The Forestry Forum

I'm wondering if the bearings that ride against the rail are damaged, is there any easy way to tell?

I was having problems with the hydraulics running too.  I'm afraid that I may have had a bad ground that was arcing through the bearings ... 

Hmm...well, I'd check the carriage drive belt first, then the bearings for the carriage.

An easy way to check the bearings is to remove the carriage drive belt and hand push the head rig.  It should roll smoothly.  

Or take a flat bar, and lift the head up a little, put the bar on the main tube just under the bearing mount, turn the bearing with your finger. 
 

WM rep told me a sensitive way to check the cam follower bearings is, even if they are rolling along when you push the head, to apply ATF to the rails and check again, if one has a problem it might start sliding rather than rolling.