Lucas Mill slabbing bar - seized nose sprocket

**keenwoodworker** · 12th August 2018, 08:55 AM

Hi,

Just wondering if this is a common problem and how to avoid it. Half way through the last log of the day and I could smell like a burning timber smell for about 20 seconds, then a heap of smoke and noise. Shut the mill down as quick as I could and as I expected, the bearing collapsed in the nose sprocket and fused it to the bar.

I only purchased my slabbing attachment 12 months ago and only done a dozen or so days cutting with it in that time. I am meticulous with maintenance, but just wondered if I've missed something. Always run plenty of oil, never cranked the throttle up until I see the oil running through the bar, always checked chain tension (3/4" or so deflection), always checked the sprocket is running free when I change chains, clean it each and every day of use, etc.

I had heard of this happening with other lucas mill slabbing bars, they resolve this by cutting the nose off and mount a separate bearing to the end of the frame. It was only 4 weeks ago I was talking to Kyle and Dudley from lucas mill about this issue at the Sydney wood show. They said they no longer supply nose sprocket bars with their slabbers, but a bar with a separate nose bearing (which I assume is heavier duty), basically the setup they have been retro fitting to bars when they do what mine did yesterday. This got me thinking afterwards that is must be a common problem for them to go down this path. But why after 24 years?

Any tips or shared experience greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Marcus

**MAPLEMAN** · 12th August 2018, 09:39 AM

Did Kyle and Dudley shed light on the possible cause(s) of your failing slabbing bar?
There must be a logical explanation as these 'bars' will cope with an enormous work load generally...well beyond a weeks use.
My advice would be to ship the bar to Lucas and see if they can offer a diagnosis...perhaps it was indeed faulty when purchased new!
No offence but perhaps your doing something wrong

Wish you the best of fortune in sorting it...MM

**keenwoodworker** · 12th August 2018, 10:37 AM

I had the problems on a job yesterday, but I spoke to Kyle and Dudley 4 weeks ago, prior to this happening, but I was aware of a few people that this had happened to so I was asking questions to try and avoid it happening to my bar, then it happened to my bar yesterday.

They were a little coy about the issue from what I gathered. Dudley suggested they changed over to the separate nose bearing on all their bars now since november last year because people would just cut until they seized, and did not maintain them (not his exact words, but to that effect), so this setup would provide less issues I think.

Yes my intention was to give them a call and have a chat on Monday and see what they say. I'll update once I have spoken to them

**rustynail** · 12th August 2018, 06:52 PM

I run two separate Lucas mills, a swing blade and a dedicated slabber. I run water on both and oil in the nose of the slabber as well. Normal chain oil is too thick, particularly in winter. In real cold conditions, even engine oil on the slabber nose needs to be thinned with a little diesel.
It's all right for Chris up there in balmy Qld, but when you are trying to saw timber in three feet of snow with a howling westerly up your clacker something has to give and it's usually the nose sprocket. I realise Maitland isnt the Snowies, but you can still get pretty cool this time of year.

**MAPLEMAN** · 12th August 2018, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by rustynail

l.
It's all right for Chris up there in balmy Qld.

I believe the temperature is going up to brisk 30* late next week on the Sunny coast of Qld

...time to drag the fan out of storage i reckon

...did someone mention snow

...MM

Thread: Lucas Mill slabbing bar - seized nose sprocket

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Lucas Mill slabbing bar - seized nose sprocket

Similar Threads

Second hand slabbing attachment for Lucas Mill

Need help with Sprocket tip on Lucas bar

lucas slabbing chain

Converting a 60" Stihl Sprocket to roller nose

lucas slabbing attachment

Posting Permissions