Head Drive Chain Slack

[bugdust]

While sawing the past couple days I noticed slack in my LT 40 head drive chain, even to the point it began bouncing up and down while the head traveled along the carriage. The mill has less than 350 hrs. so I wouldn't expect to see this so soon. I tightened the chain adjustment a couple threads and it seemed to help. I'm curious if this is normal, and why the slack so soon?

[WH_Conley]

Probably just worked out the packing grease, burrs on the chain and any other foreign material that accumulated. I wouldn't worry about it unless I had to do it again soon. You should have the slack out of it now. Probably just needed to break in.

[Chuck White]

The book says that "normal" slack should be about 2" drop in the middle with the head all the way to either end.

I think that what you're seeing right now is normal.
Same thing as with a motorcycle drive chain, after a few hours of operation it needs to be adjusted.

A few years ago, we took 2 links out of my FIL's feed drive chain.
Of course that one's been going since '92.

[T Welsh]

I think its normal,its about that time it needs to be tighten. it lives in a bad environment,I wire brush mine every 2 or 3 months and spray it with ATF once a month or so. Tim

[ladylake]

  I'd agree any new chain will get slack in the first hours of use.   Steve

[Brucer]

My book says with the head at the front of the mill, the chain at its lowest point should be 7-8" below the top of the top rail. The main frame tube is 8" deep and the rail is 1" high, so you can eyeball this pretty easily.

When a horizontal chain (or rope) is very tight, any pull downward (say from gravity) results in a very, very high tension in the chain. As the chain sags, the tension becomes less. This means a chain that is too tight is going to stretch ... and sag ... and have less tension.

Bottom line, if you pull your chain too tight, it will end up sagging to where it "wants" to be anyway. Unfortunately a too-tight chain is very hard on the carriage drive motor.

[dean herring]

Anyone know the chain size on a Timberking 1600. I need to take link out. 

[WV Sawmiller]

   I just replaced cam follower bearing and a feed motor on mine so I can only advice keep it within the specs in your owners manual. I think too tight will cause you way more problems than too slack.

[John S]

Yes, 7-8 inches below top of the rail. I wipe ATF on the chain before each day of milling (I use the cut off from an old sock).

[Crossroads]

I bought a squirt bottle at the orange box store and was filling it with atf to do my daily lube. Then one day I decided to try to thread the squirter onto a bottle of atf and it worked. A little to loose is better than a little too tight when it comes to chains.