Hardwood Mills GT26 User manual

WARNING:
Read carefully and understand all INSTRUCTIONS
before operating. Failure to follow the safety rules
and other basic safety precautions may result in
serious personal injury.
2017
GT26 Sawmill Owner’s Manual

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Contents
GENERAL SAFETY RULES………………………………………………3-9
WARRANTY INFORMATION……………………………………………. 9-10
START UP PROCEEDURE………………………………………………..10
GENERAL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION……………………………11
SAWMILL ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS ……………………………….12
Inspection 12
Tracks 12
Log Dog & Supports 14
Carriage Assembly 16
Engine 24
SAWMILL SET-UP PROCEDURES …………………………………… 26
Belt Tension 26
Blade Tracking 27
Blade Guide Adjustment 31
Blade Tension 32
SAWMILL MAINTENANCE ……………………………………………….34
Changing the Blade 34
Replacing Belts 34
TROUBLESHOOTING ---------------------------------------------------------- 36
PARTS LIST ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 37
PART DIAGRAMS ---------------------------------------------------------------- 39
NOTES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44

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Thank you very much for choosing the Hardwood Mills Australia GT26 Portable Sawmill. For future
reference, please complete the owner’s purchase date:
Save the receipt for warranty and these instructions. It is important that you read the entire
manual to become familiar with this product before you begin using it.
This machine is designed for certain applications only. We strongly recommend this machine is not modified
and/or used for any application other than that for which it was designed. If you have any questions
relative to a particular application, DO NOT use the machine until you have first contacted us to determine if
it can or should be performed on the product.
For technical questions and replacement parts, please contact Hardwood Mills Australia 0432
221 952.
INTENDED USE
This sawmill is designed for sawing logs while the mill is firmly supported on the ground.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Item
Description
Petrol Engine
14 HP Kohler
Maximum log diameter
26" (660mm)
Maximum Board Width
21" (533mm)
Blade Size
1-1/4 x 144" (32 x 3657mm)
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING: Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow all instructions listed below
may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.
WARNING: The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in this instruction manual
cannot cover all possible conditions or situations that could occur. It mustbeunderstoodbytheoperator
that common sense and caution are factors which cannot be built into this product, but must be supplied by
the operator.
WARNING: Only operate the engine in a well- v e n t ila t e d area. Carbon Monoxide
produced by the engine during use can kill. Do not use indoors, near windows or in other sheltered
areas.
NOTE: All Federal and State laws and any regulation having jurisdiction covering the safety requirements
for use of the machine take precedence over the statements in this manual. Users of this machine must
adhere to such regulations.
DISCLAIMER
This sawmill, its options, accessories, engine and blades are extremely dangerous and can cause severe injury or death.
To avoid serious injury, the equipment must always be handled, operated and stored with the utmost care and good
judgment and in accordance with all warnings, cautions, instructions and procedures contained in this manual, in the
engine manual, in the instructions enclosed with optional accessories and on the decals on the equipment. Failure to
use good judgement or to follow any of these warnings, cautions, instructions and procedures can result in severe
injury or death.
Hardwood Mills Australia and Geoff’s Tools Pty Ltd. disclaim any responsibility or liability, in negligence or otherwise,
for any injuries, damages or losses of any kind arising during the course of assembling, operating or handling this
equipment, options, accessories or blades howsoever caused. Responsibility for final inspection of the Hardwood Mills
GT26 parts and components, and the assembly, maintenance and safe use of the equipment, lies solely with the
person(s) who assembles and operates the equipment and handles blades.

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SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
For your own safety and the safety of others, do not begin working with this equipment before having read
and understood this entire manual, the engine manual, the instructions enclosed with optional accessories
and the decals posted on the equipment. Save all instructions for future reference. Keep all decals in place,
clean and readable. Replace any damaged or missing decals without delay.
OPERATOR SAFETY
It must be understood by the operator that common sense and caution are
factors which cannot be built into this product, but must be supplied by the
operator.
Individuals under the age of 18 may not work with the equipment or
handle blades.
Only persons who meet all of the following requirements are qualified to
operate the equipment or handle blades.
a. Have read and fully understood all the warnings, cautions, instructions
and procedures in this manual, the engine manual and all instructions
enclosed with the optional accessories, and on all decals posted on the
equipment
b. Are well rested
c. Are in good physical health with good eyesight
d. Have not consumed alcohol or drugs and/or
e. Not taking medication that can impair judgement, reaction times,
mobility, alertness or otherwise cause negative side effects.
Individuals who fail to meet any of these requirements are not qualified to
use the equipment or handle blades.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that meet the Australian standard
should always be worn when operating the equipment and handling
blades. This include:
-Protective gloves as there is a risk of cutting injuries when handling
blades, and blades and the engine can be hot immediately after
sawing.
-Wear approved hearing protection when operating the equipment.
Hearing can be permanently impaired after only short exposure to high
frequency sounds.
-Wear Approved safety goggles when working with the equipment or
handling blades.
-Wear approved protective footwear with saw protection, steel toe-cap
and non-slip sole when working with the equipment or handling
blades.
-Wear full length protective pants and hi-vis gear when working with or
operating the equipment or blades. Never wear loose fittings clothing,
scarves, jewelry or similar long items that could get caught when
working with the equipment. Always secure loose hair before working
with the equipment.
-Wear respiration protection when working with the equipment. Long
term inhalation of sawdust and the engines exhaust fumes can
represent a health risk.

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WORK SITE SAFETY
Operate the equipment and handle blades in full daylight or under
adequate site lighting, cast from at least four sides to minimize shadows.
Keep the work area clean, free of clutter, pets, children, obstacles, hazards
or distractions.
Keep all children and animals well away from the equipment, blades and
worksite.
A broken blade can be ejected out of the sawdust chute at high velocity.
Keep all people and pets completely clear of the path of the sawdust chute.
Remember that, as the carriage moves, so foes the blade and the path of
the sawdust chute.
Risk of a blade breaking increases when it is not properly and regularly
profiled and maintained and/or when a blade is used past its service life.
The illustration below depicts a view of a work site as seen from above. It
sets out the minimum safety distance for persons other than the operator.
While operating the equipment, the operator must be within the stipulated
area, bounded between the broken line and the nearest side of the
sawmill.
While the equipment is running, persons other than the operator must
observe the safety distances stipulated in the illustration. The minimum
safety distance away from the equipment for persons other than the
operator on the left side of the sawmill (opposite the operator) is 15m due
to the risk of blades being ejected out of the sawdust chute. On all other
sides of the equipment, the minimum distance away for persons other than
the operator is 6m.
Keep hands, limbs and all body parts completely clear of the blade, cables
and any other moving parts. Remember that, as the carriage moves so do
the blade, cables and other moving parts. Keep clear of all danger areas.
Never operate the petrol powered engine in an enclosed area. Operate
petrol-powered engine outside only, in a well ventilated area. The exhaust
gases of the engine can cause nausea, delirium, and potentially death
unless adequate ventilation is present.
Never walk on the rails or cross bunks.
Never step across the rails.
Set up the equipment on level ground so that there is at least 3m of level
ground around the rails and that there are no obstacles within that area.
Do not stand between the pile of logs and the equipment.
Always stand at the side of the pile of logs when handling the logs. Never
stand where you are at risk of being hit by a rolling log.
Keep a fully charged dry-chemical fire extinguisher visible and easily
accessible at the worksite.
Keep a fully stocked first air kit visible and easily accessible at the worksite.
Never work alone. Make sure that there are other adults within hearing
distance should you need to call for help.
OPERATING
THE
EQUIPMENT
Cutting tools: Stand behind the carriage and keep both your hands on the
push handle while operating the equipment. Never stand in front of the
carriage or blade. Never pull the carriage through the cut.
Saw head drop danger: Releasing, even slightly on the adjustment winch
will release the winch brake. Releasing the winch break will cause the saw-
head to drop quickly and violently causing serious injury.
Clutch: The clutch mechanism is extremely sensitive. Even the slightest
touch when the engine is idling can engage the clutch and thereby cause