How to Fire your Sawmill

[@thekiltedsawyer]

I keep my machine running as well while loading log's, glad you cought it when you did! Thanks for posting this and walking us threw how you handled it 😅! Keep us posted, & yes that log is a beautiful chunk. Safe sawing brother and looking forward to seeing your follow up!🤟🪵🌲👍👌🔥🔥🧡🧡💪

[@DustyRanch]

Thanks Craig. Hope your doing well.

[@thekiltedsawyer]

Yes sir, better than I deserve lol

[@JelenOutDoors]

That's a real nice log. Usually a loose, corroded connection, damaged cable or even a worn cable may increase resistance in and a high current draw causing the cable to melt or catch fire. Your cable has been damaged and it may be best to replace it.

[@DustyRanch]

That is true. I didn’t think about that With the charred end it may not have enough connectivity.

[@MsdMakingSawDust]

Glad you caught it when you did, that look like a deep cycle battery ? If so you can run it without hurting it , it’s made to run completely dead if need to. A regular battery will over heat not made to run constant. More and likely your battery post terminal was loose and not make good contact and that will make the terminal get hot because it ain’t making full contact. Anyone with a mobile mill should check there battery pretty often if move a lot. It can do a lot of damage to the electrical system if shorts out. I check mine every time I get to where I’m going and then back home I check it after I get it set back up. Anyway nice log should make some nice lumber . Thanks for sharing . Sorry so long ….

[@DustyRanch]

Thanks, yea I definitely will start checking those contacts frequently. I’m 90 confident the post was the issue. Thanks for watching.

[@TheOldJarhead]

I almost never run the hydraulics without the engine running....not sure it matters but a thought I guess

[@DustyRanch]

I definitely will start doing that. At least on the big guys.

[@TheOldJarhead]

@@DustyRanch I'm just running it all day ;) Doesn't burn a lot of fuel and keeps the battery charged up. I rarely shut down except for coffee breaks and lunch ;)

[@DustyRanch]

@@TheOldJarhead working alone, I shut mine down whenever I handle lumber. Seems like a waist for me to idle for 15 minutes. Plus the drive belt occasionally ( not very often) starts to rub even with the adjustment made. I think I will start running the engine while I’m flipping the bigger stuff. Hope all is well with you. Don’t eat too much turkey!! Happy thanksgiving.

[@TheOldJarhead]

@@DustyRanch Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours bud!

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Ben, buddy, I just checked my LT40 and there are star washers between the cable connector and the battery terminal. That goes against all I learned in over 50 years in the electrical field. I removed the washers. Dave

[@DustyRanch]

Right, so if I’m not mistaken the bottom of that screw stud is a rubber washer. Check my math on that. I was thinking the stud it’self that was the conductor.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

Ben, did I see a star washer between the wire terminal and the battery terminal? Your issue was definitely a loos connection at the battery. I would recommend making sure that ALL contact surfaces at the battery are clean. I would also recommend putting a lock washer back on the + terminal between the wire connector and the nut. Is this issue covered under warranty? Dave

[@DustyRanch]

I don’t know. Didn’t check warranty on that issue. I’m still working on the simple set. Definitely will replace the lock washer. Thanks!

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

@@DustyRanch To reiterate; NO washers between the electrical contact surfaces. Make sure that the surfaces are VERY clean (shiny is best)

[@taftamick54]

I got rid of the power strip just for this reason...Had nothin but problems outta that thing... Bypassed it completely.. Probably having the engine running would have helped though...

[@DustyRanch]

I would love to see how you bypassed it.

[@taftamick54]

@@DustyRanch I have the command control station so all I needed was a cable thru the cable track from the head back to the hydraulic box... I think most of the guys with the control station on the head are adding an extra battery box attached to the hydraulic box..It is a super nice accessory to be able to run the hydraulics no matter where the head is positioned...

[@DustyRanch]

@@taftamick54 absolutely. I really thought about getting the command controls. I’ll get it on the next one. I have thought about figuring something out to bypass it.

[@andysmith8544]

Hmmm, I've seen Dave work his hydraulics for over an hour trying to flip a log and not overheat the battery, maybe run the engine like you suggested... (smirk)