(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35696/20160413_193658.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35696/20160413_193839.jpg) This is my first set of belts as my EZ Boardwalk Jr probably has just shy of 100 hrs on it. My questions are, is this normal? And if not, what causes this? As you can see in the photos the belt separated on the back side.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35696/20160413_193735.jpg)
What are you using for lube? How long has it taken to get 100hrs ? Drive side or both?
Hate to answer question with questions. Looks like diesel and intervals between sawing I have had that on my TK2000 could also just be that belt.
Tim
No idea if this is normal or not. I have 270 hours on mine, I rotate/flip-flop them every 50 hour service and both still look good.
TimGA: Primarily use straight diesel for lube as I saw a lot of pine. Bought the mill new 1 year ago. Worse on the idler side, but drive side starting to do the same.
WV Sawmiller: Never thought to rotate them but makes sense. May be part of my problem?
Thanks
Quote from: wvwoodbutcher on April 13, 2016, 09:31:26 PMPrimarily use straight diesel for lube as I saw a lot of pine.
What does your sawmill manufacturer recommend for blade "lube/cleaner"?
Wish I could take credit for a genius moment to rotate belts to equalize the wear but it is part of the normal checklist in my WM operator's manual to do so.
I would bet your belts are tight on the wheel, so they are a little hard to get on or off. Don't bother switching them. Get a new set and hold on to them. use it till one breaks or comes off and them put on a new 1. There are some videos you should watch on changing those tight belts as they can be a challenge. I think Timber king has some of those videos on you tube.
PC
Magicman, EZ Boardwalk didn't make any recommendations on lube. The fella that sharpens my bands told me if I ran diesel it would eliminate the buildup. Could that cause the belts to separate?
WV Sawmiller, I woulda never known : :D
Paul Case, I'll check out those videos.
I'm gonna give EZ Boardwalk a call tomorrow and have them send me a set.
Looks to be a tight belt on pulley as PC said same on my TimberKing. When using diesel as lube this will happen especially when let to sit for a length of time. I watch for excessive blade vibration when I know the belts are getting close to change. Don't wait to long as you will start to have blade breakage. Not a bad job once you do it once, I put a little dish soap on the belt to help it slip a little. I normally get around 200 hrs on a set I always replace both belts unless belts were in good shape and have a blade break and a big chunk is taken out of one. As a personal choice I use diesel, no pitch, clean blade, no waves from pitch build up, just me.
Tim
I have sawn many hundreds of Mbf of SYP (probably over a million) and have never used anything but liquid Cascade & water for lube. I am quite sure that there is something better, but I choose to stay with what works for me.
I will admit that I sawed some SYP last week that was very pitchy and I had to resort to running the LubeMizer full force to keep the blade free of buildup.
Thanks Tim. I'll keep that in mind when I change them.
Magicman, I'll try the cascade. About how much do you use? I have a 1 gal lube tank.
2-3 oz per gallon of water. LINK (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,41376.msg597504.html#msg597504)
And now a few words from the Master Himself: Mr. Tom (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,49402.msg713946.html#msg713946)
Thanks for the links Magicman.
Quote from: wvwoodbutcher on April 13, 2016, 10:02:17 PM
Magicman, EZ Boardwalk didn't make any recommendations on lube. The fella that sharpens my bands told me if I ran diesel it would eliminate the buildup. Could that cause the belts to separate?
WV Sawmiller, I woulda never known : :D
Paul Case, I'll check out those videos.
I'm gonna give EZ Boardwalk a call tomorrow and have them send me a set.
Goodyear B56 work best, make sure that's what your getting from EZ Boardwalk. I've never had one come apart, once in a while a broken blade will ruin one. Steve
Steve, last b56 Goodyear belts I got came from Continental ContiTech I believe Mexico. Brand new set broke 3 blades was not to concerned as they had 6 plus sharpens next one broke had only 2 sharpens. Start looking at what could be wrong not normal find terrible blade vibration. Run my hand over band belt, it has bump at joint where it is put together, find same on drive belt also.
Call Mike at TK says they are having same problem with these belts. They are trying different brands no winner yet. I bought 2 Gates Hi-Power || B56 not quite as flat but I have 150 hr on them and working great. I also use only diesel and I feel they are holding up better. About $13.00 at O Riely's TK2000 mill.
Hope this helps Tim
I bet I have double the hours on my mill and brought it back in '03-'04. So far my belts are not showing wear. I use half diesel and half bar and chain,BUT only at a real SLOW drip. Only a drip every few seconds. That is what Thomas Bandsaw Mill told me to use.
Tim, I've broke more bands that I want to think about. I will check my belts today to see if they have a bump in them. I think most of my problem with them breaking is that I cut mostly cedar. When it gets old and the bark starts coming off in strips it gets between the band and the wheel.