iDRY Vacuum Kilns

Sponsors:

Did something dumb today.

Started by firefighter ontheside, February 26, 2019, 10:48:19 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Wlmedley and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Old Greenhorn

Oh Howard, I saw that first photo and said out loud (well my cat woke up and listened) "Oh Howard, tell me you didn't do that!" But, I guess you did. Sorry man. I'm surprised you didn't hear and feel it. Hopefully is don't look as bad in person as it does in my mind right now. At least you have the outrigger to work with.
 Sorry man, slit happens.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

WV Sawmiller

   I started not to even post it here as I don't really consider it dumb - just cost of doing business as a mobile sawyer. For the piece I have it looks like a real simple fix. I will see if the jack is intact and any damage to it.

   If I was/am smart, I would/will drill out that dead spot where they skipped a hole low down which means I can't get my jack bar under it most of the time to lift it off the truck ball. I have to lift the second jack enough to reach the next hole in this outrigger. I have fussed about that design flaw/issue for 10 years now and this would be the time to fix it. 

   I did my 1550 hour service today and found the mill will raise up off the rear jack when the head is all the way forward. 

   If I can't re-install the broken outrigger I can always put a block of firewood or such under the tongue to stabilize the mill in use till I can get the right piece to fix it. I am sure I could buy a jack from HF or TSC or Advance Auto or such that would work but it is not that urgent.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Magicman

I once lost one when I dropped a wheel off of the end of a culvert.  When I went to set up at the next job 30 miles away it seemed that something was missing.  I remembered the jolt when the wheel dropped into the ditch so I went and found it that evening.

I didn't consider it "dumb" either, just lucky that I found it.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

Nebraska

I lost the jack leg  pin on a 20 ft bumper pull trailer several years ago. It left a trail down the gravel road as I drove home. It was a bit wonky afterwards and has been replaced. I failed to put the clip in and the pin just rattled out.  I think I had hauled some hay bales home  The clip was in my pocket.   :wacky:

WV Sawmiller

   It may make me look at a different ball/reese hitch to get a little extra lift. The axle is still the determining height factor on these remote jobs with ruts and bumps to contend with.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

TimW

Dang, Y'all got hard dirt roads over there! :wacky:
Mahindra 6520 4WD with loader/backhoe and a Caterpiller E70 Excavator.  My mill is a Woodmizer LT40HD Wide 35hp Yanmar Diesel. An old Lull 644D-34 called Bull

SwampDonkey

We've got rough pavement, which is worst.  ffcheesy ffcheesy
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SawyerTed

FWIW, I still use the outrigger next to the log lift to raise and lower the tongue.  The one closest to the hitch sometimes doesn't have the range to lift high enough.  

On the LT35 I seriously considered adding a folding tongue jack between the hitch outrigger and the outrigger next to the log lift arm.  Its only purpose would be to aid in hitching and unhitching the mill.  
Woodmizer LT50, WM BMS 250, WM BMT 250, Kubota MX5100, IH McCormick Farmall 140, Husqvarna 372XP, Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Resonator

I put a crank down tongue jack on my mill years ago, one of the best things to add. Not just for hitching and unhitching, but also for easily adjusting level end to end.
Independent Gig Musician and Sawmill Man
Live music act of Sawing Project '23 & '24, and Pig Roast '19, '21, & '24
Featured in the soundtrack of the "Out of the Woods" YouTube video:
"Epic 30ft Long Monster Cypress and Oak Log! Freehand Sawing"

Proud owner of a Wood-Mizer 2017 LT28G19

Magicman

Because of a very uneven setup location yesterday I had to use the Outrigger next to the log loader arms to hitch up.  Do what you gotta do.
Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

Stephen1

Howard at least you found yours. I lost my FAOR on the highway coming home from a job a 100 miles away. At least I had the old manual one to replace it.
IDRY Vacum Kiln, LT40HDWide, BMS250 sharpener/setter 742b Bobcat, TCM forklift, Sthil 026,038, 461. 1952 TEA Fergusan Tractor

WV Sawmiller

Res,

   I'd love to see a picture of the jack you added if you don't mind. I have thought for years about adding one but it has not been a big enough problem to worry about it. The ground is always going to be too soft to use one with a wheel like on my boat trailer. I have thought about buying one of those little 2 wheel trailer movers HF sells but haven't yet.

Lynn,

   Almost all the ground around here is unlevel enough you always have to adjust a lot. I keep a digging spud/tamping bar and a round point shovel in case I have to dig in any of the feet on the outriggers and several shim boards in case I need more support under the feet.

    A mistake I made on my last job was leaving the mill leaning slightly forward with the loader side low. I usually drive up on a couple of boards to level the low side a bit but did not last time. As a result we had to push the logs more to roll them where the clamp would reach them and the flitches when edging were harder to stand up against the side supports. 

   Also wet sawdust built up in the idler side compartment when I had to use the lube water because of gummy green oak wood. When level the sawdust runs out. From now on I will be dang sure the mill is level or the loader side is slightly high!
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Magicman

I wonder if this would work for you?




Maybe not but a thought.  smiley_headscratch

Knothole Sawmill, LLC     '98 Wood-Mizer LT40SuperHydraulic   WM Million BF Club Member   WM Pro Sawyer Network

It's Weird being the Same Age as Old People

Never allow your "need" to make money to exceed your "desire" to provide quality service.....The Magicman

Resonator

Here you go Howard:

Various pieces of scrap angle iron and tube steel I welded together, and then welded the small pipe section the jack came with to the bracket. It forms a "U" shape that slides over the main frame from underneath, then the top section bolts in between. That way I can easily remove it if needed. I also left just enough room to slip a couple scrap pieces of nylon cargo strap and rubber padding between the bracket and the frame (to keep it from scratching the paint). Made it a few years ago and has held up well.
Independent Gig Musician and Sawmill Man
Live music act of Sawing Project '23 & '24, and Pig Roast '19, '21, & '24
Featured in the soundtrack of the "Out of the Woods" YouTube video:
"Epic 30ft Long Monster Cypress and Oak Log! Freehand Sawing"

Proud owner of a Wood-Mizer 2017 LT28G19

moosehunter

Howard, I have an OEM WM front jack that you can have for the cost of shipping if you need it.
mh
"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days".    Ray Wylie Hubbard

WV Sawmiller

   Thanks Moose but I retrieved mine this morning and it is intact. I'll put it back on in a few minutes. I started to just snap it on then found that 2 of the 4 carriage bolts holding it are under the hydraulics Hot rail and I have to take it off first.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

WV Sawmiller

IMG_4175.JPG
I drove up to my customer's house and found my outrigger where he had said he'd left it. I checked and it was totally intact and no sign of damage.  It looks like only the bolts sheared off with no damage to the jack itself.

Life is good! ffwave
IMG_4176.JPG
  I had to go to pick up bolts to replace the ones that sheared off and went by to see my small engine guy and had him drill this 13/16" hole about the center of the dead spot at the bottom of the jack. I have complained about that dead spot for 10 years and it is finally fixed.

WM - take heed. There needs to be a hole there.
  IMG_4177.JPG
  I went to replace the sheared off carriage bolts and discovered 2 of the holes are behind the hydraulics Hot Rail so I had to loosen 7-8 little self tapping screws and move the rail. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems. :uhoh:

  The book calls for 4- 5" carriage bolts. The hardware guy asked me if I wanted galvanized or normal. I chose galvanized. He only had them in 5.5" and pointed out the fiber filled nuts don't screw on as eayt to galvanized. Evidently the galvanized coating means those bolts are not machined a closely. When I put them on the extra length was no problem and 2 of them threaded fine but the other 2 bent and one even broke when I unscrewed it so I went back and got 2 more regular 5" 3/8" bolts. Second Lesson learned - galvanize seems to be softer metal.

  I put the other 2 bolts on and the jack/outrigger is fixed. While I had the hot rail off I went ahead and reversed the copper strip  I've had issues with before. I reinstalled it and cleaned it up good with Brasso so I should be in good shape for tomorrow's sawing job.



Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Nebraska

Softer may save the outrigger by design???

rusticretreater

What you should be looking at is the grade of the bolt.  Grade 5, grade 8.  Galvanized bolts are not intended to be used in mechanical shear situations such as the leg attachment to the sawmill frame.

The galvanized coating certainly expands the width of the bolt and also collects in the valley of the threads.  It is rougher by nature and subsequently makes it harder for nylon lock nuts to move over its surface.  The roughness might also peel off some of the nylon, clogging the threads and making it even harder to tighten the nut.



Woodland Mills HM130 Max w/ Lap siding upgrade
Kubota BX25
Wicked Grapple, Wicked Toothbar
Homemade Log Arch
Big Tex 17' trailer with Log Arch
Warn Winches 8000lb and 4000lb
Husqvarna 562xp
2,000,000th Forestry Forum Post

moosehunter

I have been through that same procedure Howard. For the same reason! Only I heard it snap off so I didn't have to go back for it!
Glad you didn't damage the jack.
mh
"And the days that I keep my gratitude
Higher than my expectations
Well, I have really good days".    Ray Wylie Hubbard

SawyerTed

Resawed a load of 30 old white oak barn beams today.  They were all 8" wide and varied in thickness from5" to 7".   Most were 12' long. 

If I'm not mistaken, the beams were cut from 14-16" diameter logs and were more or less just squared (rectangled) up.  

We determined the best way to avoid most nails was to split the beams in half - 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 thick. 

The saw was flawless, I had a good day.   Only trashed 3 blades.  The blades were resharpened at least 3 times previously so not a big loss.  The customer covered blade costs. 

My customer is my senior by 12 or 15 years.  He was my only helper and not used to heavy labor.  

We had several beams on the forks of his forklift.  While I was sawing, he was attempting to pull nails.  

Apparently, when he pulled back on the hammer, a whole beam slid off the forks.  It knocked him over and the beam hit his left leg on the outside just above his ankle as it fell off the forks.  

At first I thought his leg was broken.  It still may have a fracture, but the edge of the beam knocked the skin off the outside of his leg.  

I made him stay seated for a while until he "got his bearings".  He was a bit addled.  Using his phone he called inside his business and a guy came out and did some first aid.  Did I say it looked awful?!?  I'm not a weak stomach kind of guy but I didn't want to look at his injury.  I thought we were done. 

We muddled through the rest of the job with him bleeding and limping along.   We cut 6 or 8 more beams. 

So it wasn't so much my dumb thing as it was his, but I too am paying a price.  That was some awfully hard work for two old guys and especially this one having to make up for him.  

He did tip handsomely!  
Woodmizer LT50, WM BMS 250, WM BMT 250, Kubota MX5100, IH McCormick Farmall 140, Husqvarna 372XP, Husqvarna 455 Rancher

rusticretreater

Quote from: SawyerTed on October 30, 2024, 04:21:17 PMThe saw was flawless, I had a good day.   Only trashed 3 blades.
So what is a bad day?  Trashing 10 blades? :stunned: whiteflag_smiley
Woodland Mills HM130 Max w/ Lap siding upgrade
Kubota BX25
Wicked Grapple, Wicked Toothbar
Homemade Log Arch
Big Tex 17' trailer with Log Arch
Warn Winches 8000lb and 4000lb
Husqvarna 562xp
2,000,000th Forestry Forum Post

SawyerTed

ffcheesy I had really low expectations - I was thinking 6 or 8 blades.  So 3 was "good" I guess.  ffcheesy

That would have meant breaking out the new blades and trashing one of those would have been real bad.

I continued to ask the customer if the juice was worth the squeeze.  He said proceed.  Maybe I should have asked his blade budget... ffcheesy
Woodmizer LT50, WM BMS 250, WM BMT 250, Kubota MX5100, IH McCormick Farmall 140, Husqvarna 372XP, Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Old Greenhorn

One man's ceiling is another man's floor. Those beams may have had a history for him and refusing them for something new could be more important than the cost.
 I hope you client heals up OK. Those things have a way of feeling a lot worse on day 2.
Tom Lindtveit, Woodsman Forest Products
Oscar 328 Band Mill, Husky 350, 450, 562, & 372 (Clone), Mule 3010, and too many hand tools. :) Retired and trying to make a living to stay that way. NYLT Certified.
OK, maybe I'm the woodcutter now.
I work with wood, There is a rumor I might be a woodworker.

GAB

Quote from: rusticretreater on October 30, 2024, 05:19:16 PM
Quote from: SawyerTed on October 30, 2024, 04:21:17 PMThe saw was flawless, I had a good day.  Only trashed 3 blades.
So what is a bad day?  Trashing 10 blades? :stunned: whiteflag_smiley
I've done that.
Broke 8 and hit metal with two.
GAB
W-M LT40HDD34, SLR, JD 420, JD 950w/loader and Woods backhoe, V3507 Fransguard winch, Cordwood Saw, 18' flat bed trailer, and other toys.

Thank You Sponsors!