A little over 3 yrs ago, a good friend of mine bought an LT-15. I didn't even know he was going to, he just showed up at my house with it on the trailer. It was still on the pallet that it was packaged on from the factory. I was almost week in the knees I was so excited ;D
This was the next best thing than buying my own. I wasn't in the position to buy a mill at the time, and I wanted one BAD! So seeing this mill drive into my yard was pure ecstasy for me!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17127/1748/14244_509910289591_106000253_30338698_2067285_n.jpg)
The one hiccup in my friends plan, was that he had nowhere to keep it, no house, no land, no plan. Here is where I come in and save the day ;D I told him he could leave the mill at my place, and we could use it there, anytime he wanted. We used it together a few times but after a short time, the excitement of having a mill slowly faded away.......for him ;)
I on the other hand, only continued to get more and more excited each and every time I opened up the first face in a new log. I am still fascinated with the idea of turning a tree into usable lumber. 8)
While my interest in sawing grew deeper and deeper, his interest lessened and lessened. It got to the point where I was the only one using the mill. He's only gone through about 6 blades on his own. There was a time where he let another friend borrow it for an entire summer, however, the "borrower" didn't realize just how much work a manual mill was, so it sat the whole summer.
I picked it back up last fall and set it up in it's original location, although this time, I cleared a little land around it, and leveled off the area better (except for one large boulder that apparently doesn't ever want to move >:()
Finally my friend has admitted defeat, and realized it probably wasn't the best purchase for him to make. He wanted to sell it and recoup some of his investment, although he still has an itch every now and again to make a little sawdust, and of course, I couldn't let him sell it to someone else, I mean after all, it was pretty much my mill for the last few years.
Him and I made a deal, he sold it to me for a good price, with the understanding that he can use it at my house whenever he wants. Now I don't have to worry anymore about using "someone else's mill".
I'm the proud new owner of a sawmill I've had for 3 yrs! I can't tell you how good it's going to feel to mill my first board on the mill that I can now call all my OWN!
8) 8) 8) 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/17127/3483/dog_house_003.jpg)
Congrats! I know the feeling, I had to run "my" mill for four and a half years before I got to finally own it. :D
The mill that came back home. ;D
Thanks Dave. My first modification will be the addition of the shiny new Tiny Tach/hour meter that you passed on to me!
After that, I will add a 4th extension, and I'm starting to think about the autofeed. ???
Does anyone have any experience with the autofeed on the LT15?
Quote from: thecfarm on March 27, 2013, 11:54:06 AM
The mill that came back home. ;D
smiley_thumbsup
That's a great story with a happy ending for all involved. Congrats on the "new" mill. 8)
A great historical account to read here. Congratulations on YOUR mill. :)
Good luck with it smiley_thumbsup
Quote from: Piston on March 27, 2013, 11:55:50 AM
Does anyone have any experience with the autofeed on the LT15?
Quote from: thecfarm on March 27, 2013, 11:54:06 AM
The mill that came back home. ;D
smiley_thumbsup
I think the autofeed is great, I've had mine since it was new. Ask WDH how he likes his? He's had it for a short time now.
Where did you get the hour meter? Does it just plug in?
Great story!!! I remember seeing the pic of it on the trailer before it was unloaded in a previous post. Looks like the diesel engine?
Congratulations! It seems that patience and a good friend paid off well. I think it's great that you own the mill and your friend still gets to use it, too. That's a win-win situation in my book.
Quote from: Jemclimber on March 27, 2013, 12:30:21 PM
Quote from: Piston on March 27, 2013, 11:55:50 AM
Does anyone have any experience with the autofeed on the LT15?
Quote from: thecfarm on March 27, 2013, 11:54:06 AM
The mill that came back home. ;D
smiley_thumbsup
I think the autofeed is great, I've had mine since it was new. Ask WDH how he likes his? He's had it for a short time now.
Where did you get the hour meter? Does it just plug in?
Jemclimber,
Thanks for the thoughts on the auto feed. Is there any kind of auto kickout when it gets to the ends of the track? Or would it just keep trying to move the saw head until you manually stop it?
The tach I got is called a tiny tach. I think their website is www.tinytach.com but if not you can find it in google.
Quote from: MEMountainMan on March 27, 2013, 01:09:03 PM
Great story!!! I remember seeing the pic of it on the trailer before it was unloaded in a previous post. Looks like the diesel engine?
You remember correctly! In fact, it actually worked pretty well on the trailer while I was milling up there. I've often thought of buying a larger deckover trailer and putting the mill on there for portable jobs (although I've never done one :))
I was thinking I'd be able to load the mill, then straddle it with the tractor over it if my inside tread width was wider than the mill. That would make a pretty nice portable setup!
It is the 10hp Yanmar engine as you noticed. I love this mill, and a lot has to do with that engine. It's amazing how it just chugs along all day with no hiccups, and only on 1.2 gallons of deisel at that!
My main gripe though, is there is no good way to shut the engine off. You either have to turn the fuel off until it spatters to a stop, or press the decompression lever which is what I do, although it isn't relly good for the engine.
Does anyone know any tricks to solve this problem?
I've had the lt-15 with the 10 hp yanmer for 4 years. I also have auto feed. You should be able to shut down the engine by pushing straight up on the black triangle shape idle adjustment screw. The auto feed is nice...not perfect but certainly better than the hand crank. I usually sort of lean on the saw head as it travels as the auto feed needs slight assistance sometimes.
Hey Hey there Piston Congratulations on the mill. :) Sounds like you need a mill warming party. 8) ;D
Congrats Piston!!
I have the PowerFeed option on my LT15 and love it. It does not stop at either end, but can be controlled very easily. The reverse is full speed back when you flip the lever...that takes some getting used to. I am looking into putting flat metal plates at the end of the tracks just to insure it doesn't "walk" off. I'll try to post some pics later when I get them installed.
Great story Piston, congratulations!
8) smiley_clapping smiley_hellow_im_here smiley_applause
Congratulations! Piston sound's like a great story and for someone that enjoy's it.Hope you have many years of saw dust to come.
A 3 year trial? What did you do? :D
Congrats! smiley_thumbsup
Piston,
The power feed on the LT15 is the best thing since sliced bread :D. It is wonderful. I sawed for 11 years without one, and now I cannot imagine sawing without one. It is a huge productivity increase for me. Best money that you will ever spend (along with LogRite cant hooks ;D).
Congrats for making the mill honest!
Congrats on the mill ownership! As far as the engine goes, what does it hurt to use the decomp to shut it down? Mechanically speaking, it is not causing any damage to the internals, we have a Komatsu forklift with an Izuzu diesel in it that shuts down similarly, a manual shutoff, that does not shut off fuel. It either blocks airflow or releases compression. Most diesels either have a manual or electromechanical fuel shutoff, which would be similar to you shutting off the fuel valve. Either way, there really is no other way to put out the fire in a Diesel engine, you have to remove either the fuel, air, or both by using a decompression valve.
I found that out on my Kubota. ::) I shut the key off and the motor kept right on a going. I played around with the switch and it was still a going. I thought no big deal,I'll just unhook the battery. Never had a diesel tractor that did not shut off with the key. Any of you that know anything at all know that didn't work. I was just about to shove a rag into the intake on it,but thought I might just as well call the guy on the other road that knows about these things. He shows up about 10 minutes later and reaches in and works the solenoid by hand and the motors stops the way it should.
Quote from: WDH on March 27, 2013, 09:08:59 PM
Piston,
(along with LogRite cant hooks ;D).
Checks in the mail. ;D
Way to go! Great ending 8) 8) or I guess it's the beginning 8)
Quote from: Jemclimber on March 27, 2013, 12:30:21 PM
I think the autofeed is great, I've had mine since it was new.
Quote from: MTrim on March 27, 2013, 03:46:29 PM
I've had the lt-15 with the 10 hp yanmer for 4 years....The auto feed is nice...not perfect but certainly better than the hand crank. I usually sort of lean on the saw head as it travels as the auto feed needs slight assistance sometimes.
Quote from: dukndog on March 27, 2013, 06:00:32 PM
Congrats Piston!!
I have the PowerFeed option on my LT15 and love it.
Quote from: WDH on March 27, 2013, 09:08:59 PM
Piston,
The power feed on the LT15 is the best thing since sliced bread :D. It is wonderful.
Well I guess that about sums it up for thoughts on the powerfeed option ;D
It would be nice if it had some sort of automatic kick out, but I suppose I'm gonna be walking along next to it anyways as I'm always keeping an eye on the cut, so it's not that big of a deal. I'll start saving up for it 8)
Quote from: Holmes on March 27, 2013, 04:08:40 PM
Hey Hey there Piston Congratulations on the mill. :) Sounds like you need a mill warming party. 8) ;D
Dana,
That's such a nice offer, so I guess that means your hosting? Just tell me when to be there. :D :D
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on March 27, 2013, 09:07:52 PM
A 3 year trial? What did you do? :D
Congrats! smiley_thumbsup
It takes me a while to figure things out, I just couldn't make up my mind :D
I used to think I was a fairly indesicive person, but I don't know, now I'm not so sure.. ::) :D
Quote from: WDH on March 27, 2013, 09:08:59 PM
Piston,
Best money that you will ever spend (along with LogRite cant hooks ;D).
I have the 48" cant hook covered, along with the 60" peavey. ;D
I may add a 24" mill special at some point though. Frank (bandmiller2) showed me how convenient they are and I've liked them ever since. ;)
Thanks again for the congrats guys!
Mad Murdock,
I'm not positive that it isn't good to shut off the engine using the decomp lever, so I can't say for sure. I just figured it would have some sort of "normal" shutoff when you turn the key off, like most things with deisels do. If it doesn't hurt the engine though, I guess I'm not too worried about it.
However, I'll start using the tip by MTrim, thanks for that. smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
-Matt
With the power feed, if you walk away for another task, just don't leave one of the log side supports up too high. Very, very interesting things will happen as you rush back to the rescue aftermath :).
Good news Matt,now you need a roof over baby.I'am sure the gas co. wouldn't be too excited about a building but you have plenty of land.At the very least a portable open ended building at the end to store the mill head in.Any mill worth owning is worth a roof. Frank C.
Quote from: WDH on March 28, 2013, 07:38:26 AM
With the power feed, if you walk away for another task, just don't leave one of the log side supports up too high. Very, very interesting things will happen as you rush back to the rescue aftermath :).
Oh Georgia Father.......you speak as though you have great knowledge of above statement. ;D
Congrats. That is taking living and sleeping with one before marriage to a new level. :D
If my power feed needs help pushing it is usually slipping because the band is dull or the drive rope needs to be tightened up. One thing I like about the rope is it will slip if it hits some hard resistance. In my experience anyways. ;D Mine won't walk off the end, it will hit where the rope is anchored and slip.
If you haven't already, check out some of YellowHammers older posts when he had a 15. He had some wonderful mods on his that I would like to copy when I get the time.
Quote from: Magicman on March 28, 2013, 10:11:05 AM
Congrats. That is taking living and sleeping with one before marriage to a new level. :D
Guilty on both accounts
:D
Quote from: bandmiller2 on March 28, 2013, 08:00:19 AM
Good news Matt,now you need a roof over baby.I'am sure the gas co. wouldn't be too excited about a building but you have plenty of land.At the very least a portable open ended building at the end to store the mill head in.Any mill worth owning is worth a roof. Frank C.
That's gonna be a "this summer" project Frank.
I'm going to clear out a nice spot up in the pine grove for the mill, and give it a more permanent spot there, with a roof over its head.
Your right, I don't think the gas company would appreciate that too much, I've already had the chopper fly over me a few times :D
With the power feed, keeping a tight rope improves performance.
Would a little powdered rosin help the rope slippage.? Frank C.
I bet. Excellent idea!