Got this sad 2013 TK2200

thegoodlife · January 10, 2024, 03:42:22 AM

Picked this badly neglected mill up the other week. So sad that it has been left out in the elements, maybe most of its life. Hardly done any milling - 77.6 hours to be precise. Engine was seized. 1.5l of water in the sump. Put in many hours to repair. Manage to get the engine unseized. Will update more when I get a chance.

Ianab · January 10, 2024, 04:14:31 AM

Hopefully the price was right? Might take a few $ and time to get it back into shape, but if all the main bits are intact, then even a dodgy engine is replaceable.

Bruno of NH · January 10, 2024, 06:01:01 AM

Hopefully you will have it back up and sawing nice straight lumber.
Keep us posted

chickenchaser · January 10, 2024, 06:38:51 AM

Wow!

I'd say just the price difference between 2013 and 2023 gives you quite some room to play.

jpassardi · January 10, 2024, 07:45:51 AM

It'll be worth it. I got my mill from a guy who hardly used it then let it sit outside for 10 years. The tower that holds the gas struts was seized and mice filled the engine housing with nests but after some work I've milled several thousand BF and continue to make upgrades to it along the way.
Good luck

Stephen1 · January 10, 2024, 07:48:58 AM

Keep the pics coming. I'd say you are going to make out ok with that. The bones are good.

SawyerTed · January 10, 2024, 08:54:18 AM

Looks like a great project. Looking forward to seeing the progress and lumber coming off!

47sawdust · January 10, 2024, 09:05:10 AM

There's a very expensive Mighty Mite for sale North of the Adirondacks.
It has also been sorely neglected. Very sad to see.

thegoodlife · January 11, 2024, 04:14:52 AM

Thanks all for your feedback.
A few more photos to update the progress and show the condition.
The saw head has been separated from the engine, pump, tank, & the 4 post frame so we can clean up and repair all the rust & repaint.
Notice the bent log loader bracket? No log loader arms etc with the mill so we will likely fabricate something as the freight cost from Timberking was very high.
All the chains were rusted solid so all will be replaced.

barbender · January 11, 2024, 10:09:00 AM

Wow, what a project! I'd be soaking all of those chains in a drum of ATF, I bet they'll come back to life.

chet · January 11, 2024, 12:04:04 PM

I was going to make the same ATF suggestion , until I got to the previous post. :D :D :D Yer going to have a great mill when completed.

caveman · January 11, 2024, 02:19:33 PM

Quote from: barbender on January 11, 2024, 10:09:00 AMow, what a project! I'd be soaking all of those chains in a drum of ATF, I bet they'll come back to life.

That is exactly what we did with the chain on the LT-30 we recently acquired. Loosened it up considerably.

thegoodlife · January 11, 2024, 02:49:16 PM

On my LT40 all the chains get soaked in ATF and brought them back from a semi seized state. But most the chains on this one are a bit far gone & besides already broken from the previous guy trying to move things without a decent soak first.
I'm thinking to forget the log loaders and fabricate a log loading deck ran off the loader hydraulics.

Maplewalnut · January 11, 2024, 03:37:46 PM

Great looking project, this will be very rewarding to saw on this machine when you get her up and running! Like the idea of the log deck, I think that is the way I would go as well. Good luck on the project I look forward to seeing her doing what she was meant to do.

barbender · January 11, 2024, 04:20:57 PM

I hope you can salvage the Kubota, that's about as good of an engine as you'll find in that size.

Magicman · January 11, 2024, 08:21:25 PM

New chains generally should get new sprockets unless they are in new condition.

thegoodlife · January 12, 2024, 04:13:21 AM

Quote from: Magicman on January 11, 2024, 08:21:25 PM
New chains generally should get new sprockets unless they are in new condition.

Good idea when due to wear as the new chain will not match the tooth spacing on the old sprockets. In this case only 77.6 hours on the mill & the chains have failed due to excessive rust. The sprockets have surface rust but no wear.

Peter Drouin · January 12, 2024, 06:51:03 AM

The guy that had it before must have died to let it that bad.

Magicman · January 12, 2024, 09:05:20 AM

Quote from: thegoodlife on January 12, 2024, 04:13:21 AMThe sprockets have surface rust but no wear.

Yes, you should be "good to go" with your sprockets. ATF is your friend, but let me add that a 50-50 mix of ATF and Acetone will do wonders as a penetrate when you are needing large batches.

newoodguy78 · January 12, 2024, 11:29:18 AM

That's quite a project. It amazes me how such a useful machine can be let go so far. I know of about 6 mills sitting in the condition of yours or worse. Tried to strike deals on several of them to no avail.
One plus to rebuilding a let go machine be it a sawmill or something else you get real familiar with how they work and what to keep an eye on once they're up and running. Something that's worth a lot to me.

barbender · January 12, 2024, 01:22:52 PM

Sawmills seem especially prone to this level of neglect, for some reason.

newoodguy78 · January 12, 2024, 03:54:56 PM

I agree

thegoodlife · January 12, 2024, 06:59:29 PM

Quote from: Magicman on January 12, 2024, 09:05:20 AM
Quote from: thegoodlife on January 12, 2024, 04:13:21 AMThe sprockets have surface rust but no wear.
Yes, you should be "good to go" with your sprockets. ATF is your friend, but let me add that a 50-50 mix of ATF and Acetone will do wonders as a penetrate when you are needing large batches.

I've never tried ATF & acetone but have used ATF & Diesel in a 50-50 mix. You've got me interested in trying some - thank you