Track alignment

[Patrick NC]

I've been sawing for awhile now with my hd36, but I've had a 1/16" sag on one side of the track that I couldn't seem to cure with the leveling jacks. So I backed the mill under the carport this evening and started taking things apart to find the problem. It seems that one of the frame sections either slipped a little from the logs rolling on it, or I didn't get it quite right when I assembled it. 

 

 

It's a little hard to see in the picture, but 1 section has slipped just slightly and I believe that's what is causing the sag. All the rest are aligned perfectly and are completely straight when you pull a string line on them.  Hopefully this information will help anyone who has a similar issue. 

[moodnacreek]

Another way, the on I like, is to use light gage electric fence wire stretched real tight over the track. Screw eye bolts or small turn buckles rigged up to some angle iron or whatever. One way is to stretch the wire over 2 1" blocks at each end of track. Crank it up tight and slide a little 1" gage block along under the wire to see what sag or hump you have. The other way is with a transit.

[Patrick NC]

I carefully aligned the bed sections and held them in place with a couple of c clamps. Tightened all the bolts back and problem solved. No more sag. I pulled a string really tight  across the bunks and down the track similar to your fence wire method. All good now.

[moodnacreek]

It's a good thing you got right on that problem. Normally we keep sawing because it's not that bad. And what always happens is another problem arises like saws not set or sharpened quite right and you will blame the problem you knew about. I believe all sawmills have a small problem however slight and you don't want to let it get any farther than that.

[SawyerTed]

I agree, there's always a little something not quite 100 percent "right" it seems.  Sometimes it's not alignment but something else.  My mill right now has a squeak/squeal.  It's the cover for the top cam follower and the plastic scraper that scrapes the top rail.  The cover is bent from a log with a knot hitting it during loading. I've straighten it only to bend it again. Next time I'm doing a little grinding so there more clearance.