Cam follower bearings

[Dan_Shade]

I thought changing these was in the manual,but it isn't...

I seem to remember a trick where you prop the outboard edge of the saw head up with a board or can't hook.

Can someone refresh my memory? 

[WV Sawmiller]

   I think the LT40 is different than the LT35 but be very sure you have the head secured before you remove the cam follower. On the LT35 that bottom cam follower bearing is the only thing holding the head to the bottom rail. Good luck and be very careful.

[Chuck White]

Forestry Forum member @Bibbyman covered the procedure very well in "Useful Sawmill Mods"

Go here:      https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,7789.0.html

I changed all 6 of them on my mill in about 2 hours, by myself!

Change them "One at a Time", for safety!

[Magicman]

Dan, you use the prop when changing the lower cam followers. 

For the top, use a pry bar to lift the head at that point and use a thick screwdriver, etc. as a wedge to hold it up.  You only need to lift it high enough to turn the roller which is not much.

[Dan_Shade]

Thanks for the info. 

I've been looking at them this afternoon, they all move freely, but sometimes the head feels "bumpy" when moving forward or gigging back.

I have been having some issues with the feed, tightening the belt will make it go a bit better. 
I've been sawing a lot of large poplar lately, going through a 20+ inch cant was really taxing the feed.

I also didn't have the frame quite level, the loader side was slightly up hill.  Not sure if that was making it worse or not. 

[donbj]

Check your chain. It may have some links seizing up and that will cause that as well, or junk caught in the chain

[Magicman]

Also be absolutely sure that all of the power feed bearings are turning smoothly.  A "too tight" power feed chain will destroy those bearings.

[Dan_Shade]

How do you change these? 



 

[Magicman]

That's much different from mine, but I would say take the center bolt out to remove the entire assembly ??

[Dan_Shade]

This is the one on the other side.  (the end opposite of the hitch)





 

 

[WV Sawmiller]

   If you do what is holding the head on to the frame? Check that very carefully and make sure the head is secured. Also don't raise the head any higher than you have to to help keep it from being more unstable. I think the instructions also warn to chain the head to a sturdy structure before starting.

   I did not pay attention to those cautions and I dropped the whole head unit off mine which is a very traumatic and a very dangerous experience.

   As I remember there is a hex socket in the shaft you can use to help loosen/tighten the assembly if it is the same as mine. I did not use one the last time I changed mine but I suspect an impact wrench would have been very helpful.

   The next time I change one I will be working from the rear of the mill so I don't have to thread so much chain over the sprocket too. 

[jcbrotz]

How do you change these?


(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

take a wedge and drive it lightly in the end that will raise the rollers enough to remove the weight and unbolt the center bolt and remove and replace the rollers then reinstall.

[Magicman]

As I remember there is a hex socket in the shaft you can use to help loosen/tighten the assembly if it is the same as mine.

Absolutely.  The cam follower has a hex socket head, so hold the nut and use an Allen wrench or a hex driver to remove it.

[jb616]

Forestry Forum member @Bibbyman covered the procedure very well in "Useful Sawmill Mods"

Go here:      https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,7789.0.html

I changed all 6 of them on my mill in about 2 hours, by myself!

Change them "One at a Time", for safety!

I learned the "One at a Time" the hard way....still have all my limbs but the engine cherry picker in the corner of the garage came in handy... >