Problem with Alaskan rig hanging up early in the cut

[Booma]

Hi all,

Had an issue this past weekend while milling a hickory log. Used my usual setup, screwing down a 2x6 on top and went to it but about 16" or so into the cut the saw would not move another bit. The saw cut very nicely up to this point, there was no binding and it backed out easily. The teeth all seemed to still be nice and sharp but I took it to the shop and touched up the teeth and checked the rakers...all fine, still no joy.

Only thing I could figure is that something with the Alaskan has jiggled out of whack and I'm cutting out of plane with my 2x6, although I couldn't tell that by eyeballing the cut and it seems like I would have jammed up before going that far in. Anybody here experienced this problem? I need to get this log worked up before deer season gets here and I become worthless for any kind of work!

 

[hamish]

Put your good eyeball on it!

Grab a tabe measure and start measuring sounds like you have a bar/rail/something tweaked a lil bit. I would start by comparing the leading to the trailing edge of the bar in relation to the alaskan rails.

 

[thepheniox]

I'll bet you might need a new bar or one side of the chain is sharper than the other.

 

[glennschumann]

Was there anything sticking out of the 2x6? Maybe a knot that was bumped up a bit, or an old nail or screw? Did the back end of the mill (side closest to you) catch the back end of your 2x6? Just thoughts. I've been derailed by less...

 

[Booma]

Some good thoughts. I will bring the mill home to the shop this weekend and give the old eyeball method a rest Also will try flipping the bar over or digging out a less used one that is laying buried somewhere around here. As for the 2x6, it is fairly new and straight with no old screws in it (don't ask me how i knew to check for those!).

If I get this figured out, I'll post back here. I figger it'll provide a good chuckle or two

 

[mikeb1079]

i've had this happen to me, in my case it was the one of the uprights vibrating loose and the saw was diving slightly. doesn't take much to bind up.
good luck!

 

[john taliaferro]

Sight down your 2x6 see if their is a small hump,don't take much. Next take a gander at your cut from one end see if it turns down or up. Look at the chain see if cutters shine like ya hit something . Start on the other end and mill that sucker ,and take pictures ,please we like pictures .

 

[burningwood]

Hi all,

Had an issue this past weekend while milling a hickory log. Used my usual setup, screwing down a 2x6 on top and went to it but about 16" or so into the cut the saw would not move another bit. The saw cut very nicely up to this point, there was no binding and it backed out easily. The teeth all seemed to still be nice and sharp but I took it to the shop and touched up the teeth and checked the rakers...all fine, still no joy.

Only thing I could figure is that something with the Alaskan has jiggled out of whack and I'm cutting out of plane with my 2x6, although I couldn't tell that by eyeballing the cut and it seems like I would have jammed up before going that far in. Anybody here experienced this problem? I need to get this log worked up before deer season gets here and I become worthless for any kind of work!

Booma; I had it happen to me.... turned out to be my shims never were pushed in far enough so it was binding. I took the bar off then put a new chain back on.... still happened with the new chain, pushed the shims in and away I went.

bw

 

[gemniii]

Are you hand sharpening? Are you sure your chain is sharpened properly on both sides? (left hand facing cutters and right hand facing cutters) Sometimes when sharpening you might put more pressure on one side of the cutters then the other side. I found when I first started "freehand" sharpening I found when I advanced the chain my left hand sharpening took off more of the cutter than my right hand.

This might cause the saw to "dive".

If you use a guide or a grinder this might happen also.

Try a brand new factory sharpened chain.

/edit - this is assuming you fully checked out the Alaskan

 

[blainep3]

Sounds to me like something as simple as the log is was too wide to fit between the rails. Had it happen to me a the end of a cut and it took me a while to figure it out (I was tired).