Mill alignment

[Crossroads]

Since it was a tropical day today with a high of 34°, I called a friend from church and asked if I could pull my mill into his shop and do an alignment. It seemed like it was binding as it got to the home position, so I started crawling around looking for anything that could be binding. I found that the front bottom roller was seized up. With some wd40 and atf, I was able to get it spinning free, but she's a little rough. Adjusted the feed motor belt and the drive belt. Set the cantilever, guide arm and leveled the guide rollers. 

I was surprised to find the inside guide roller was close to a 1/4" out of level, typically it's the outside roller that I have to square up. 

[bandmiller2]

Sawmills be they band or circular are not a "set'm and forget'm" machine. Be alert to any changes and follow them upstream and locate the cause. Frank C.

[opticsguy]

I have always assumed a band saw mill would require plenty of maintenance and adjustments over time.
I am very surprised that my now 9 year old TimberKing 1220 has never required any adjustments other than guide bearing replacements and small adjustments to the log dogs. 

[Southside]

You might want to get a spare cam follower (the roller you describe) and have it on hand.  The penetrating oil trick will work for a little while, but she is on her way out, I would think it is still under warranty?  That is early for one to go.  

[Crossroads]

You might want to get a spare cam follower (the roller you describe) and have it on hand.  The penetrating oil trick will work for a little while, but she is on her way out, I would think it is still under warranty?  That is early for one to go.  

Yep, your absolutely correct. If I didn't have to move the mill, I wouldn't have even put it back in. I still have a year of warranty left, I'm sure WM will take care of me. 

[Crossroads]

Called WM today about the seized up cam follower. The only question was what address I want the new one shipped to for Warrenty. Sure is nice to work with a company that stands behind their products....

[Magicman]

I keep/carry a couple of spare cam followers.  Only once have I had one to seize, but I was sawing very far from home (327 miles) when it happened.  I was back to sawing within a half hour.  I also carry a spare blade guide (old) and also a blade guide replacement bearing kit which I have had to use once.

[esteadle]

I have always assumed a band saw mill would require plenty of maintenance and adjustments over time.
I am very surprised that my now 9 year old TimberKing 1220 has never required any adjustments other than guide bearing replacements and small adjustments to the log dogs.

Be careful, you may be visited by the ghost of Christmas repairs. he hee. 

[Crossroads]

I keep/carry a couple of spare cam followers.  Only once have I had one to seize, but I was sawing very far from home (327 miles) when it happened.  I was back to sawing within a half hour.  I also carry a spare blade guide (old) and also a blade guide replacement bearing kit which I have had to use once.

I've been dragging my feet on putting together a just in case kit. I'm gonna have to get on that sooner than later. 

[terrifictimbersllc]

I also carry a spare blade guide (old) and also a blade guide replacement bearing kit which I have had to use once.

MM are you speaking of the guide roller and roller bearings or the guide arm?

[Magicman]

Not the guide arm.  Old (worn) roller blade guide e/w bearings and also a bearing kit for the roller blade guide.  Actually the bearing kit is poor economics because it is ~$25 whereas the entire blade guide with bearings is ~$55.

I have replace the bearings on the truck tailgate before: Tail gate repairs in Sawmills and Milling