Duel Powerhead Homelite 8-29 Alaskan Mill

[Ghatt]

Hello all,
I have a vintage duel power head Homelite 8-29 Alaskan mill with a 50" bar.
The Homelite 8-29 is 129cc and 8hp. (talk about a big grunt saw! that's 258cc's total!!)
I am gathering information and parts to restore both power heads and the Alaskan mill.

The saws appear to be a match set for the mill. one has an oilier the other does not, etc.
Did Homelite offer mills as a package? or was this set up by a retailer ect?

The mill appears to be the same vintage as the saws (1958).
The mill appears to be very well built with aluminum adjustment nobs, and side rollers.
Did Homelite ever provide Alaskan style mills?

Any information or history would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Ghatt

 

[RandyMac]

How far north are you?

The drive belts are the weak point and hard to find.

 

[mad murdock]

Welcome Ghatt . That sounds like a real neat rig you have come across. Document your mill and restore in pictures and when you get the picture posting thing figured out, we can see your setup!

 

[cityslicker]

I would love to see pictures too!

 

[BobL]

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The mill appears to be very well built with aluminum adjustment nobs, and side rollers.
Did Homelite ever provide Alaskan style mills?

Side rollers sounds like a Sperber Mill
Does it look like this?
Sperber chainsaw mill 36 by 16 inch twin power head

 

[BobL]

those old big homies are slow.
Max revs are 5000rpm and double powerhead won't change that
The rakers would need to be dropped significantly to out cut a single powerhead CSM using a modern high revving saw CS.
Low rakers are no problem but it can mess up the finish

 

[Ghatt]

How far north are you?

The drive belts are the weak point and hard to find.

Shasta Co.. Any leads on where to look for replacement belts?

 

[Ghatt]

Side rollers sounds like a Sperber Mill
Does it look like this?
Sperber chainsaw mill 36 by 16 inch twin power head

Similar in design but all steel frame and main rollers. Only aluminum are the adjustment knobs and small side rollers.
Here are some pics. Any one know who may have manufactured the mill?View attachment 298676View attachment 298677View attachment 298678View attachment 298679

 

[Ghatt]

those old big homies are slow.
Max revs are 5000rpm and double powerhead won't change that
The rakers would need to be dropped significantly to out cut a single powerhead CSM using a modern high revving saw CS.
Low rakers are no problem but it can mess up the finish

10-4. not much of a production mill. It would be fun just to slab a big log and hear them run!

 

[Ghatt]

Welcome Ghatt . That sounds like a real neat rig you have come across. Document your mill and restore in pictures and when you get the picture posting thing figured out, we can see your setup!

I imagine it would be hard to find a match pair in this good condition with the original mill.
I would sure like to find out who manufactued the mill.
Here are some pics.

 

[BobL]

10-4. not much of a production mill. It would be fun just to slab a big log and hear them run!

Yep - I'd like that too although the mill looks like it needs a bit of work.

 

[flashhole]

opcorn:

 

[54stude]

I think the belt thing got figured out by another member.
http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/137933.htm

If you search "8-29 belt" or "8-29 gilmer" you will find more.