Carriage creeping

[Dleavitt]

Hey anyone got an old lane #0 feed works, I have been putting together this old circular mill and finally got to the point where I could run the carriage back n forth. I'm having issues with the flat belts on the feed works flopping around casing them to grab a bit making the carriage creep one way or the other. Could this be because I used round baler belting? It's kinda rubbery and I think it's too "sticky" and thus making them grab a bit all the time. Your thoughts ? Thanks

[Kbeitz]

Any time I get grabby belts I a little cannon wax on them...

[drobertson]

sounds like the idler if one is used on your set up might not be fully releasing,, causing just enough drag to remain engaged,, hard to say not seeing it,, I'll bet ya its a simple adjustment,, always seems that way, have a good 4th this week end!

[Ron Wenrich]

Its been a long time since I've worked with belting on a circle mill.  I converted over to hydraulics.  But, I do remember the dreaded carriage creep.  If I recall (its been 35 years), I had problems with rubberized belts.  Like you say, they're a bit too grabby.  I like the idea of making an adjustment in the idler pulley.  There's always a sweet spot where the carriage stops and you can do your business, when you release the handle.  I remember using the old style canvas belts and using belt dressing.  It didn't work too well on the rubberized stuff. 

I think I'd make some adjustments on the idler pulley to see if that makes any difference.

I also sorta remember that things got better as the belt stretched a bit.

[Gearbox]

The belts on the one I ran started creeping as the fabric wore off and the rubber got more exposed . I have used baler belting for conveyers and it seems to stretch more and made it hard to track .

[Dleavitt]

Thanks for everyone's input... I did a little more digging and believe it's likely a combination of the "baler belt" and all the bearings in the feed works are pretty sloppy. I've decided to switch to a hydraulic motor to run the cable drive. I'll leave everything vintage on the mill and just replace the bull gear with a chain n sprocket to the hydraulic motor. It will be safer and quieter as I can plug it into the tractor hydros.

[Kbeitz]

You might want to check on split strockets. You wont need to take anything apart to
install one of those.



 



 

[Bert]

The issue is definitely the baler belts. There is just too much friction with the rubber coating. I tried the same thing one time and it didnt work. Canvas belts are the only way to go.

[SCSawyer]

Make sure your staying in neutral , I always kept some talcum powder handy , once in a blue moon if it got to creeping I'd dust them "belts"and would be good to go, I added a spring to help it stay in neutral.

[Dleavitt]

Thanks for the tip.... I ended up switching to a hydro feed and it works well. I still have allot of alignment work to do etc. the back side  of the blade "wobbles" badly in the cut I believe because it's rubbing the log and getting warm? I'm not very schooled in circle mills but I'm learning. My buddy and I are doing this together and its allot of fun but seems to be a slow process.