Fordson dexta and an old circular sawmill

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

Was curious if you guys think a fordson dexta with a 3 cyl
Perkins could run a 54” circlular sawmill blade? And not
struggle too much

rrman61 · Jan 7, 2021

Back in the 80’sand90’s I had a friend that would use a 60-65 hp tractor for his mill and his blade was about that diameter or slightly larger.there wasn’t power to spare either.this was with cypress which is a soft wood.he used either a David brown 990 or a d-17 both diesels

rrman61 · Jan 7, 2021

Even a super dexta shows only 38 pto hp so if it’s direct no reduction I don’t think so

ollie gm · Jan 7, 2021

With a 54” blade I would start with a minimum of 100 hp. My mill has a 52” blade powered by a 165 hp Detroit and is a good match. I am guessing your Fordson has around 40 hp, if you try to use it be very careful & don’t stick the blade. That large blade requires lots of added flywheel inertia to maintain the desired blade rpm.

Good luck, I have lots of sawmill info if interested?

fastfarmall · Jan 7, 2021

I don't think so either, but never run a saw mill,but they tell me it does a better job of cutting the wood if it is at a constant speed, I was at a show in Auburn Indiana, one guy had a M suped up a little, it was all it wanted on a medium log, The guy that owned the mill said he run it with a 99 Oliver Diesel[301 or 310 cu in] at the time 20 years ago, and that was just a minumum hp !! That was a fun show if we got the weather to cooperate!

HappyJack · Jan 7, 2021

I leaned to saw on a 36" inset tooth circular sawmill my buddy's grandfather bought new. They used an IH 350 Utility with a pulley off of the rear PTO to drive it. I remember distinctly my buddy's father saying that the 36" blade was the most that tractor could drive.

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

Ok thanks guys. Yeah I bet that would be an interesting show to watch. I will go another route then. I have an old international power unit with a Rockford pto that I’m trying to use. But parts are impossible to find for this thing I have Jerry rigged it to work sorta. But who knows for how long. Any of you guys messed with a Rockford pto clutch? Wonder if it would make more sense to switch the clutch to a newer motor.

miangus · Jan 7, 2021

No. We ran our 54” with a Chrysler industrial power unit. It was all that big six wanted. We tried to run an edger with a FMD but it couldn’t quite cut it. That edger would make the high compression JD G storm. You had to watch feeding it to fast, it would get to bouncing and throw the belt.

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

Yes sir Ollie Thankyou! I have been building this thing haven’t started using it much cause the engine has been overheating. And for the life of me not able to find a water pump for it. Plus the radiator was rotted from setting in the woods so took a dumptruck radiator and a water pump from Lowe’s gonna try and installing a bigger fan but right now under load it is still heating up to where I don’t like. Looking at other ideas on what would be a more Feasible and reliable option.

Jo Bird · Jan 7, 2021

Circular sawmills are not easy as some may think . The best place for you to have your questions answered is this site
https://forestryforum.com/
Not only will they be able to answer the Hp required to run your saw , but can help you with the problems you will encounter when you get started milling . Hope to see you their.
AKA , Remle on the Forestry Forum..

quefan · Jan 7, 2021

Short answer would be no, but if you have a really slow feed control well who knows.

My brothers mill powered by IH silver diamond power unit off of a IH 20-C Field Harvester ( app 50 HP ) with 48 " saw no flywheel
would kick out 2x10 pine or spruce faster than 1 man could load on the wagon.
Hardwoods, flip the carriage feed over to slow and take it easy.
Now you got me thinking 35 years ago and I was that 1 man almost able to keep up, not so now.

macec3 · Jan 7, 2021

I have a 354T Perkins on a sawmill with 50" diameter saw.
I read where that engine with turbo is 140 HP.
Some time I wish that engine had about 25 or 30 more HP.

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

Lol yeah this one is a red diamond! Runs really well but. parts are a completely different deal for this thing. Runs off of propane that was a strange one to figure out took me a bit to get the thing running again. Jerry rigging this water pump to work and running a generator while running the ih to run the pump and a fan. Is impractical. I have asked on binder planet. But Not lately on a water pump. But was thinking I might be better off making a gearbox hooked to a pto on a tractor to run it instead of messing with this old of an engine.

JWA · Jan 7, 2021

Just, curious, what mill are you running?

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

It is a Corley I forget what model. I will try and upload a video

Bfinney5238 · Jan 7, 2021

Gonna have to upload it when I get near a computer

used red MN · Jan 8, 2021

Sounds like this guy ..see link.. has some RDs, have no idea if you could get in contact with him. No email, New user and 4 posts?? I also saw a picture of what I think is an RD on the AgTalk forum, maybe I’ll try to find that post for you. At first I was confusing yours and the one with the Silver Diamond 220, found a rebuilt pump online for a black diamond, prices for those prices ranged from $200 - $435...wow!
RD450 post

caterpillar guy · Jan 8, 2021

The guy around here that used to saw had an IH pickup engine on it for awhile then got hold of an old Cat the same size as a D-7 to saw with. It would talk sometimes if he was on a bit of a hurry. He ran the whole mill carriage log roller and all with the cat engine. He has a 60 inch blade for it also. He used to put the bigger blade on for some of dads logs when he sawed for him. He didn't like to have to use the chainsaw to clip the little bit off for the slab on the first cut. After tha it would cut through the log. He could saw 24 foot pretty easy and told me about sawing some 28 ft stuff the guy brought his own crew to help with the log handling.

Bfinney5238 · Jan 8, 2021

Gonna have to upload it when I get near a computer

quefan · Jan 8, 2021

PTO set up is nice, back in any tractor.
Brothers mill was originally set up for 1000 pto to match the silver diamond unit but it got a v belt pulley change and now accepts whatever 540 pto backs in.
We also have a setup to drive with flatbelt at antique shows. Over 36 years we have a list of over 50 different power sources that have hooked up , some gas some diesel, some steam some were frustrating, some adequate some played with it.

Fordson dexta and an old circular sawmill

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