and I don't plan to. I get logs via trailer or customers bring them to me. And I am keeping the wheels on the mill because I think they offer more stability when parbuckling a 3 - 4000 pounder onto the mill. When I see one side of the mill rise off the ground an inch or two I am glad I the wheels/axle are there. Long term, will I do damage to the tires? like getting a flat spot on them?
What other surprises may there be?
As per the recreational vehicle industry, your tires need a vapor barrier between them and the ground. They recommend a solid plate such as steel or plastic.
Just jack up the axle and stuff some 2" thick or better boards you can spare under them so they're not in direct contact with the ground.
Lumber would not qualify as a moisture barrier. :-\
My old mill (LT40 woodmizer) never moved from 1994, when it was bought new, until I rescued it from my dad in 2009. Of course the tires were shot, but 15 year old tires would be shot no matter what you did. If you're not planning on moving the mill, I wouldn't worry about flat spots on the tires. My primary concern would be keeping the sawdust cleaned out from around the mill. Not moving the mill allows substantial sawdust buildup that will hold moisture, and rust the axel, springs, u bolts and other components that stay buried in sawdust to the point they may no longer be sound.
With a Hydraulic Wood-Mizer mill, I would be concerned about the velocity fuses getting broken if the sawdust and other debris got built up too much!
I remove the sawdust and blow it away with a leaf blower, so I don't worry about degradation due to that. The tires are on RR ties but sawdust does build up a few inches on the sidewall. Vapor barrier, huh. The mill is under a shed so if I put an impervious barrier under the tires they will still be in contact with sawdust on the sidewall. Is that OK? The buried RR ties are a few iinches below grade to put the mill at a convenient height. I guess I should use a vapor barrier AND blow away the dust daily from the tire bottom. Thanks,
Bob
The vapor barrier is recommended for RV's to prolong tire life and even then no RV tire is considered reliable and road worthy if it is beyond 7 years old. Of course there are many thousands on the road that are well past that 7 years old and I doubt that any of them were parked on a vapor barrier. Avoiding direct sunlight will minimize UV damage.
Quote from: Magicman on September 22, 2015, 11:53:42 AMLumber would not qualify as a moisture barrier. :-\
Actually, "board lumber" is considered a class III vapor barrier.
http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/vapor-barriers-or-vapor-diffusion-retarders (http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/vapor-barriers-or-vapor-diffusion-retarders)
That link is not addressing lumber lying on the ground. :P Any board under a tire would surely soak up moisture rather than serve as a barrier for moisture.
kelLOGg
I bought a 2001 mill last year. It had been moved very little and the tires looked fine. I had a blowout on the way home. I am assuming the tires were the original tires. MM has the right idea. Keep them covered with a vapor barrier and replace after 6-7 years.
Flatrock,
Thanks for relating your experience. That's very sobering advice. My tires are 13 - same age as the mill. Now I know what I must do when I take it on the road.
Bob
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/DSCN0898S.JPG)
I had this to happen to one of my sawmill tires. Notice that the tread wear is not significant. It was age.
Classic broken belt syndrome. Good enough for around a barnyard on a feed wagon or something but that's about it.
My 2008 lt40 has been moved only to my shop and to WM Hannibal for repairs and or adjustment.
It sits on concrete in my covered shed.
Sawdust and bark debris are cleaned daily, unless i have only sawed a couple of logs.
Tires look good, but i am sure the rubber has degraded.
I like the additional stability the tires provide.
I also have rubber pads under the legs to help minimize movement when loading large logs and cushion the shock somewhat.
I do have some movement tho and periodically have to re-locate.
I have only moved mine once since I got it. Then it was only over about 15 feet. I took the tires off and have them stored inside my sharpening shack. The mill is sitting on a concrete slab, so I drilled, I think 8 holes just a tad bigger than a piece of 1/2 rebar and put a short piece of rebar in each hole. Two on each side, two in front and two behind the supports and the mill has never moved. Ever now and again I check it with a lazer level and tweek it if it needs it as to the bed being level. Should I ever need to move it, all I would need to do is pull the rebar pieces out of the hole, and reinstall the hitch and go. Banjo