Sawmill power unit upgrade

[gary49]

If it ain't leaking,it's out of oil. Great old engine, really noisy, but it will get the job done.

 

[TMGT]

They also gave the hot rod community the iconic blowers everyone loves i.e. 6-71 and 8-71.

They are also famous for running away.

My best memory is of a big 4wd MM at a tractor pull running I believe a 3-53.

 

[Oldpath05]

My son got the 453 Detroit in the mill this past weekend, got it in position, lined up with the flat belts, in process of changing the V-belt pulley to flat, had to get bigger exhaust pipe, had 2" OD on the gas motor he didn't think that was big enough for diesel, it has 3" on the motor.

Looking like it might be a couple weeks before he gets it running, still has to brace up the floor, wonder what will be louder the motor or the shingle mill, here's a video of what he's doing, caution not for the faint of heart, as you can see, need quick accurate hands...... Maine Made Cedar Shingles - rebuilt carriage by ckshingle - YouTube

 

[MossRoad]

NOPE NOPE NOPE!!!! hahahaha

I've seen videos of shingle mills before. Gives me the creeps. :laughing:

 

[Farmerford]

Great video. Sixty years ago on the farm I helped run a feed mill for grinding corn that was powered by a 4-53 and we had a couple of tractors with Jimmy diesels in them.

What is the second operation? When he inserts the cut shingle into the slot is there something in there that cuts the edges?

 

[Oldpath05]

After the shingle is cut, he sticks them in the slot where a big wheel is spinning at a slower speed, that has several planer knives, I think there are four, 1/4" thick, about 3" wide, 6" long, that's what squares up the shingle. When he gets into good wood, shingles are really coming of that fast and furious, around 5-6 square a day.

Two years ago he found out just how sharp that saw is, in a split second, lost part of his trigger finger, he wasn't sure what happen but think he got complacent, it's definitely a pay attention job.

 

[Ivan49]

I was just going to ask if he still has all his fingers.

 

[rustydollar]

After the shingle is cut, he sticks them in the slot where a big wheel is spinning at a slower speed, that has several planer knives, I think there are four, 1/4" thick, about 3" wide, 6" long, that's what squares up the shingle. When he gets into good wood, shingles are really coming of that fast and furious, around 5-6 square a day.

Two years ago he found out just how sharp that saw is, in a split second, lost part of his trigger finger, he wasn't sure what happen but think he got complacent, it's definitely a pay attention job.

Shingle sawyer in Hope B.C. has the same mill, he used to power the mill from a Detroit diesel. About five years ago brought in 3 phase power, now all you hear is the saw slicing through the cedar blanks.

He also cut several fingers off a few years back, found them in the sawdust wrapped them in a rag and took them to the hospital where they reattached them.

Nearly everyday people are picking kindling from the scrap pile, told him he should make small bundles from it to sell on auction for the hobbyists. I'd bet the farm that folks living in condo's and apartments would scoop it up faster than it could be listed.

Look at what they do with toothpicks.

 

[Oldpath05]

My son got his motor in last Sat., guys here were right, LOUD, I guess it's loud. I was working in the garage 300' away when all of a sudden I hear this whining, buzzing motor sound, looked out the front door thought the neighbor had a runaway lawnmower, then open up the back door and there it was, only thing louder would've been a Harley.

The Detroit diesel power plant is on 30' of 3-1/2" pipe, went down there to see what can be done to make it quieter. I was standing next to the motor and the exhaust was still drowning out the motor. He got a muffler put on today and shorten up the pipe, said it's a lot quieter, next he's putting on a spark arrestor. I'll check it out some more this weekend. Also said he's going to make a video of it in a few weeks when things ironed out.

 

[cabover4us]

My best friend Mike had a mobile home toter, was an older GMC short nose and his neighbor up the road ran 238s in their dump trucks. Before Mike started toting he or they would rebuild his motor, out of frame. Took a week or two collecting new parts and pieces. This was reported to me directly from Mike, motors all done sitting there on blocks, no manifolds, hose in five gallon pail of fuel. Cranked it over, cranking, cranking, ??? And all it once fired..... RIGHT TO TOP END!!
They are holding their ears with palms jammed tight. Owner of the shop thought motor was going to explode, but someone pulled fuel line out and motor was able to be shut down without any destruction. That motor after that was unbelievable, depending on the size of home he pulled got 9 to 15 miles a gallon, obviously, the 15 was running empty back to Pennsylvania and the other loaded for Maine. What a fun truck to drive, many a day was horse from yelling our conversation instead of speaking normal. Today of course, if I had the means, this old style truck with a Detroit would be my project to fix up and drive around. Cabover tractors are the real favorites of mine, as I learned to drive on a 318 Astro.
Had to wear snowmobile boots in the winter just to keep feet from freezing.
BJ Lumber from Cambridge had an old Astro with a V-12, 71 series. Steve, his son would come through the downtown section of Hoosick Falls and fire off the Jake's at 2am, and the windows would be rattling in the window casings. Many years later I drove a Transtar 2 hauling bark mulch from Lake George, that also was a fun truck to drive.