Why does it take so much?

[WildwoodChuck]

First off all threads need at least 1 picture.

Cord Wood Saw

I live in North West Indiana and I have a uniform job that I work outside most days and others I wok inside where temperatures can be 80+. I wear long johns under my pants and a moisture wicking tee under my mandatory white tee. I sweat like crazy the days I work inside but sometimes half way through the day they send me back outside in -8 like last Tuesday. I have a jacket with a sweater for a liner, scarf and watch cap and snowmobile type coveralls to wear in the extreme cold, my Rocky Eliminators just cracked Friday so I switched back to the summer boots. All this to say then I go home take off the uniform put on fresh socks, jeans, muck boots and a fleece then throw my Carhartt jacket and bibs, green watch cap, scarf, gloves and safety glasses in the jeep to go to my dads and cut wood on the cord wood saw for about an hour then take the wood in the house.

Last Friday the mill my dad gets the lumber from was out of scrap so I had to go Saturday and start working on the trash wood pile that the mill brought in a dump truck about a month ago. Dad doesn’t really maintain or keep track of anything, at all EVER! I asked where the chain saw is he said the electric one is down by the back door and Jason (BIL) has the gas one, so I go out in his garage/shed and pull out 4 chain saws that he said don’t work. One has the recoil rope hanging all the way out so I leave that one and try the others; all 3 have compression and recoil so I check the plugs and they are trashed I just decide to replace them.

So a trip to Big R for 2 stroke oil, syringe to measure the oil, spark plugs for the saws and log splitter, bar & chain oil and 30 wt for the log splitter. And oh my gosh muck boots, 2 pair of gloves and wool socks for my aunt that lives with my parents because mom is sick and can’t help.

Get back to the house change plugs, mix gas/oil oh wait back out to the gas station. then start the cord wood saw, Damn dad left the key on battery is dead get out the jumper cables and jump start it.

I love stuff I like tools and tools that go with tools that make the other tools work including the screnches I need them for all the chain saws because they are all different but good lord man I do take a lot of **** when I go places to work.

Any of you take a **** ton of extras when you work? With almost every one I know every project is like this.

 

[Zeke]

I don't know what that thing is but I wouldn't go into the same yard where it lives. I hate monsters that roar and bite.

AFA the working conditions and your life, it sounds worse than Alaska boonies, but with people who don't care or can't.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I cut up a craftsman lawn tractor to power it, it was my grandfathers I would stand off to the end and catch the wood as young as 8 and stack it for him.

 

[zkling]

Wow that thing brings back the memories. My grandfather has one, runs off the PTO of the tractor, "don't forget to twist the belt he would yell". Good times being 7-8 years old and running that thing. I'm curious, does that have much power running off that small of an engine? His was always ran off the PTO of the old Ford tractor. The one he had was a full, solid table which you would place the log on and then the entire table tilted into the blade. Good times.

I don't know what that thing is but I wouldn't go into the same yard where it lives. I hate monsters that roar and bite.

AFA the working conditions and your life, it sounds worse than Alaska boonies, but with people who don't care or can't.

It's called a cord saw, used for rough cutting firewood in a remote location. Typically they were powered off the PTO of a tractor. Obviously the blade ~24-48" in diameter spins while the table tilts into the blade to cut the piece of wood. You don't see them much any more. I think an OSHA rep would probably faint if they saw one in operation.

 

[sasquatch12]

Quite a saw set up, never seen one driven like that. Where is the top guard for that saw?
Buzz sawing round wood is about the fastest way to cut up stove wood, -with a properly guarded saw, but that thing is just asking to get hurt.

 

[66HertzClone]

Paragraphs would be very helpful with a long post like that.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

Paragraphs would be very helpful with a long post like that.

Better?

 

[92integra]

my dad has the same style saw but ours runs off a tractor pto

 

[WildwoodChuck]

...does that have much power running off that small of an engine? ...

It has a lot of power and speed, if it binds the belt slips until the blade catches up again. The belt is old and dry so it slips a little more than I like but a new belt will cure that.

 

[GreenLBZ]

My grandfather had one mounted on the front of a John Deere 60 with a wide belt that ran off the flywheel.

Yep, that's how things used to be done every day.

 

[zkling]

It has a lot of power and speed, if it binds the belt slips until the blade catches up again. The belt is old and dry so it slips a little more than I like but a new belt will cure that.

What HP is the that engine?

 

[WildwoodChuck]

15-18 I don't remember its off a tractor.

 

[Supe]

It's cool that you sorted out the chainsaws so that the next time you have to do this, there isn't the same rigamarole. When you've got some time, might be worth doing a tune up of those chainsaws - ala air/fuel filter, oil change if necessary.

 

[CNGsaves]

Is that BEAST the . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Widow Maker . . .
. . or . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Limb-less Stump Quadriplegic Maker ???



I'm thinking we need a YouTube with the thing in ACTION to really get the vibe !!

 

[zkling]

I'm thinking we need a YouTube with the thing in ACTION to really get the vibe !!

Here is a quick video, showing the operation.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

It is pretty awesome

 

[WildwoodChuck]

So back to the original question do any of you end up taking a bunch of stuff when you go away from your main tool supply?

 

[jeffmoss26]

It happens to me all the time. I can be doing a wiring job with 2 bags full of tools and still find myself running to the closest hardware store. Not so much for tools, but for fasteners and small parts. Of course, I have everything at home...lol

 

[bobcatdan]

We had one of those saws on the front of a AC WC and it worked very well. Way faster then a chainsaw.

 

[drivesitfar]

I think your question about the tools was a great one and then you showed us a picture that most of us would think came out of Red Green's show. i'm betting that saw works like a charm, but gotta keep the kids, pets and neighbors off the property when it's running.

As many tools as I own and I think my wife thinks i'm a hardware store with all the supplies there are around here there is always a reason or a need to go to the store for a tool or part even if you are working from your home or shop. take the basics and hope the place you are working at has a few others, but trips to the store are always going to happen.

also with your 90 degree temperature range from inside the shop to outside you need to invest in some of the high tech materials that they make clothes from that hold in the heat and let out the moisture. also taking off several layers when you are inside and being able to layer up to go out in -8 helps too.

sounds like your dad needs one good chainsaw so maybe you can find him a nice one on Craigslist for less than $100 now that nobody in your area wants to even go in their garage much less outside.

 

[woody 73]

wildwood chuck could you please show me some pictures of you mill , I like seeing different woodworking mills.

 

[Aberdale]

I just sold a saw similar to that , but it fit a Ford 8N 3 point hitch and ran off the PTO. It was great for taking to the woods to cut firewood to length. Nice unit, but be careful!

Every job seems to lead to another job. It must be one of Murphy's laws. Kind of like "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Oh wait . . . that's one of Newton's Laws.

'dale

 

[1Garageman]

I'd have to bring with me some extra pairs of underwear working that saw!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

NUTTSGT has this;

I was getting my saw ready to start cutting tomorrow and had the camera in the garage. I don't think I've shown this tool box before, or atleast what's in it. I take this with me when I cut, it stays in the truck.

It's a Masterhand box from TSC, same exact thing as the Cman and was 10 dollars cheaper when I bought.

I put a divider in the top. Left side, qt bottle of bar oil, file, cleaning brush and a roll of paper towels. Right side is just some basic hand tools.

In the lid are extra 16" bars held on by magnets and the owners manual in a plastic bag.

Top drawer, fuel mix, I use the 1 gallon size bottles, makes it easier for me to mix a gallon at a time. Some survey tape to mark dead trees when the leaves are still on. A few spark plugs and container that has a few extra bar nuts and band aids.

signcrafter has this;

That's nice and organized! I like seperate tool boxes for seperate jobs. I have probably 30 plastic tool boxes for all the home repair tools, one for electrical, plumbing, masonry, laminate flooring, carpeting, painting, etc. Then have rubbermaid tubs for things like drywall tools, carpentry, roofing, etc. It took a while to put them together but they are nice to have. I used to go to someone's house to do a small favor like put an outlet in and try to gather up what I thought I would need and end up forgetting something like a hammer. So now I have all the common tools in each box like a hammer, screwdrivers, torpedo level, pliers, etc. So it means some extra money mostly sitting around but when I need to do something I grab the toolbox for that job and everything I need should be in that box. Over the years I've added and taken away from the boxes as needed. But I don't have a chainsaw box yet! Might have to steal this one from you.

I has a Sit Stand Tote box that worked really well for electrical stuff for a number of years I would really like to get a few more of those.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I like that box. Moss green!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

So I have been running this saw every week all winter and I had some crazy problems with it sometimes to the point of frustration. It started out flooding the cylinder and hydro locking the whole thing. Then we stopped leaving gas in it by running it dry but dad kept leaving the key on and killing the battery. That lead to jump starting it off dads truck every time. I tried 3 other known good batteries and bought a new one but we had to jump it. I ended up replacing the starter last Friday I also added a fuel shut off when I replaced the fuel line.

Today there was moisture (water) on the plug and we have had no snow/rain to speak of since Friday. It is exhausting walking back and forth between the house or my jeep around the truck or trailer loaded with wood to get tools or parts so I want to put a tool/parts kit together. I want to put it in a waterproof container and stock it with:

tools
plug socket (bar type)
6 in 1 screw driver
8" adjustable wrench
6" slip joint pliers
bic lighter

spares
spark plugs in case
air filter
air filter prefilter
air filter nut
air filter cover nut
fuel filter
fuel line
fuel line clamps
fuel valve
ignition key

Fluids
Oil
ether

Am I missing anything simple? I have a full set of tools in the jeep as well as dads tools in the house. I just want the simple things at my finger tips so I don't have to go in for everything.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

It is just never ending for me.

Thursday we were leaving for the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab Utah On our first stop at a rest area West of Joliet IL Mike A. checked the wheel bearing on the trailer and noticed that the right rear hub was slightly warmer than the other 3 and the dust cover was missing. We attempted to put grease in the bearing but it wouldn't go in so we removed the grease fitting and pushed grease through it and only a small amount was passing through the fitting. We re installed the fitting and pushed on another 60 miles.

In Princeton IL we stopped for fuel. During the fuel stop we checked the hub again and it was smoking and smells of hot grease and melted plastic or rubber. We pulled around to the side lot and removed the hub and brakes that had all the brake lining worn away. We inspected the hub and spindle for damage then went to Walmart to see if we could get bearings. We only found a 1 inch bearing kit, bearing buddies and covers for the bearing buddies. The Tractor supply was closed so we got a room at Econo Lodge and waited until morning.

Friday morning we went out and got as much ready as possible before Tractor Supply opened. We cleaned the burs off the spindle with a file, poked a wire through the E Z lube axel and swiped a grease fitting out of a spare U joint for the Jeep.

When tractor supply opened we got bearings and a dust cover (2 sets) grease fittings, grease and an impact socket 13/16 for the trailer.

A trip was made to the Autozone just up the street for a bearing race tool, brake clean and thread locker.

About an hour and a half after Tractor Supply opened we had finished the repair all the tools and gear was stowed and we were on our way to get fuel. About 12 hours and 6 minutes after the original fuel stop we were on our way.

Mike spent 1000 dollars on heated racing seats with 5 point harnesses and couldn't spend 30 bucks on seals and repack the bearings I was so irritated.


Sunday we go on our first trail he asks how I like the seats, I tell him the bolsters are rubbing my legs raw and although I sat in them before we left there is no way I could tell they would rub me like this.

Try to wrap your mind around his reply.

He says I asked asked Marty (his buddy from WI) about seats and Marty liked the master craft seats. Marty and I are bigger guys so he figured we would have a similar fit in the seats.

WTF Marty is a quadriplegic!!!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I hope I haven't worn any ones nerves thin with this thread but I am trying a different approach and felt like posting about it. I am going out of town to help a relative with his wood burning stove then I am going to do a few other projects for them so I made task lists. The task list have the tools listed and the consumables for the tools e.g. sandpaper, grinding wheels, air gun nails and staples. I don't have to buy all the supplies or materials but it is just easier for me to take tool specific consumables with the tools and pick up replacements during an inevitable run to the store. I still have my regular tools and gear in my truck that covers a lot of simple tasks but hopefully I will be better prepared this go round.