer hydraulic box came from a friend who's on his 4th or 5th mill. He has loads of parts lying around. I supect this came from a used LT40 that he gutted to use as a frame extension. It was sitting in his shed for 5 years or so. He offered... I couldn't say no. Took a bit of cleaning to get it to run without smoking, and the switches that shut off the solenoids still stick a bit, but it's working.

For paint, I've always used machinery enamel with synthetic reducer. No need to sandblast. It stops rust, and frankly the paint sticks better if you let it get a skim coat of rust and hit it with a scoth brite pad and some acytone before you paint it. I've used this paint for years and it stands up really well.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 03:28:14 AM
Was that machinery allis chalmer color by any chance?

I have to say your set up is looking awesome.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on March 15, 2018, 04:38:51 PM
Nope, custom mixed to match the sample from a plate off the woodmizer. Kubota orange was to dark, safety orange was too light. The guys at Bob's Paintland are wizards at matching colors. the amazing part was that the paint actually kicked off in the 40 degree weather.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 06:51:02 PM
Ok got it, it is amazing how well they can computer match paint these days. I know here it the sample has to be on metal though. When trying to match anything on a truck, most parts you can take off easily is either plastic or fiberglass, and for some reason they can't use it.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on March 15, 2018, 08:44:15 PM
Nope, these guys are old school wizards. The new guys take the paint codes from the factory code, and use a base color and the appropriate drops of tint to match. Pure science.

These guys take a base color and add a tint, and a bit of this and that based on their knowledge and the generally hit right on. I've given them samples of machine parts, and painted wood and plastic. I try to stick with a stock color, but for some odd reason I've decided to match woodmizers orange.

Now I judt need to run into it with the forklift to get the first oops out of the way.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: starmac on March 15, 2018, 10:26:57 PM
Well it sure looks like they did a fine job.
A few years back I damaged the wifes town car and had to put new doors on the drivers side. We had a local body man that basically worked out of a home shop. he painted it with the proper paint according to the code, but it didn't suit him (I didn't see it) so he took a piece of the old door down and had it computer matched, and you could not tell where the old paint ended or the new paint started.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 06:55:30 PM
Well, time for some maintenance. I've had an annoying issue of the blade wandering up and down as I saw through a log. I'm pretty sure that it's not related to blade tension or set, but a physical issue with how the mill is built. I've been working on an building CNC plasma cutting machines for some 28 years or so, and many of them have parallel round rails like the LX450 mill does. None of them, however have v Wheels on both sides like the LX450. I'm fairly certain that the LX450 frame is tacked up in a jig, but I'm betting the rails are welded out after everything is in place. It's pretty clear on my mill that there are a couple places where the rails go in and out about 1/16" from a nominal value. With no place to go, when the rails get skinnier or fatter, the only place to go is up, so the blade has to go up and down as well.

I think the original gas version had a flexible enough gantry, that the flex would take care of any issues. I think I have the first diesel machine in the fleet, and it took a while to get it as Woodmizer elected to make the frame much stiffer to handle the weight of the diesel. In the CNC plasma world that I'm familiar with, almost all manufactures use a flat wheel on the slave side, so if the rails go in and out, or get bent in service it has no bearing on the torch height. I noted the issue to Woodmizer and lo and behold, a week or so ago a new set of flat wheels arrived in the mail. No istructions, but I figure I could have a go at this.

On the bottom is the stock V wheel. There are a pair of them on both sides. The top has one of the newer flat wheels that they sent. I'm not sure why they added the flanges on either side. It's not like the machine can wander off the rails with the keepr on both side. It looks like they did the math to figure out where the V wheels should ride on the shaft and have adjust the height appropriately.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_182943.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981177)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_182951_001.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981244)
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 07:08:49 PM
Before I get around to replacing the wheels I figured I'd take care of a service bulletin on this machine.

As it turns out in the real world, if left uncovered, this machine can get water in the square tubes on the uprights. This water will then freeze and the expansion can damage the uprights. Woodmizer sent out a note with instructions to drill holes in both sides of the carriages to allow the water to drain. They suggest drilling with a 1/4" drill, then reaming it out with a 1/2" drill.

I'm lazy, and owning a cool fab shop allows me to have some unique tools. One of my latest favorites is an ALFRA magnetic base. It's designed in Germany to hold an electric motor. What it really is though is a multi pole magnet with a safety latch. I bought a couple to use as prototypes to hold a portable visual tooth inspector that I am building for a sawmill. I took one of them and bored it out to fit a Dewalt 20v drill. What I have now is a really nice 18 pound portable mag drill. MY electric ones seem to take 2 men and a buy to cart around. These on is as handy as a cordless drill. Only it works waaaaaaay better for drilling holes in steel.

Here's the drill stuck to the column...
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_143453.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980728)

and a closeup...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_143501.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980742)


and a quick shot of the finished hole...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_143557.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980815)

All told, I think it took a couple minutes to fix. And yes, I know that the odds of my tube filling up with rain under a cover are slim to none, but I'm thinking of one of you guys who may inherit this from my estate sale when the time comes. No sense you getting something with an unfinished service bulletin...

Now onto the wheel swap.


Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Magicman on April 07, 2018, 07:18:27 PM
Can you also put a lid on the square tubes to stop the sawdust drift from entering the tops?
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: starmac on April 07, 2018, 07:27:30 PM
I am with MM on the lid for the tubing, to keep sawdust out, or at least try.
That magnet is neat, I can sure see where it would be handy.
If that was the first diesel you would have thought that woodmizer would have tested it. It is just my opinion, but I think the flat wheels should be used instead of relying on the heads frame flexing on the gas models too.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 07:46:21 PM
I thought the wheel swap would be simple, turned out it was a royal PITA. It starts simple enough (instructions with the wheels they sent would have been nice...)

I started by grabbing a 7/16" wrench and removing the wheel covers on the loader side of the mill.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_143941_001.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980801)


What I missed was that I should have used the same wrench to remove the sprocket covers on the outside of the mill where the chains come down from the torque tube. You'll need this cover off to remove the keeper bracket that helps hold the mill on the rails.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_152330.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980948)

Then you'll need to use a 9/16" wrench to remove the keeper under the square tube. I've already had this off a few times, because it was binding on the angle iron and jamming up the mill. I've added a half a dozen spacers underneath it to keep it from hitting the angle iron section underneath the rails. Watch for these washers underneath. There are some used as spacers at the factory, so you don't want to lose them, or lose track of how many are installed.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_144059.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980879)

You'll need to remove the bracket under the sprockets as well. This one is mounted further outboard, so there are no spacer washers used.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_152556.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980981)

Loosen the chain tension bolts at the end of the mill on the loader side, so it's easier to raise the mill. 
NOTE - don't be a dumbass like myself. A simple ratcheting box wrench or socket works great. I've done this many times in the past. This time I figured I'd spin it off with an impact wrench. On the fine threads, the impact wrench simply galls up and strips the threads... At least the cheain tensioners are a common item and only cost like $15...

Use a 1/2" wrench to remove the bolts that hold the wheels on.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_144922.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522980894)

I choose to loosen the felt wiper covers, but this probably isn't really required.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_183724.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981433)

Then lift up the mill slightly to clear the rails. I used a tranny jack and a block of wood. You only need to lift 3/4" or so. Don't overdo it, and you won't need to remove the keepers on the other side of the mill to keep from bending the angle iron. I stuffed a few wedges between the rail and the frame to keep the carriage from dropping as I worked, just in case.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_152702.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981095)

Getting the wheels off should be simple, but it was a frustrating process. A prybar didn't have enough force to break them free. A wheel puller wouldn't fit around the back and simply slipped off the taper. In the end I used a couple tapered wedges that I have dozens of lying around the fab shop for lifting, aligning, and beating things apart. I cut them from scrap plate that would otherwise be tossed.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_183601.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981359)

The wedges broke them loose, and a longer pry bar and a spacer popped them off.... after about 3 frustrating hours of effort... Note to Woodmizer... put a couple tapped holes to help pull these suckers off it needed...

Set the new wheels in place and tap them in place with a deadblow mallet. The circlip should face the side where you can see it.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_183636.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981333)

Assembly is the reverse of the above steps. Pay attention to the keeper that mounts under the square tube. It will have spacers at the factory, and you will need these when the mill is reinstalled. If you  look at the photo of mine, you will see the paint is rubbed off of it in several places.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180404_184220.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1522981429)

When I first got my mill it was binding up in a few places. I found welding dingle berries on the bottom side of the angle iron bracket left from the manufacturing process. It must have missed the final inspection as it's out of sight. I ground off the dingle berries and added spacers to help relieve the binding. I didn't really realize how bad the binding was though until I removed the drive chains when I built my mill extension.

When I built my extension, I welded the master rail in place, then rolled the mill down to space the slave rail. What I found was a couple places where I couldn't physically push the carriage past. It turned out that the keeper was rubbing on the angle iron still. I cured this by adding a couple more washers as spacers, and tweaked the angle iron slightly with a 2' crescent wrench.

My advice would be to remove the chains from both ends of the mill. USE HAND TOOLS, NOT AN IMPACT WRENCH. and make sure the mill rolls freely all the way down your rails without binding.

The mill seems to cut much better now, as the blade stay the same height as it travels down the rails.

This weekend I need to solve the annoying water lube solenoid issue, so I can shut it off with a switch rather than going around to shut off the flow valve. Whilst I'm inside the console, I think I'll look at the slow return speed modification as well.













Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
On the water getting in the tubing issue... There are no open holes on the top of the tubing. The tube (on mine at least, but I'm pretty sure the gas version is the same) is welded into the upper support. There are a few bolts penetrating the tubing on both sides though, so I can see a mill left in the rain would collect water on the hardware and over time it would leech into the tubing where it would collect with no way to escape.

A few minor issues still aren't enough to convince me I don't have a seriously cool mill. I'm happy with the performance, and with each little tweak it seems to get better and better.

So far I'm mostly surprised that I seem to get a better cut with a .045 thick 1 1/4" wide 10 degree blade than I do with an .055" 1 1/2" blade. I would have though that the fatter bade would perform better. I've got a bunch of 35' logs dropped now that I'll skid out this week and start slicing up, so I'll have more time to make a better comparison. I was going to head out today, but with 70 knot winds forecast, the woods is the last place I want to be. I'm comfortable enough in the cab of my skidder, but I'm likely to get killed getting there from my truck. I swung by earlier today and it was raining sticks, cones, and debris. Mod Pizza sounded better.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Magicman on April 07, 2018, 09:45:12 PM
Since your sawmill setup is a sorta "prototype" it sounds like the glitches that you have found and corrected are minimal.  I suspect that those rollers will be standard on future sawmills.  Anyway, thanks for sharing your journey.  :P
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 10:31:01 PM
I saw the original LX450 at a Woodmizer demo, and would have bought it, but somebody beat me to it. When I went to order mine the diesel and debarker wasn't available and a new gas rig was about 4 months out. While I was waiting a debarker was introduced so I opted for that, and a month or so later they announced the diesel, so of course I opted for that as well. I think that they planned for a tier 3 diesel, but the feds got involved and it ended up requiring a tier 4 diesel. When it was installed the weight apparently caused some issues, so the head had to be redesigned. I was pressing them  to get it done for a job that was overdue, so they may have overlooked a few items to try and keep me happy. Overall though, I'm tickled pink with this machine. Clearly I have the skills to build one of my own, but they have done a fantastic job. The reality is that I couldn't even come close for twice the money. After futzing around building my extension, I checked into just buying the parts. The bed rails were the biggest PITA for me to make. I bought their bolts and the bedcaps. The tubing, square stock and plates to plug the tube ends cost me about $20 a pop, and I have a couple hours in each one. I could have just bought them complete for like $140. When I added my toe rollers I computed my cost to build them , and just went and bought them from Woodmizer. Same thing as I plan to do for a couple more backstops and clamp.

I want to add you idea for the fast forward button MM, and the variable speed return option. I still can't find the appropriate wiring harness location. 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Darrel on April 07, 2018, 10:39:08 PM
Quote from: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 07:54:56 PM
A few minor issues still aren't enough to convince me I don't have a seriously cool mill. I'm happy with the performance, and with each little tweak it seems to get better and better.
Personally, I can't imagine Wood-Mizer making anything but a "seriously cool mill. 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Magicman on April 07, 2018, 10:48:45 PM
Quote from: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 10:31:01 PMI want to add you idea for the fast forward button MM
I was actually surprised that the Fast Forward drew very little attention.  I use it many many times during each day's sawing.  Maybe strangely, I have no interest in the variable return. ::)

Except when sawing I want both the forward and reverse full speed.  :o
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 07, 2018, 11:00:34 PM
I have this crazy idea to add a sled that holds 5 @ 3.5HP routers to make the tongue and grooves in a pair of 12" wide cant's. Mill the can't and clamp them side by side. Pin the sled to the mill and let the mill push the sled to the end. Flip the cant's and let the mill pull the sled back to the start and I'm done.

In order for it to work, I need the variable speed on the return.

I for one loved you fast forward button. With my extension that would be really handy. Currently I just dial up the speed pot, but it's just a matter of time before that bites me. 

If I could find the location of the H bridge and control harness, I'd probably have done it by now.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: starmac on April 07, 2018, 11:09:38 PM
I like your idea of a planer/shaper/moulder whatever you call it sled.  It would be similar to the one woodmizer has, just using your existing engine and travel motors. hmmm
Title: Blade Lube shutoff switch on LX450
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 08, 2018, 02:15:56 PM
One of the minor annoyances on my LX450 is related to the automatic coolant lube flow. On my previous LT35hyd, the blade lube was manually controlled by a valve on the lube tank. It sat right near my face, so it was pretty easy to use. I did occasionally forget to shut it off, which just drains the tank. It was annoying, but not enough for me to slap in a solenoid to control the flow.

Well, the LX450 comes with a solenoid, and they even automate the process for you. It's plumbed in so that when you engage the forward feed, the solenoid opens and blade lube flows. That's great, except I only cut mostly Fir or Cedar. I only use lube on pitchy logs, or when trimming up an expensive cant. On this mill the lube tank is mounted up over the fuel tank.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_180720.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153608)

Now, I'm 6'4" tall, and if the blade is more than 20" off the deck, I can't reach this manual valve. In order to completely shut off the flow of coolant, this is the only way to do it.

So, I added a switch to shut off power to the solenoid, which eliminates the need to climb up on the mill.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_182330.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153650)

A buddy who stopped by asked how to accomplish the same thing on his mill, so I'll document it here, and make it easier for the next guy as well.

Looking in the manual, the power for the solenoid comes in from the rotary feed switch on the left side of the console. The mod is simple and will take about 10 minutes.

Start by turning off the power switch, so you don't cause a short. Remove the ground terminal from the battery if you're a real klutz.

Remove the 8 phillips head screws from the lower console to expose the rotary forward/reverse switch on the left.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_174243.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153455)

There are 2 predrilled holes in the front panel for a laser line guide, and a board return retract. The LX450 has fingers for the board return, with a manual installed bar to lock them out of the way. It doesn't affect the size of the cant you can cut whether it's up or down, so I always leave mine down. You'll never use this hole, so it's one option. I'm planning on installing an external laser, so I chose to open that hole instead. I figured the line looks like water squirting out. A 15/32" drill or a knife will easily remove the thin plastic cover so that you can install a single pole, single throw switch (SPST) I chose to add a blue guarded switch cover to mine.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_180735.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153597)

ON the left side of the control, remove the flat head screw to remove the control handle.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_174248.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153452)

This will expose 3 screws. Remove all 3 screws so that you can rotate the switch to expose the rear contacts. You'll be looking for the contact terminal marked as #1.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180407_174303.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523153516)

This will expose the terminal screws on the backside of the rotary switch.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180409_195503.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523342443)

You're looking for the terminal on the left, marked #1. It has 2 red wires connected to it. One supplies the forward signal to the H bridge on the drive, the other goes to the back of the cabinet and is zip tied to another black wire. 

DON'T cut the red wire leading to this terminal block.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180409_195556.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523342384)

Locate the other red wire that goes to the red/black pair. Both wires have quick connectors on them. These 2 lead to the lube shutoff solenoid. Snip off the red wire on the rotary switch going to the lube shutoff solenoid. Strip the end of this wire and add a butt connector to it with about a 16" length of wire. I chose blue for water...   You will then attach this to 1 side of the SPST switch that you mounted. 

Cut another 16" piece of wire and attach 1 end to terminal 1 of the rotary switch. Mine looked like the photo below.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180409_200832.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523342461)

Run this wire to the other side of your SPST switch and you'll complete the circuit. With the SPST switch in the ON position, blade lube will flow anytime the forward feed is engaged, as long as the manual valve is cracked open. Adjust the flow rate by the position of the manual valve. When the SPST switch is OFF, the solenoid won't open and you won't have any coolant flow.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38226/20180409_201421.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1523342523)

Put everything back together in the reverse order that you took it apart, and you should be good to go.

I did buy a spare coolant tank, but to me it's still a PITA to swap it out. I'm sure there is a better way, and I'd bet some FF member has a great solution... I'd love to hear it.

Thanks






Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Dave Shepard on April 08, 2018, 04:05:47 PM
In my LubeMizer, I can shut the switch off. I've always thought the LubeMizer should be tied into the AutoClitch, not the forward travel. 
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Stuart Caruk on April 08, 2018, 09:09:55 PM
That wouldn't work for me. I never stop the blade on the return, so I'd be wasting coolant with the mill coming back. I'm happy with the lube on forward... now that I can shut it off at will.

My next venture will be switching to the lube that the regular sawmills use to eliminate most of the water. Seems to me that water is corrosive.
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: YellowHammer on April 08, 2018, 11:05:14 PM
Nice install.  They do have the water tank up there!  

On my old mill, I installed a very small needle valve about eye level so I could precisely adjust the lube flow, or turn it off if necessary.

With the Lubemizer on my current mill it has options for full on, full off, or intermittent and variable pulse when the mill is in forward.  

I prefer to use agricultural water soluble oil/cleaner for my lubricant exclusively.  No rust, no corrosion, and a highly reduced flow rate.  
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Southside on April 08, 2018, 11:11:57 PM
YelllowHammer -  What is the product you use?
Title: Re: Woo, Hoo Mx LX450 Diesel is finally here...
Post by: Peter Drouin on April 09, 2018, 06:35:15 AM
Good that you are handy with fab things up. Can you imagine if a guy that wasn't as good as you got that mill? Too bad WM don't run there mills before they send them out.

You did good,