Sawmill Maintenance/Repairs

[Magicman]

Sorry?  No apology is needed, "butt" I am wondering why you even have pictures.  

I believe that I do have pictures of the idle wheel bearing replacement.  ;D

[Old Greenhorn]

Doc, is that confectioner's or regular granulated sugar? You'll have to 'splain the procedure to me when I see you next month. As for the smoke, well, I think you are pulling our legs. It's fascinating what you can learn on the FF.

[Patrick NC]

This thread seems to have veered off path a little so I'll do my best to bring it back!🤣
 I was sawing some 16' pine boards yesterday and when I got to the end of one I heard a pop and the head dropped on one side. 

 
Broken head lift cable. This is the second time that's happened,  so there should be no excuse for not having a spare. But I don't, so I'm down until I get another set. I might try to find the same size cable at Lowes or home depot and see if I can make it work.  

[Magicman]

Compared to your finger, to me it seems small.  Could it be up-sized?

[Patrick NC]

It probably could. There's one on each side that runs through a series of pulleys as sort of a "gear reduction " or snatch block. 

 
To upsize the cable would mean changing out all the pulleys to a bigger size. That might be the direction I go in eventually,  but for now I'm just going to get the same size to get back up and running. Looking at the broken end, rust seems to be a major contributing factor. I'll probably try spraying the cables with wd40 or atf on a regular basis to see if it helps. 

[Magicman]

Do they make a stainless steel cable that size.  Just trying to think of alternatives.

Since rusting seems to be the problem, then up-sizing might lengthen the failure time it is still a problem.  Soaking in something like Fluid Film might protect the cable interior. 

Shed or protective cover?

[doc henderson]

I do not want to get into a "one ups-man-ship" with Magic.  we all know he has pictures, and will show his own parts.   I do not have a picture, but it tends to be imprinted on your brain, and I can still picture the stuff for years.  I think LeeB added the smoke comment, I think something about blowing it, maybe in an updraft direction somewhere.  It is true it works, and the nurses who were too young could not believe it either.  Had to put enough packets in a coffee cup to be 1/3 full.  I did not use the remaining sugar or cup, for coffee afterwards.     Pt walked out the door when we were done.  I am not sure about you tube, but if you need to, I bet you can find a pic online.  

[Magicman]

I betcha that it was actually a case of "cloacal respiration".   :P

There now don't try to "one up" me again.  :D

[Patrick NC]

Do they make a stainless steel cable that size.  Just trying to think of alternatives.

Since rusting seems to be the problem, then up-sizing might lengthen the failure time it is still a problem.  Soaking in something like Fluid Film might protect the cable interior.  

Shed or protective cover?

I have a cover for the head. Shed is in the works.  Stainless cable might do the trick.  Thanks for the idea.  

[Old Greenhorn]

Doc, thanks for that and the idea. I did find photos and they weren't as bad as I thought. I have a better picture now. We can leave it at that.

MM to my knowledge there has never been a recorder instance of a human using cloacal respiration. Maybe there is some kind of human/turtle hybrid out there. In today's environment, who knows. :D

Patrick, just a thought: Steel cable hate running over pulleys and they can destroy themselves from the inside out. You are right, larger cable will be worse unless you increase pulley diameter. Perhaps looking for coated cable might be helpful? That might provide a little cushioning for the wire itself. I assume your scale or drive is not related to the cables. i.e. there is a separate measuring locating system independent of the cables? If so, the cable diameter has no effect. But if your measurement or adjusting system somehow counts turns on the cable spools, changing the wire diameter will likely mess al that up. I would think a light spray on grease would help your cables last longer than WD40 or ATF. I don't think they make swaged cable that small, but finding that may help also. Just some odd thoughts, but it sounds like you will be back up and running soon. 

[beenthere]

Patrick NC
What size is the cable that broke? diameter or gauge? length? any other info?

Per McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr

Maybe we can keep this thread on track  

[GAB]

GAB,   In your Maple Syrup Pie, what are the ingredients?  

What thickens it?  Maple Syrup seems a bit too runny to be used alone without some sort of filling thickener. . .  Just a thought.

Actually, this sounds very good, with all the boiling going on earlier this month.

While living in Vermont and New Hampshire I learned to enjoy fresh hot maple syrup on freshly fallen snow.  Makes the best original snow cone .  The syrup must be taken directly off of the wood stove, to be best.

Are you allowed to send the pie recipe here?

thanks

Since it was asked for in this thread I am replying here and not in the food section.
Maple Syrup Pie
1-1/2 cups of maple syrup*
1/2 cup of water
1/3 cup of flour
Place the flour in a bowl and slowly blend in the syrup, then add the water to the mixture.
Pour in a 9" pie crust***
Bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes**
Notes:
* Mom used grade B syrup
** Mom would sometimes use a lower temp and bake until the crust was the right color.
Syrup pies while cooking are notorious for overflowing.  I suggest taking precautions.
*** The first time I would suggest a 10" to reduce chances of overflowing.
As an FYI my mom was the oldest of 8 and there were 8 of us, so recipies were frequently revised on the fly.
Concerning your comment: "While living in Vermont and New Hampshire I learned to enjoy fresh hot maple syrup on freshly fallen snow.  Makes the best original snow cone .  The syrup must be taken directly off of the wood stove, to be best."

What may mom and aunts would do at the sugarhouse, and at home on occasion, is take some syrup and boil it down further until when ladeled in strips on granular snow it would gel, then it was sugar on snow.  Grab a fork and twirl sugar on snow on it then eat all you can then have a pickle or two and have some more sugar on snow.  WDH always said to avoid yellow snow, but at the sugarhouse yellow snow was the norm when sugar on snow was involved.  
Happy eating,
GAB

[APope]

This thread seems to have veered off path a little so I'll do my best to bring it back!🤣
I was sawing some 16' pine boards yesterday and when I got to the end of one I heard a pop and the head dropped on one side.  

 
Broken head lift cable. This is the second time that's happened,  so there should be no excuse for not having a spare. But I don't, so I'm down until I get another set. I might try to find the same size cable at Lowes or home depot and see if I can make it work.  

I used a cable clamp (u shaped threaded piece) to attach a commercial section of 7 x7 cable to the threaded adjusting rod. You want to use the same diameter cable so that one rotation of the height adjusting handle is still an inch. Thicker cable will change the ratio. Edit to add... mine is 3/32. I did find that my pulleys were not bearing centered.

[doc henderson]

can you adapt to a double cable system for strength but same diameter x 2.

[Chuck White]

Like many other things on the mill, why not give all cables, chains, slides, and any friction points a good wiping down with a rag sopped with ATF once in a while!

[caveman]

When older folks prolapse the rectums out, we sprinkle with sugar to shrink down the membrane so it will fit back in. [/quote      SWEET. 

 We have done the same with hogs and cattle.  When it does not work, you push all of the outsides back inside, get a volunteer to loan a finger and do a purse string stitch to try to keep everything inside.  An alternative that we use sometimes it to use a bit of pipe and put a surgical tube on using a Calicrate bander to essentially amputate the outside parts.  I have pictures but will refrain from posting unless there is interest in seeing them.

SS cable seems like a good choice to replace the broken cable on the Norwood.

[fluidpowerpro]

I had a lift cable on my mill break twice in a relatively short period of time. After the second one broke in a short time I investigated further. I found that the bearing on one of my pulleys was bad so the pulley wasn't rotating. The cable was just being pulled around its radius. I replaced the pulley with one of a larger diameter and bigger bearing and so far no issues, but still not a lot of hours since I made the change so I'm gonna keep an eye on it in the future. I suggest watching the pulleys to make sure they actually rotate.

[LeeB]

Might try upgrading to aircraft cable. Much more durable.

[Machinebuilder]

I was using my LT15 yesterday. i took a brief coffee break and when  I went back.

I turned the Key and NOTHING.
SO I walked back to my house got my meter

12.7V at Battery
same at starter solenoid
same at solenoid coil

I used a pair of channel locks to jump the solenoid and it started. I need to get a starter solenoid next time I can.

I finished off the day doing that, I tend to shut things off as i roll logs on the mill, the last one was a 24" hickory.

[Patrick NC]

Called norwood this morning and ordered new cables. Tech support said to try using a spray on lithium grease on the cables and pulleys. Since this has happened twice they said they would send an extra set of cables for free. They also are sending new pulleys and want me to let them know at the first sign of frayed cable. 

[TimW]

It makes sense to be able to see the sight tube without removing a cover and the sticker showing what the level should be.  This looks like something that was probably added to later sawmill revisions.

We can all learn something.  :P

The WM manual says check the level at each blade change.  I always bring out the flashlight on blade changes.
Oh yeah, watch your head when you stick it up to the hole.  There is a wiring box right above when you lift your head and back up on mine mill.

[TimW]

Speaking of grease, do any of you have a method of removing broken press in grease fittings?

I have always used these drill extractors for broken zert fittings and screws or bolts.  Just drill a hole and tap it in with a hammer, turn to the left and pull.

 

 
Left hand drill bits are the bomb for removing screw in fittings. 

 Pictured is a #30, which is about 1/8th inch.  I also keep 1/4 inch left hand bits on hand.  At SWA, we had access to bulk stock of these stress relievers!

[barbender]

 Personally I think the spray on lithium grease should be illegal around a mill. I would use ATF in spite of Norwood's recommendation, the lithium grease will attract sawdust where the ATF won't. Woodmizer has us WM owners spraying ATF on basically everything that moves on our mills except maybe the drive belt😁

  

[Peter Drouin]

Does anyone have an easier way to get the retaining clip out?
On a Wood Mizer vertical clamp, piston.
 Has anyone filed the grove down some to get the wire up on top of the shoot?

[Peter Drouin]

Got it.