woodmizer outriggers

[StephenRice]

Hi guys, I just watched a vid of an LT 50 with fine adjustments, looks pretty slick and simple.
So I can better understand the way your outriggers are and what the differences between the old and new are can someone explain?

   Hello guys Can we back up the boat a bit and give me an answer here please

The FAO are crank up jacks, where the regular style are simply manual outriggers where you have to snake a rod into the holes from both the inner and outer tubes and lift the mill yourself with back power.  Watch the WM video with the guy adjusting the regular outriggers and you will see how it can easily put you into the doctor or chiropractor's office with a herniated disc.

[Chris Burchfield]

I've not had any problem jacking and having the saw head away from me.  On occasion I have used a farm jack cause the leveling required more than the jack would travel.  I used 2'X8"X8" to shim with.

[Chuck White]

I've not had any problem jacking and having the saw head away from me.  On occasion I have used a farm jack cause the leveling required more than the jack would travel.  I used 2'X8"X8" to shim with.

Me too Chris.

Sometimes I'll jack up one side or the other in uneven ground and put a couple of 2X's under the tire, let it down and go from there.

No problem at all jacking if I move the saw-head to the opposite end of the mill.  ;)

[terrifictimbersllc]

If the front end is hard to jack up make sure the jack in the rear isn't down. 8) 8) 8)

[MartyParsons]

FAO are manufactured by WM.
I have thought about doing a video on how to use the standard jacks.
Some owners make it hard. Everytime a non owner helps set up a mill they pull all of the outriggers before moving the saw head. I use the saw head weight to help. Some of you have stated that you do this.
If you have trouble with the inside pin use the front or rear outriger to set the inner outrigger. Drop the inner outrigger ( pin not engauged in hole) Lift up the rear outrigger till the pin on the inner outrigger pops in. Set the rear outrigger. Move the saw head to the rear and check the front outriggers.
Remember the mill is rated at 4500 lbs.
There are some safety precautions needed when setting the outriggers. Please dont sitck fingers in the pin holes and drop the leg.    Sometimes the rear leg needs to be lowered to prevent the mill hitch end from raising up. Wheels need to be chocked to prevent rolling. ( I have learned the hard way on this one, almost lost a new mill over a large hill doing a delivery)  :-[

Marty

[backwoods sawyer]

If the front end is hard to jack up make sure the jack in the rear isn't down. 8) 8) 8)

The jack in the rear is the last thing that gets set.
On "My Mill" I already have heavy tongue weight when the mill is setting on the wheels. To raise the mill to the operating position the head weight makes setting the front jacks to the first height not a problem, bring the head to the front and the rear height can be set at the final height. But to bring the front end up to final height even with the head all the way to the rear of the mill something better then the present jack is needed. The rear set of jacks are well behind the axel changing the amount of weight that has to be lifted at the tongue in the final step from 300lb to closer to 500lb this is the step where the little bar will slip out of the whole and allow the front of the mill slam down. I use a longer bar for this step but you still have to flip up the keeper, turn the pin and pull the pin out while holding the weight of the mill off of the pin and my arms are only so long. Then lift the mill two more clicks to bring it up to level. 
Now spent the day handling lumber and tailings and repeat this process of taking the mill down, bringing it home and setting it up again.
Is making this jack easier to operate going to make me more money? Probably not!
One thing that I did learn while working in the production mill is that when you bring the engineers, mill wrights, saw fillers and operator all together prior to doing an up grade, is that in the end you end up with a piece of equipment that is more user friendly and easier to work on, and there is always room for improvement.

[Dangerous_Dan]

Here's my fix. It's cheap and easy.





I drilled another set of holes 2.063 inches down from the original set.





Machined another pin, found a spring, washers and a cotter pin that fit and installed them in the new hole. This reduces the vertical adjustment step from 1.375 to .688 inches.

When 1 pin is in the other is out. You only need to pull 1 of the pins and lift, the other is already out and will pop in after the jack extends 11/16 of and inch.









Only 1 jack has been modified so far and it still needs to be fully tested but it looks promising as a partial fix that reduces some of the aggravation of setup.

I wonder what WM wants for 6 of the adjustment pins, springs, washers and cotter pin assemblies?

Patent Pending  ;D

DD

[pnyberg]

I hope you applied for a patent on that before posting.

--Peter

[Magicman]

Then you gotta pull both of them to raise the jack to the travel position?

[northwoods1]

Why would he need to apply for a patent ??? , being his mill I would think he could do whatever he wants with it? Making the outriggers infinitely adjustable somehow is a good thing. The PITA part about setting up is having to shovel out or shim up under the outriggers to get the mill stable. With the pins locking in every 5/8" or so instead of every 1 3/8" of an inch the need for shimming or digging would be reduced. Looks like a good idea to me

[customsawyer]

The only trouble I have had is that I broke the rod/jack handle once but that might have been my fault for not having the weight in the right place.

[Jeff]

Why would he need to apply for a patent ???

I'm pretty sure it was said as an exclamation that it was a great idea.

[scrout]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=28-1746&catname=

These look cool...

[terrifictimbersllc]

Being granted a patent on an invention allows the patent holder to prevent others from practicing the patented invention,  currently for a period of 20 years, in the country granting the patent.   Patents are generally a very good thing for society, as they provide an incentive to inventors to spend the time, energy and money to invent things, and to be able to openly share the details of the invention with, in exchange for an exclusive right to be able to profit from that invention for a limited period of time.  After the patent expires then anyone can practice the invention without permission of the inventor.   An alternative to patenting inventions is to keep the details a secret (like the formula for Coke), but usually people can take an invention and figure out how to copy it. 

[Burlkraft]

I got some pictures somewhere I'll dig up or maybe I'll take some more.......

But I put 3 hydraulic cylinders on my LT28.
They lift the mill up and I set and shim the stands, let the mill down and I am all ready to go.

I have to go to town now, but I'll do them pics later.

[Dangerous_Dan]

Yes, Magic Man you would have to pull both to raise the jack leg.  :(
And I've got a fix for that too.  ;)
Maybe you will like it  maybe not  >:(
This is a simple part I made that pulls the pin out and locks it in the released position.
I made it the same on both ends so it can flip either way. Makes a good T-handle too.









Hope this mod helps you guys that were complaining about holding the pin and lifting the leg at the same time, I feel felt your pain.

I like the simple and robust design of the WM jacks over screw type jacks but they apparently left something to be desired. IMO they just needed alittle extra reengineering to make them a little more operator friendly. Some seem to think they are good enough the way they are, maybe I should just 

DD

[paul case]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=28-1746&catname=

These look cool...

just think though for less than the cost of 2 of those you could buy 6 of those sidewind jacks. my luck is just when i get the electric ones all rigged up all my batteries would be dead.  pc

[Magicman]

Yes, Magic Man you would have to pull both to raise the jack leg.  :(  And I've got a fix for that too.  ;) Maybe you will like it  maybe not  >:( 

That's what I'm talking about.  Yes I like it !!!  Very much.  Outstanding.  I would have liked it even more on my mill today.   ;)

Did I say that I liked it  ???

[pnyberg]

I'm pretty sure it was said as an exclamation that it was a great idea.

Exactly so.  Sorry if that wasn't obvious.

[northwoods1]

I'm pretty sure it was said as an exclamation that it was a great idea.

Exactly so.  Sorry if that wasn't obvious.

No need to apologize I'm just to stupid to have realized it.

Dangerous Dan, those modifications are really quite ingenious!

[Peter Drouin]

Nice mods on the jacks. But for me less time .Put on the new WM screw type jacks an your  sawing! and set up is fast   8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[terrifictimbersllc]

Only real trouble I have with the WM jacks is on an asphalt or cement hill.  Also don't like digging holes in someone's yard for the jack to clear the rails when on a hill but hey, that's where their logs are.

[Magicman]

Also don't like digging holes in someone's yard for the jack to clear the rails

You gotta keep those square plugs and put them back when the sawing is complete.   ;)

[terrifictimbersllc]

Yes that's right  put a bunch of sawdust under them if there's no dirt and put it in on top.  Nobody gets a broken ankle.

[Dale Hatfield]

Ill trade my stationary legs  for for the adjustable units and pay the shipping .