Log cutting machine

[Dave Sr.]

Hi everybody and thanks to everyone who has responded to my threads. I decided to move this post from chainsaws back to this thread as I couldn't find it in chainsaws. I am building a homemade chain saw for my home made log cutting machine. I was curious as to what chains and other stuff were used on professional log processors. Thanks to the info I've got on this forum on chains and other stuff I've decided to replace the chain saw with a home made saw with a .404 pitch harvester bar and drive system using a 6 cylinder motor from a combine and a mechanical drive system to the saw. I'm not in any hurry to finish this project as I have enough wood cut for a couple of Winters that just has to be split and put in the shed and I also have couple of Winters wood in logs and limbs that needs to be cut and split. I've just started on this project so here are a few pictures of what I've got done so far on the saw. I will post on this thread as I work on this project.

Thank You, Dave Sr.

 

[Dave Sr.]

I got the 6 cylinder engine home and the Harvester bar was delivered. I'm going to get the motor into the shop today. I will post some more pictures as soon as I can.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Here is the slant six engine from the combine. I had a fairly large order come in this week that I have to have done by the end of the week. Sometimes you have to do things to bring in some money instead of fun things that cost money. As soon as I have time I'll pull the plugs and check the compression. Hopefully the compression will be good and all I have to do is give it a good tune up and some TLC. Ebay refunded my money for the first 2 used harvester bars I ordered that the seller never shipped and I got the new bar I ordered.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Got a little more done on the Harvester chain saw I'm building. Finished machining the shaft that drives the saw chain that goes through the center of the truck axle part and the wheel hub that the bar attaches to. Next thing will be making a template to lay out the plate that the bar fastens to and then cutting out the plate from 3/8" steel plate. I ran a compression test on the motor 5 cylinders were good but number one cylinder was only 50 psi so I pulled the valve cover to check to make sure the camshaft was OK everything looks good there. I put a bunch of brake fluid in that cylinder and let it set for a few days and then checked the compression again it had come up to 75 psi so I'm hoping its just a stuck ring. When I get it mounted on the log cutter I'll start it up and see if it runs on all six and then recheck the compression.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Starting to look a little bit like a chain saw. Got the bar mounting plate cut, used one of my band saws to cut the straight lines and plasma cutter to cut the curves. Next will be boring it for the bearing housing, making all the parts to mount the bar, the chain tightener and chain oiler.

 

[Dave Sr.]

A little more done. Got the bar plate bored for the front bearing housing and got it welded in. I had a major draw back to the project Friday I suffered a major stroke and spent 3 days in the hospital. Luckily I realized what was happening and got to the hospital right away. I'm partially parallelized on the right side now and I've always been right handed so I'm typing this left handed. I start therapy tomorrow so hopefully they can help. I've been around for a lot of years and hope to be around long enough to finish this project. Thanks to everybody who has viewed or commented on my threads and thanks to my wife for putting up with me for all this time, we'll be married 50 years this November.

Dave Sr.

 

[WoodAbuser]

A little more done. Got the bar plate bored for the front bearing housing and got it welded in. I had a major draw back to the project Friday I suffered a major stroke and spent 3 days in the hospital. Luckily I realized what was happening and got to the hospital right away. I'm partially parallelized on the right side now and I've always been right handed so I'm typing this left handed. I start therapy tomorrow so hopefully they can help. I've been around for a lot of years and hope to be around long enough to finish this project. Thanks to everybody who has viewed or commented on my threads and thanks to my wife for putting up with me for all this time, we'll be married 50 years this November.

Dave Sr.

Hope you are back in action soon.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Thanks for the reply WoodAbuser. I'm up at the shop now my therapy guy told me to do everything I can except for running power equipment. I see that I need to make a change in the design of the guide bar mounting plate to make it work better so I'll see if I can get it taken apart today. I had ordered a .404 88 drive link Orbit brand chain from HarvesterBars.com that should be delivered in a couple of days. I don't know how good those chains are but I'll let you know what I think of them when it's delivered. If anybody has tried Orbit brand chains let me know what you think of them.

 

[Kiwioilboiler]

Keep going mate.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Thanks Kiwi, I did a little bit of welding on it today. My right hand doesn't work real well yet but its only been 6 days since I had the stroke.

 

[Dave Sr.]

A little more done on the saw. Had to do some redesign on the bar plate to make it work correct with the override spring set up. The 404 chain I ordered from HarvestBars got lost in shipping so they had to trace it down and now it looks like it should be here tomorrow or the next day about a week late. Working with the limited use of my right hand makes it harder to get things done but working is the best thing to do to get better. As soon as I get the chain I'll be able to work on mounting the bar.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Got the Orbit 404 chain from HarvestBars. The chain looks really good won't know for sure until I cut some logs with it. Got the bar tightener made, mounting studs, chain oiler slot, oil fitting installed and bar mounted.

 

[Dave Sr.]

More done on the new chain saw. Just a few things left and the saw will be finished, finish the mechanical stops, add the 3 limit switches and there trip brackets, attach the bar the hydraulic cylinder pushes to the spring over ride system and then unless I missed something the saw should be finished. The next part of the project will be adding the frame for the 6 cylinder engine to set on, installing the engine and all its parts it will need to run, mounting and connecting the air compressor and air tank for the air over hydraulic system, making the drive shaft, jack shaft and chain drive. I'm not going to remove the Stihl chain saw and install the new saw until everything else is done so I can use the log cutter as it is if I need to. Since my stroke I'm not able to work as much or as fast as I used to but I'm getting better.

 

[Dave Sr.]

The saw is finished. All 3 limit switches and trip brackets installed, bar for hydraulic cylinder to attach to installed and chain oil valve and connector installed. Next week I will move the log cutter back into the shop and start installing the frame parts for the engine to sit on. This weekend I will be working on splitting wood and getting it into the wood shed Winter is coming.

 

[Dave Sr.]

A littler more done on the log cutter, Had to take a break from working on it and get wood split and put in the wood shed, should have enough done for Winter. Got the frame for the motor to set on welded in place, pulley to run the air compressor made, motor mounted on frame, air compressor installed and connected to belt drive. Next will be installing the air compressor air reserve tank and connecting it, then install the radiator and other parts for the motor and see if I can get it running.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Back to work on log cutter, been real busy in shop and been down with some kind of flu bug. Got the radiator mounted, hooked up and filled with antifreeze. Waiting on another 1/2" spring check valve to finish plumbing the air compressor to the air tank. Have to make up a dash panel for the motor with the gauges and engine controls, hope to have the engine running by the end of next week.

 

[Dave Sr.]

I've been working on the log cutter off and on and decided I Should do an update, I've been really busy in the shop and also I managed to get covid that kept me down for awhile, I've had all the vaccinations so it wasn't too bad. I started the slant six for the first time it really sounded nice with the glass pack muffler. I could only run it on a float bowel full of gas at a time, the needle valve is shot and leaks gas and the carb has really bad corrosion so it needs a good cleaning and a new needle valve. The engine is a 1966 so I have to see if I can find parts for the carb. I'm hoping to get finished with the motor in a couple of weeks and get started mounting the new Harvester chain saw.

 

[Dave Sr.]

Got some more done, Removed the Stihl chain saw and installed the Harvester saw, mounted the gas tank and the electric fuel pump. I connected a temporary exhaust pipe that I can run outside the garage door so I can run the motor without filling the shop with exhaust fumes. I ran the motor for about a half hour but then the electric fuel pump quit working so I ordered a new pump. I'm working on making the jack shaft that the drive shaft from the motor will connect to and the chain sprocket that will drive the saw goes on and I ordered a 10 foot length of 50 pitch chain.

 

[WoodAbuser]

Got some more done, Removed the Stihl chain saw and installed the Harvester saw, mounted the gas tank and the electric fuel pump. I connected a temporary exhaust pipe that I can run outside the garage door so I can run the motor without filling the shop with exhaust fumes. I ran the motor for about a half hour but then the electric fuel pump quit working so I ordered a new pump. I'm working on making the jack shaft that the drive shaft from the motor will connect to and the chain sprocket that will drive the saw goes on and I ordered a 10 foot length of 50 pitch chain.

Really kewl seeing all the work you have done. I see a yellow can in first the pic. Is that some sort of special lubricant?

 

[Dave Sr.]

Some more done on the log cutter. Got the jack shaft done with drive sprocket and U joint yoke, the hydraulic cylinder re-installed, limit switches on the saw wired and everything works OK. Ran out of welding wire so I ordered 2 more 10 lb rolls. Next will be making the drive shaft.