WM Debarker wont go in/out *SOLVED*

JustinW_NZ · September 06, 2012, 05:42:27 AM

Hello all

My dearker isnt going in/out on my LT-40 for some reason
It seems to when the mill is first turned on it will go in/out maybe once then just stop.
Ive searched the forum and people commented on the grease/pivit being to stiff
Ive cleaned that out and given it a light grease and it seems to move by hand nicely.
also put 12v onto the in/out motor and it appears to turn fine.

How tight does the belt need to be on the top? - do they stop working if to tight?
the belt on mine is pretty old and crusty but not sure if that makes a big difference?
And im guessing the switch on the control panel end could go faulty? (havent eyballed that)
Anyone seen that?

Cheers
Justin

Meadows Miller · September 06, 2012, 06:14:56 AM

Gday Justin

Sorry I cant help you :( as I have only ran one with a debarker and that was Jake's 70s Mate ;) Im sure afew of the boys will be along shortly to help you sort it out Mate

Is it just not engaging starting and moving across and is the blade starting ??? Like you said it could just be a switch or a chaffed wire somewhere Mate ;)

Regards Chris

JustinW_NZ · September 06, 2012, 06:29:01 AM

Quote from: Meadows Miller on September 06, 2012, 06:14:56 AM
Gday Justin

Sorry I cant help you :( as I have only ran one with a debarker and that was Jake's 70s Mate ;) Im sure afew of the boys will be along shortly to help you sort it out Mate

Is it just not engaging starting and moving across and is the blade starting ??? Like you said it could just be a switch or a chaffed wire somewhere Mate ;)

Regards Chris

Im more than sure someone will have had some issue with these

But yes, the debarker comes on fine, just doesnt swing into the log or out again...

Hows that New mill treating you?

Cheers
Justin

Kansas · September 06, 2012, 06:35:24 AM

I think I would check the electrical current coming out of the switch to start with. If it is good, check connections at the debarker. I am sure the Woodmizer guys will give you better advice. If its a belt problem, you should see it slipping.

I don't think you can run any Woodmizer or similar type mill without a good electrical checker.

Magicman · September 06, 2012, 06:51:48 AM

It sounds like you need to do some testing to determine that the in/out switch is good and that it is supplying 12 VDC to the small in/out motor. If it is, then the motor brushes/etc could be faulty. WM sells a brush rebuild kit for the in/out motor.

This may not be an issue with your present problem, but always remember that the debarker is heavy. The sawmill needs to always be set up "loader side high" which will allow the weight of the debarker to help the blade to contact the log.

Bibbyman · September 06, 2012, 07:05:00 AM

If you can hear the little in/out motor running, then check to see if the belt is slipping. Also, the pin in the little pulley could be sheared. Even sheared, it could get enough traction to move a little. The pin in our debarker sheared long ago. I just replaced it with a 16d nail,shortened. That shears about every 6 months but is easy to replace.

drobertson · September 06, 2012, 07:11:43 AM

I agree, I would check the little motor, I had to replace mine a few years ago. easy fix.

Meadows Miller · September 06, 2012, 08:15:16 AM

Hows that New mill treating you?

Cheers
Justin
[/quote]

Well its not home yet :

:'( New to Me trucks going on the road Tomorrow then Ill shot down to pick it up Mate ;) ;D ;D 8) 8)

Regards Chris

Chuck White · September 06, 2012, 09:06:28 AM

The debarker most likely will swing good when the pulley on the motor is cold, but once it gets warm from use, it will be more prone to slipping.

Take the top cover off and watch the motor for slippage while someone moves the debarker in and out!

woodyone.john · September 06, 2012, 03:21:27 PM

when i took a close look at the belt on mine i could see that it wasnt good .my bet is change the belt they do need to be tight cheers john

JustinW_NZ · September 07, 2012, 04:09:40 AM

Cheers for the comments guys, I will be checking the switch and such over the weekend but im guessing thats the issue, im hoping its not the motor itself.

Will post with the what the problem was when i find it

Cheers
Justin

customsawyer · September 07, 2012, 04:14:51 AM

Is this on a LT 40 or a LT70?

JustinW_NZ · September 07, 2012, 04:19:11 AM

Lt40 Super (1997)

customsawyer · September 07, 2012, 04:29:55 AM

I wish I could help but it has been to long since I have worked with a LT 40. I can't remember exactly how they are different I just know that they are. One of the first things I would do is get someone to move the switch while you watch the little motor. If it is turning but the debarker is not moving then the problem will be with the belt or the pin. If it isn't moving then the problem will be electrical.

Brucer · September 08, 2012, 12:18:03 AM

You didn't mention the circuit breaker, so I assume it isn't tripping. However, just in case ...

Just after I installed the autoclutch on my mill, the debarker in/out circuit breaker started tripping out. After several resets and some careful testing, I discovered it would only trip when I tried to move it out while the clutch was engaged. That bit of knowledge at least allowed me to get through the job I was working on.

It occured to me that this would probably be caused by a short -- something biting through the insulation on one of the wires to the in/out motor. Since the polarity on the wires is reversed when the switch is thrown, that would suggest just one wire was causing the problem. Furthermore, the fact that the clutch had to be engaged (i.e., engine up) suggested that the upward motion of the engine mounting plate was causing the culprit wire to contact the frame.

I finally tracked it down to the point where the wire harness passed under the alternator belt cover. The cover had a sharp edge and every time the clutch was engaged, the edge would bite into one of the debarker wires. And then I remembered that just before I installed the autoclutch, I had to replace the alternator belt. Obviously I had shifted the position of the alternator belt guard when I replaced the belt.

So a little work with a file rounding off sharp edges, plus a little electrical tape to cover the break in the insulation, and the problem was solved.

customsawyer · September 08, 2012, 03:31:42 AM

I didn't mention the breaker because he never said anything about having to reset it. ;)

JustinW_NZ · September 08, 2012, 04:49:37 AM

yes, isnt the breaker as the issue, im thinking more the switch or something there.

although the previous owner of the mill wasnt big on maintainence so I wont be to surprised with something weird >:(

Cheers
Justin

jcbrotz · September 08, 2012, 05:07:43 AM

If it is going in/out once more than likely its not the motor. As stated before have someone run the switch and you watch the motor. I was having a problem with mine and it had a grove wore in the belt from the motor that stopped it from moving all the time, I moved the position of the belt, tensioned it up and it got me thru the day and I stopped at NAPA on the way home.

JustinW_NZ · September 08, 2012, 05:24:52 AM

any way to tell inside the in/out motor is there toast?
I applied 12v directly to my one the other day and it ran ok, BUT that was with no load on it as it was off the mill...

Cheers
Justin

jcbrotz · September 08, 2012, 06:10:31 PM

Quote from: JustinW_NZ on September 08, 2012, 05:24:52 AM
any way to tell inside the in/out motor is there toast?
I applied 12v directly to my one the other day and it ran ok, BUT that was with no load on it as it was off the mill...

Cheers
Justin

If it ran with no load, it isn't completely shot, the brushes if short will cause low/no power but we need to know if you have 12 to the motor when on the mill. IF you are the only person there at the mill then its as simple as a 12 test light hook it to the motor lead and hit the in/out switch if it lights then the circuit is good if not then you have an electrical issue from the leads back. I would have to have some more info to give better help but this will get you started.

Full Circle · September 08, 2012, 08:56:33 PM

I haven't worked on the debarker, but my head travel belt wore out because it was too loose. Once worn, I couldn't tighten it enough to make it work. It's the sides (or width) of the belt that grabs the pulley. If the debarker belt is the same, and you said yours is "old and crusty," I would start there like the others have said. It could be glazed and slipping. While it's off, the pulley pin Bibby mentioned is an easy check.

If you want a REALLY quick and dirty (literally, dirty) belt test, spray the pulley/belt with some belt dressing if you have some. It got me by with my belt issues until I could replace the belt.

NMFP · September 08, 2012, 09:04:17 PM

I had a similar problem with my debarker. The first issue was that the shaft on the small 12v motor was shot. When it was originally manufactured and the small pulley driven on it with a pin, the pin was not centered and was actually offset which made for some severe wear on the motor shaft. Took the shaft out, took it to a machine shop and had them machine a new shaft correctly with the hole bored exactly center. Reassembled and has worked great for almost 5 years now.

The other problem is that sometimes, the debarker will not swing in completely to make contact with the log. If I would hand push it a little it would but then would start to stop working again. Took everything apart like WM recomended, lubricated and reassembled and still had the problem. Made many phone calls and irritation was starting to set in so..... I experiemented with a bungee cord. Hooked it to the debarker and the frame of the mill and it worked great so.... I decided to take the spring off the debarker and replace it with a spring I found at Tractor supply. Much more tension and works great.

I believe the WM engineering is the best of the mill manufacturers out there but the debarker could be built heavier. Larger in and out motor and heavier spring to push the debarker in and out.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · September 08, 2012, 09:13:02 PM

Quote from: NMFP on September 08, 2012, 09:04:17 PM
I had a similar problem with my debarker. The first issue was that the shaft on the small 12v motor was shot. When it was originally manufactured and the small pulley driven on it with a pin, the pin was not centered and was actually offset which made for some severe wear on the motor shaft. Took the shaft out, took it to a machine shop and had them machine a new shaft correctly with the hole bored exactly center. Reassembled and has worked great for almost 5 years now.

The other problem is that sometimes, the debarker will not swing in completely to make contact with the log. If I would hand push it a little it would but then would start to stop working again. Took everything apart like WM recomended, lubricated and reassembled and still had the problem. Made many phone calls and irritation was starting to set in so..... I experiemented with a bungee cord. Hooked it to the debarker and the frame of the mill and it worked great so.... I decided to take the spring off the debarker and replace it with a spring I found at Tractor supply. Much more tension and works great.

I believe the WM engineering is the best of the mill manufacturers out there but the debarker could be built heavier. Larger in and out motor and heavier spring to push the debarker in and out.

I don't know your mill but could it be your spring had a little age on it causing it not to engage the debarker properly? The reason I ask is because I can actually SLAM my debarker into the log......but I don't.

I'm just saying my spring really works well and I was trying to figure out why your spring didn't perform right.

NMFP · September 08, 2012, 09:20:30 PM

My mill was built in 99 and from what WM has told me, I have the first generation debarker and not a later model. I cannot remember the gentlemans name I spoke with but he did say there were issues with the earlier models and they were the reasons for upgrades.

No matter what you buy, you will always find ways to upgrade or improve upon design. This is life.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · September 08, 2012, 09:23:45 PM

Quote from: NMFP on September 08, 2012, 09:20:30 PM
My mill was built in 99 and from what WM has told me, I have the first generation debarker and not a later model. I cannot remember the gentlemans name I spoke with but he did say there were issues with the earlier models and they were the reasons for upgrades.

No matter what you buy, you will always find ways to upgrade or improve upon design. This is life.

Thanks NMFP, and as Paul Harvey used to say....Now I know the rest of the story.