saw carriage drive assy.

[cluckerplucker]

  fellows  !!  I need some info on putting chain drive on mill carriage. Do I hook the two chain ends to the carriage and loop over idler sprokets at each end of the track.or hook each end of the chain to the track and lay the chain over the hyd. motor sproket with a ilder tension to keep it on the drive sproket? Or is there a better way then I have envisioned.I have a 12vdc hyd. pump and several hyd. motors to use if needed. Thanks   cecil

[Jeff]

Any mill I have been around has the carriage driven by a cable.
Ours is attached to either end of the carriage and the cable is driven by a drum that is driven by a chain which is driven by Hydraulic motor.

Here is a diagram of our carriage drive, less the cable and carriage.

[Fla._Deadheader]

Cecil, It depends on how much room you have for the chain and motors. The Woodmizer way, is to attach each end of the chain to each end of the mill. The drive motor rides WITH the carriage. It has the chain looped AROUND the idler sprockets and then looped AROUND the drive sprocket. That will keep the slack taken up at the sprockets and allow the slack to droop along the mill.

  You will need to have room around the wheel, if you have a trailer type bed. Also, the hoses will be long and drag the ground. Rigging the motor stationary and letting the carriage travel WITH the chain will solve the long hose problem. Use a cable for the second length of chain, to keep costs down.

  Running a hyd pump constatnly will require LOTS of electricity. We used a 12V DC motor and it draws 40 amps, max.

  We are leaving at 6 AM, but, will be back Freday night, and I will help with more info if you need it. Pics of your mill would be a help.

[D._Frederick]

Clunker,

Are you going to walk along with the saw carriage or are you going to control it from one end? The type of drive will depend on how you want to operate the saw.

[cluckerplucker]

  I intend to walk with the carriage the pump I will mount on the carriage or maybe run a belt driven pump off the main engine it has a double pulley and the 90% g.b. only has one .I had thought I might mount the pump to the other .I have a 22hp. kohler motor.I have my track mounted on a 23 ft, trailer.   cecil

[MrMoo]

Clucker,
The way mine is built is that each end of the chain is connected to the carriage. At the far end is an idler along with 2 of them spaced out on the frame. At the close end of the frame is an sprocket connected to the hydraulic motor.
Mike

[D._Frederick]

Clunker,

Since you plan to walk with the saw carriage and use hydraulics, you should have the chain connected to the end of the track, then run to a idler sprocket on the saw carriage, then up to the drive sprocket that is powered by a hydraulic motor, and then down to another idler sprocket, from there the chain will run to the other end of the track were it is connected.  You will need a hydraulic pump run by the saw engine, hydraulic tank, control valve, flow control valve and a lot of hose. Good luck.

[Jeff]

OOps. Band saw carriage. Forget I was here.

[woodhaven]

Thats ok Jeff,
  I liked the picture. Gives me ideas.

[Swede]

On my "darling" there is just 20" chain!  One sprocket on a Hydr. motor,  the other sprocket on the end of an iron wheel with V-profile track.There is a flow control for the speed and a lever. I dont have to hold the lever when the saw cuts (then I take the previous board away) but on way "home".

If anyone dont have catch it yet  ;D  there is four wheels on my saw unit, two a side. Just one are driven and get a feeding  power of about 7 kp. When the blade is dull and it´s time to change, or when anything  prevents the saw unit from moving the wheel skids. I really like this detail  
The wheels  are all the same profile and rolling on a V-bar turned upside down. There is also  a little play so the wheels can move in axial direction but not radial or angular.

The motor has a wheel for two V-belts and a lever for moving the motor and by that means  stop driving the saw. For safe I´ll  connect a diskbrake to it to.
In the motors end there is a flexible element and the Hydraulic pump is connected to the motor, that is to say, end to end. There is usaly some threads on a motor block You can use.
So today there is no hoses or cables down but there will come when the time allows me and I´ve get tiered of change the drawings for loglifter, rotation/clamping.

Dont do my mistake! I did´nt check the overflow was adjusted correctly. I had to buy a new hydr. motor. >:(

Swede.

[D._Frederick]

I would stay away from using the carriage support wheels as a driving force. There were a number of band mill mfg's that tried this method, but switched to roller chain drive on later models. I guess they had problems with wet track.

[Swede]

D._Frederick

I´ve had NO problems yet. But with out.... I´ve used it in any weather exept very cold, I just  wipe some saw dust off once or twice an hour.
With out it I had broken a band guide at the last job and I don´t know where to find new ot that type. Not in Sweden.
Intresting to hear about the type because I dont realy know what mill I have.  There is no plate telling it.

Swede.

[cluckerplucker]

Swede   Post some close up pictures .I feel sure there are some old coots around that can help you decipher you machine.            

                              cecil

[Swede]

cluckerplucker

Be shure You´re going to get photos!  8) When I get them out of my old Canon AE-1 and scanned into the ´pjuter.

If the file hadn´t been to big You had may seen a genuin swede right here------------>

Swede.