Circular saw chatter

[Dleavitt]

We have finally got the old lane #0 left hand circle mill operating and the saw(hammered &tensioned for 540 rpm) is cutting ok but the back of the saw is chattering badly, not really wobbling but more of a chatter I would call it. It runs smoothly until the board or log gets to the rear of the saw? I have little or no experience with circle saws and am finding they are a completely different animal than wide bands I've dealt with in the past. Could this simply be an alignment issue? Thanks

[Kbeitz]

Chatter is what I get from brass bushings that run dry and need oil.
Put a double shot of oil on your spindle bearings a see if you get a change.

[Percy]

I'm not a circle guy but I've read on this form that circular saws run a bit of lead. In otherwords the saw is slightly skewed so that the back of the saw has more clearance against the side of the cant than the front. Hopefully Ron or one of the others familiar with this will chime in

[Chuck White]

I would assume, Yes, but I'm going to ask anyway!

Is there a splitter installed to separate the board from the cant after the saw?

[Bert]

Do you mean its chattering against the cant? Spraying you with sawdust? If thats the case you either need more lead or carriage tracks not straight.

[Gearbox]

Saw speed may be to slow . It needs to stand up with no wobble when out of the cut . lead should be at 1/8 to start . lead is checked on one tooth with the blade guides backed off . Mark one tooth measure at front bunk back of saw , turn saw 1/2 turn and push carriage to the same bunk and tooth . set lead from the pully side bearing .

[dblair]

mine will do that when I pull it down slower that normal.

[Jeff]

1/8 is a lot of lead.  1/32 to start.

[Dleavitt]

Thanks for all the replies.... Yes we do have the splitter installed so I think that's ok, the Babbitt bearings surely could use some more oil (only ran for a few minuites) so I'll check that(they are in good shape) I know it needs alignment work but honestly was not totally certain how. Now that I have an idea on how I'll check that after work tomorrow. The saw runs smooth with no wobble when we get it fired up only after the can't gets past the eye of the saw or at least that's when it's noticeable. The first night we got it going it cut pretty well but it was dusk, in the daylight it was kind of alarming ! The saw is definetly rubbing pretty hard on the back of the saw when returning the carriage. The tracks are quite straight and movement with a heavy log or whatever is minimal at best. Should my saw(40 on 4') have more or less tension for a slower 540 rpm at 42 hp ?

[Dleavitt]

Lead meaning cutting into the log right ? I must sound like a fool but like I said it's been allot of years and if it was a weight strain bandmill I'd have a better idea what the heck was going on. Trying to wrap my head around this old lane is tricky for me😳

[Bert]

Lead meaning cutting into the log right ? I must sound like a fool but like I said it's been allot of years and if it was a weight strain bandmill I'd have a better idea what the heck was going on. Trying to wrap my head around this old lane is tricky for me

Right. Like Jeff said, the front of the saw should be 1/32" closer to the log or cant than the back (for a start anyhow). You can adjust from there. Might want to google Lundstoms book on Circle saws and their efficient operation. It gives a pretty good generic overview on setting up a saw.

[Gearbox]

Cant side saw guide should just touch the saw at rest and just move away when up to speed . Off side should just clear the saw at speed .

[Dleavitt]

Success!! The lead was headed out of the log, plus I put heavier oil to the bearings. My tractor definetly lacks power in the bigger logs but until I can convince the wife to upgrade 🙂 It'll work. Thanks for all the great information!