Sawmill Belts

250quality · July 02, 2011, 08:49:00 PM

My mill won't disengage when I release the idler pulley. I put new belts on it this year as I thought maybe the old one went hard and this was not the case.
There is lots of slack but the band wheels keep right on turning when disengaged.
WD 40 seemed to work for a while but there grabbing all the time again now.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

Larry · July 02, 2011, 09:59:25 PM

Welcome 250q.

Wild guess about your problem. Your not using a segmented belt like say a BX belt are you? I ask because those belts are not for use in clutching applications and will grab. There is also another belt that will grab but its not common and I can't remember the nomenclature.

Just a shot in the dark. Might help if we knew the type of mill.

250quality · July 02, 2011, 11:15:07 PM

Thanks Larry but its a regular old Gates belt.
Could be the compound its made of is too hard?
Wonder if belt dressing would do anything or would it grab more?

250quality · July 02, 2011, 11:31:57 PM

Sorry but I gapped it. My mill is home built with a MWN diesel about 28hp running duel belts.
Somebody was talking about some sort of pins around the drive pulley?
Anybody got a pic for an example.
Sounds like the cure to me.

bandmiller2 · July 03, 2011, 07:18:18 AM

250,what you need to do is make some pins.Engine off, enguage the clutch put one or two pins/bolts so they clear the engauged belts you can try it temporary with vice grips.Usally pins are placed between the two pulleys.What they do is keep the belt loose around the driving pulley when disengauged. sorry no pictures. Frank C.

Magicman · July 03, 2011, 08:04:10 AM

I can't help you with your belt question 250quality, but I can Welcome you to the Forestry Forum.

250quality · July 03, 2011, 09:16:57 AM

Thank you to all and what a great site.
Will try some pins today.

250quality · July 03, 2011, 10:48:04 AM

Pins installed with some sucess. Atleast I can stop the blade now but it will not stop on its own.
I think I will try to design some sort of brake system. Seems to want to free wheel forever.
Good ol centrifical force.

ladylake · July 03, 2011, 12:22:03 PM

Try moving those pins around to a spot where they hold the belt away from the drive pulley, I think mine are about 4" away from the drive pulley and maybe 1" away from the belt when it's tight. With v belts and tension mine doesn't coast too long without a brake. steve

250quality · July 08, 2011, 04:52:51 PM

2 more pins and works like a dream!
Thanks for the input.

Buck · July 08, 2011, 06:23:34 PM

Just another lil tidbit I've learned...I used to use diesel to cut the pitch off my blade when sawing pine. I found that my wheel belts failed sooner because they softened. I would think the same would be true with wd40 in place of belt dressing. And welcome to the forum if I left that out.

pyrocasto · July 08, 2011, 09:53:41 PM

I put a brake on mine just so it would stop quick and stay stopped. Just pinches with a spring and stops in about 3 seconds.

shelbycharger400 · July 08, 2011, 10:12:06 PM

note on belts.... use standard automotive belts ... industrial belts are junk. automotive ones are designed for rough service and high variable in speed

250quality · July 09, 2011, 07:21:14 AM

Thanks Buck. I run straight diesel with a one drip per second on a felt pad on my blade. Never seems to be any on the belts on the band wheels and I did just put new ones on a month ago or so.
Diesel seems to work better for me even in the oak. I noticed a big difference in my blade life.
Just too hot here to get back to milling right now.