SS 5990B Planer with autofeed - coversion to manual

[JimHildebrand]

Hello,
I've never posted here before. I saw an old (2015) article earlier today about a gent that converted his autofeed to a manual feed. My autofeed motor and/or controller gave out today and it looks like it's more expensive to replace than to buy a new planer. Would be happy to convert to manual feed if someone knows how to do that. I have all the parts as it was working fine this morning until it stopped feeding, feed motor stopped running. Nothing looks amiss in either the controller or the motor, it just doesn't work.
thanks,
Jim

[chapmanruss]

Jim,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

There was a Manual Feed available for the Planer but is not commonly found. The Crank Assembly went in place of the Feed Motor and Mounting as seen below. These rarely come up for sale on the used market which is the only place to find one. It would take some definite creativity to make a Hand Crank Assembly for one. You are correct in that it would be expensive to buy a replacement Feed Motor. I have seen one for sale but high priced. You may want to consider having the Feed Motor you have checked to see if it can be repaired or is the control box the problem. You didn't say if your Planer is a Mark Mount or the Pro Planer on its own stand.

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Photo credit Everett Davis

1st Shopsmith Thickness Planer with Manual Feed 505980-B [1986] Everett.jpg (261.75 KiB) Viewed 630 times

[JimHildebrand]

Hello ChapmanRuss,
thanks for the picture.
It is a markmount version. I have been envisioning using the gear and coverplate and housing from the motor and mounting a crank arm on that, but am not sure how feasible that might be. As far as getting the feedmotor and control box checked, any suggestions on how you find someone credible to do that testing and repair? My looks at them didn't reveal any obvious damage.
regards,
Jim

[RFGuy]

There was some discussion on this by Scott Markwood on YT a while back. I don't know if this is helpful or not, but you may want to at least check out his video on this. I have it in the link below. Sometimes it is a bad brush or brush contact on the motor.

viewtopic.php?p=322244#p322244

[JPG]

Conversion from auto feed to manual feed is possible if you can find all the parts necessary.

You will need the manual feed cover, the crank,the crank shaft, spur gear and retaining ring.

The crank is the same as the current height adjustment crank and also the former mortising jig(the proper name escapes me).
[joint master?]

I (think?) the spur gear is the same as the pro feed motor gear.

All this is off top top of my head.(may not be 100% correct)

Retaining clip is a standard hardware part.

[JimHildebrand]

JPG,
before I cannibalize my motor assembly to make the manual feed, I'm thinking I should have it tested. The switch assembly does work to turn on/off the big motor when it's plugged into it. But I don't know how to test the electric circuit for the motor... nor how to test the motor itself. Any suggestions on how to go about finding a company or shop that could reliably test something like this?
thanks
Jim

[JPG]

I would start with a continuity check of the motor as you manually rotate the shaft. If a low value resistance is measured with occasional variations, I think the motor is good.

To check the motor control circuit measure the voltage at the output plug that should vary with speed knob setting. BEWARE!!! the voltage will be DC at a very high voltage.

FWIW the circuit is similar to an old light dimmer.

It could be that the 230v is too much for the circuit unless it was designed for that voltage and perhaps all the smoke has already escaped?

Be careful - 230 x 1.414 volts stings.

[chapmanruss]

Jim,

I do see parts show up on eBay from time to time so you may not need to cannibalize the motor assembly to make a Manual Feed.

[chapmanruss]

Jim,

Here are a couple pictures of the actual Manual Feed Assembly. The Handle and Screw are in the plastic bag.

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Manual Feed 505998.jpg (153.3 KiB) Viewed 497 times

Manual Feed inside.jpg (233.11 KiB) Viewed 497 times

[JimHildebrand]

that is very, very helpful. Can I ask what the parts are that are in the plastic bag at the bottom of the photographs? I presume it's the handle for the arm.
thanks,
Jim