I’ve been debating whether to buy or build a sawmill. It’s not a complicated machine and if I build it I can customize it to exactly what I need. Watching this reminds me that (1) just because I buy a saw doesn’t mean I get customer support, and (2) just because I buy a saw doesn’t mean I don’t have to do the work of grinding and welding on it.
Building one would be okay buying one is a lot less work but if I had to buy one again I would buy the Harbor Freight I wouldn't feel so bad working on it.
I bought/still have this mill from three years ago. The Kohler engine that came on mine was a piece of s**t. After six months of EXTREMELY hard to start, and hours of diagnosis I took the Kohler off and threw it in the recycling bin, replaced it with a Predator, MUCH more power and starts by the third pull every time. The blade guide setup is trash, I replaced it all with custom made adjustable brackets with sealed bearings. I am now trying to find replacement belt tensioner cable/throttle cable, crappy quality design. The track bed and sawhead frame assemblies are good quality,but the actual sawhead box/cover/etc. are thin trash, even though it is kept covered,the paint is all peeling and covered in rust. I am at the point that I will be removing the sawhead and completely rebuilding it with my own design and better materials. Now all this being said, this is an entry level machine, but I expected better quality from the brand, especially for being a made in USA. Overall, I would buy another Woodmizer, but only a used one.
Yep, I changed my Kohler after only 30 hours, changed to a predator. Runs smooth and has power. The Kohler had power but the Governor was wild and then eventually fell apart, all plastic parts. broke the plastic part on the throttle as well. Luckily under warranty, still at the shop. I don't know if I want it back😃
sorry you are going thru all this mess. they have dealer maybe one of them will help you. i wish you all the best. i am glad you did this video maybe it will help other. i hope some body at woodmizer see's it. take care, be safe and well.
Your a better man than me that's for sure. They would not like to talk to me. As much that you paid for it you would think you wouldn't have this many problems!
You're not supposed to just let it idle for 15 minutes man, shut the damn thing off if you're not going to be cutting for a while. This is operator error, not the sawmill.
If it were me I would looks at the belt tensioner.. good chance there is adjustment there that has come loose...?? Don't own one but am a mechanic and plant engineer... Just thought I would offer some help... Good luck with the project...or possibly the driven wheel is moving... Again good luck!!!
i think moving the motor is the only adjustment on that mill. i was going to get that mill but there was a 14 month wait now i am glad i didn't get it. i got a woodland mills 130 max and it has a belt tensioner.
@@johnwoody4905 .. on another thought... If it was in adjustment earlier... Then something moved... I'm sure there is other adjustment to find. Whatever is going out of adjustment will likely keep moving.. hence you have to cut more frame away... ??? I'm the fix it guy at work... So fixing things is my job... Wish I was there to take a look and help out..
My experience buying a Woodmizer mill was single-handedly the WORST POSSIBLE experience I have ever had in my life trying to buy something. I'm not being hyperbolic here, it beggers belief. It got so bad I had to start a diary to capture the insanity of incompetence, unorganized, uncaring, lazy, useless idiots I dealt with for months. I eventually forwarded my tome of complaints to the CEO (after slowly working my way up the chain). My heart rate's rising just thinking about it, jeezuz man, what a shitshow. That said, once I finally received my order and set the thing up it has been running flawlessly, starts on the first pull every time and has been producing near perfect lumber with every use for over 2 years (i just milled my 70th log). It's a damn fine machine, well designed and with proper maintenance should out live me. The Woodmizer sales and service cycle, on the other hand, is a total disaster.
I know what you mean i called and e mailed many times and got no response at all , it's working ok right now but i have to do repairs on it every tie i use it.
It looked to me that the blade going through half a walnut log in the middle was a lot of strain on the blade, wouldnt all the weight be on the blade causing belt to pull oddly?
You know I have been watching you for a long time, that is the most frustrated I have ever saw you. If you and Rick can’t figure it out it’s a big problem. That’s so sad a company don’t stand behind their product.
Seems like a low end design. Shouldn't be the place to adjust tension at the motor pully but at the each end of the mill LG wheels just like a band saw normally has. And the motor would be better to be swapped out to electric, not gas or propane. That motor is low end as well. Not enough HP. The water drip should be more than 2 places so the blade can maintain and event temp. Temperature Guage for the blade and pully. So you don't blow out blades and bearings and know it's running good. Too many improvements. It's like buying a shitty brand like Skil vs Dewalt. R&D and precision design.
Keven, it is hard for me to believe there is no adjustment on any of those pulleys, how would you change the belt? I cannot believe you had to notch that bracket out to back up the motor, worst case senario, would be to remove one of the pulleys and elongate one of the pulley holes, so you have all the adjustment you need, shame on Wood Mizer for offering no help at all, it should have a belt tensioner on it, these are pretty simple saws, , a fixed table, and a moving blade that runs down a track, these are very expensive sawmills. I cannot believe all the problems you are having with it, best of luck to ya, I love the videos, keep em coming.
Boy and you get no help from Woodmizer, unreal, I have a LX 15 go and never had issues like yours. Kohler engine sounds like junk, I sure would let Woodmizer know and sure you have. They have been so good to me, but that looks like junk. Even looks like brand new unit. Great video but huge thumbs down for that mill and not you. Throw the engine in the trash, or a deep lake and get a Honda
I did have a lot of issues in the beginning and had to figure it out myself because woodmizer would not return any calls, but their loss because i will never but from them again. i did get the bugs worked out and it is running great now, thanks for watching.
No i didn't get any help from the i had to figure everything out myself, i did get it working good after cussing this thing up and down lol, so for now it is working , no thanks to woodmizer
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I would have gotten a bigger belt before I cut my mill , but theirs a adjustment on the tensioner pulley
It's working great now thanks for the comment.
@@Robinson-Homestead awesome 👏 love those sawmill’s I’m thinking on getting a 15 start I currently have a hfe 21 Hutson keep those videos coming
@@jeffbensoutdoors1623 I think the 15 is better saw.
Why not buy a little bigger belt?
I wanted to use the original belt.
my thoughts!
Wish they had honda motor kohlers drink gas😊
I'm sure you could put a Honda motor on it. On issues with the motor so far lol.
I’ve been debating whether to buy or build a sawmill. It’s not a complicated machine and if I build it I can customize it to exactly what I need. Watching this reminds me that (1) just because I buy a saw doesn’t mean I get customer support, and (2) just because I buy a saw doesn’t mean I don’t have to do the work of grinding and welding on it.
check out Kris Harbour chanel
@@petercarbutt3706 on it!
Building one would be okay buying one is a lot less work but if I had to buy one again I would buy the Harbor Freight I wouldn't feel so bad working on it.
@@Robinson-Homestead I’ve looked at videos of those but they’re permanently out of stock everywhere
Does it throw blades more now that the pulley is on slack? Have the same mill and it's turning blade the same way.
It seems to be working good for now.
I bought/still have this mill from three years ago. The Kohler engine that came on mine was a piece of s**t. After six months of EXTREMELY hard to start, and hours of diagnosis I took the Kohler off and threw it in the recycling bin, replaced it with a Predator, MUCH more power and starts by the third pull every time. The blade guide setup is trash, I replaced it all with custom made adjustable brackets with sealed bearings. I am now trying to find replacement belt tensioner cable/throttle cable, crappy quality design. The track bed and sawhead frame assemblies are good quality,but the actual sawhead box/cover/etc. are thin trash, even though it is kept covered,the paint is all peeling and covered in rust. I am at the point that I will be removing the sawhead and completely rebuilding it with my own design and better materials. Now all this being said, this is an entry level machine, but I expected better quality from the brand, especially for being a made in USA. Overall, I would buy another Woodmizer, but only a used one.
You are 100% right junk junk junk was cutting wood today and had work on it it's all on video coming soon for all to see JUNK thanks for your comment.
Yep, I changed my Kohler after only 30 hours, changed to a predator. Runs smooth and has power. The Kohler had power but the Governor was wild and then eventually fell apart, all plastic parts. broke the plastic part on the throttle as well. Luckily under warranty, still at the shop. I don't know if I want it back😃
sorry you are going thru all this mess. they have dealer maybe one of them will help you. i wish you all the best. i am glad you did this video maybe it will help other. i hope some body at woodmizer see's it. take care, be safe and well.
Thanks for the comment John.
My goodness that Kohler is hard to start,
It is hard to start not a good sawmill.
Sounds to me like a pulley bearing is locked up if the belt is smoking.
It's working great now thanks for the comment.
Your a better man than me that's for sure. They would not like to talk to me. As much that you paid for it you would think you wouldn't have this many problems!
That's what I thought.
Your right that sawmill is junk
I would have never bought it.
Agreed
As stupid as it sounds, when my Koehler on the lx25 won’t start , I take the gas cap off and put it right back on. Starts every time?????????
Maybe not getting enough air ? i will give it a try next time thank you so much for the tip.
What number belt are you using?
Im not sure on the belt size, but thanks for watching.
You're not supposed to just let it idle for 15 minutes man, shut the damn thing off if you're not going to be cutting for a while. This is operator error, not the sawmill.
Thanks for watching
If it were me I would looks at the belt tensioner.. good chance there is adjustment there that has come loose...?? Don't own one but am a mechanic and plant engineer... Just thought I would offer some help... Good luck with the project...or possibly the driven wheel is moving... Again good luck!!!
i think moving the motor is the only adjustment on that mill. i was going to get that mill but there was a 14 month wait now i am glad i didn't get it. i got a woodland mills 130 max and it has a belt tensioner.
@@johnwoody4905 .. on another thought... If it was in adjustment earlier... Then something moved... I'm sure there is other adjustment to find. Whatever is going out of adjustment will likely keep moving.. hence you have to cut more frame away... ??? I'm the fix it guy at work... So fixing things is my job... Wish I was there to take a look and help out..
My neighbor and I both work on machinery for years and neither one of us could figure out anyway of loosening that belt.
If I wanted to work on one I would have bought a Harbor Freight one.
My experience buying a Woodmizer mill was single-handedly the WORST POSSIBLE experience I have ever had in my life trying to buy something. I'm not being hyperbolic here, it beggers belief. It got so bad I had to start a diary to capture the insanity of incompetence, unorganized, uncaring, lazy, useless idiots I dealt with for months. I eventually forwarded my tome of complaints to the CEO (after slowly working my way up the chain). My heart rate's rising just thinking about it, jeezuz man, what a shitshow. That said, once I finally received my order and set the thing up it has been running flawlessly, starts on the first pull every time and has been producing near perfect lumber with every use for over 2 years (i just milled my 70th log). It's a damn fine machine, well designed and with proper maintenance should out live me. The Woodmizer sales and service cycle, on the other hand, is a total disaster.
I know what you mean i called and e mailed many times and got no response at all , it's working ok right now but i have to do repairs on it every tie i use it.
Also Kevin might need some ear plugs running that thing.
For sure thanks
It looked to me that the blade going through half a walnut log in the middle was a lot of strain on the blade, wouldnt all the weight be on the blade causing belt to pull oddly?
The weight shouldn't bother the blade
Really sucks you got to waste blades on nails. But guess that's par for the course.
You got that right Terry thanks for watching.
You know I have been watching you for a long time, that is the most frustrated I have ever saw you. If you and Rick can’t figure it out it’s a big problem. That’s so sad a company don’t stand behind their product.
It was hot that day and made it worse.
Seems like a low end design. Shouldn't be the place to adjust tension at the motor pully but at the each end of the mill LG wheels just like a band saw normally has. And the motor would be better to be swapped out to electric, not gas or propane. That motor is low end as well. Not enough HP. The water drip should be more than 2 places so the blade can maintain and event temp. Temperature Guage for the blade and pully. So you don't blow out blades and bearings and know it's running good.
Too many improvements. It's like buying a shitty brand like Skil vs Dewalt. R&D and precision design.
I have new motor for it one if get the time I'll get it installed thanks for the comment and watching Derek.
Endless nit picky things with this mill, not worth the time to fiddle with it every few cuts
You got that right.
Keven, it is hard for me to believe there is no adjustment on any of those pulleys, how would you change the belt? I cannot believe you had to notch that bracket out to back up the motor, worst case senario, would be to remove one of the pulleys and elongate one of the pulley holes, so you have all the adjustment you need, shame on Wood Mizer for offering no help at all, it should have a belt tensioner on it, these are pretty simple saws, , a fixed table, and a moving blade that runs down a track, these are very expensive sawmills. I cannot believe all the problems you are having with it, best of luck to ya, I love the videos, keep em coming.
I have tried to get a hold of customer service so many times and never did anyone ever contact me back.
The main point here is that it's a new machine, it's supposed to work.
Agree, or a longer belt?
@@Robinson-Homestead You will never hear back. They couldn't care less about you after the sale. Simple as that mate.
Wrong size belt?
That was two wood-mizer belts for the LX25.
😨😭👍
Thank you Pete.
Boy and you get no help from Woodmizer, unreal, I have a LX 15 go and never had issues like yours. Kohler engine sounds like junk, I sure would let Woodmizer know and sure you have. They have been so good to me, but that looks like junk. Even looks like brand new unit. Great video but huge thumbs down for that mill and not you. Throw the engine in the trash, or a deep lake and get a Honda
I did have a lot of issues in the beginning and had to figure it out myself because woodmizer would not return any calls, but their loss because i will never but from them again. i did get the bugs worked out and it is running great now, thanks for watching.
No i didn't get any help from the i had to figure everything out myself, i did get it working good after cussing this thing up and down lol, so for now it is working , no thanks to woodmizer
These Woodmizer problem videos are a good commercial for getting a Harbor Freight saw and making mods to it.
I should have bought a Harbor Freight sawmill I wouldn't mind working on it.