Pro Planer revisited

[recurve1usa]

I have recently bought a used Pro Planer. After making the cleaning and adjustments to it I noticed quite a lot of vibration, so much that the table was creeping down on its own.After removing some of the graphite I had put on the jack screws it was a little better. I thought I might check the forum for any other instances of the vibration problem. I found an old thread on the issue. Upon reading it I decided to look at the planer a little more closely. The person that assembled the unit had many things wrong with the legs and motor mounting.I took the unit apart and used an old manuals instructions to reassemble the base and motor support. I was able to get the pulleys aligned and the motor hanging straighter than it was. The vibration was less now but still above what I think it should be. In the old thread it was stated that an upgrade from aluminum to steel pulleys helped with the vibration problem. I found the upgrade on the Shopsmith website.
What I want to know is if any of you did this upgrade and did it make a significant improvement to the vibration of the planer. I just hope they still have some of these upgrades available today.

Thank all, sorry for the long winded explanation
John

[dusty]

This is one of those problems where it really helps with the diagnosis if you can "touch and feel".

The ProPlaner is not without vibration. It is by no means quiet and it does vibrate; not enough to make it creep on it own, however.

My only suggestion with out being there is to recommend that you remove the belt and run just the motor. Is there any vibration introduced by the motor and the work stand. I don't expect that there will be but you gotta start somewhere.

[recurve1usa]

Hi Dusty;
I did run just the motor and it ran smooth. I did notice some small vibrations when I shut it off but I don't think it was out of the ordinary.
It does run smoother since I put it back together using the instructions. I just wonder if the steel pulleys will dampen more of the vibrations. I have yet to put in the newly sharpened knives. Still waiting for them to be finished.
John

[JPG]

Are the pulleys 'wobbling'?

Is the belt 'slapping'?

Are the pulleys 'swapped'?(I do not know it that is even possible/bore size).

How does turning the planer shaft by hand feel?


Since the blades are being 'finished', are all the wedges and screws either secured to the head, or removed completely?

[dusty]

This may be too obvious to mention but I have never been PC.

Have you tightened all of the bolts/nuts in the base? Do the legs have rubber covers or are the metal legs resting directly on the floor?

[ERLover]

Very good points Dusty, all my stand a lones I put a 1/16 or 1/8" thick rubber? disc/washer
between the machine and base and on the motor mount also.

[recurve1usa]

I haven't checked out all the bolts that hold the knives in. I have visually checked them. I did notice that the knives don't seem to be set as well as they should be . I will remove them when the sharpened ones are done. The knives have some differences in height. I think that may be a contributing factor. The planer legs sit on a wooden base and when I use it I put four rubber pieces under the four corners. The pulleys do have a slight wobble to them. My thinking is that steel replacement pulleys will help with vibration dampening. Thanks for all the help. I will get this planer to sing for me yet.

[JPG]

I haven't checked out all the bolts that hold the knives in. I have visually checked them. I did notice that the knives don't seem to be set as well as they should be . I will remove them when the sharpened ones are done. The knives have some differences in height. I think that may be a contributing factor. The planer legs sit on a wooden base and when I use it I put four rubber pieces under the four corners. The pulleys do have a slight wobble to them. My thinking is that steel replacement pulleys will help with vibration dampening. Thanks for all the help. I will get this planer to sing for me yet.

Steel pulleys that run true will prevent vibration creation.

[recurve1usa]

Hi JPG;
Thanks for the reply. I think I will call the MS on Monday and order the pulley upgrade. I just hope they have some on hand. I ordered a new base for my shaper fence in October of last year and haven't gotten it yet. The aluminum pulleys are not to hefty looking for the amount of spin and torque put on them. I think the Pro Planers came out with two pullets of the same diameter when they first were produced. I don't know how long it took SS to put out the improved set to step up the cutting speed but I know it is much faster than the original ones.

[JPG]

Hi JPG;
Thanks for the reply. I think I will call the MS on Monday and order the pulley upgrade. I just hope they have some on hand. I ordered a new base for my shaper fence in October of last year and haven't gotten it yet. The aluminum pulleys are not to hefty looking for the amount of spin and torque put on them. I think the Pro Planers came out with two pullets of the same diameter when they first were produced. I don't know how long it took SS to put out the improved set to step up the cutting speed but I know it is much faster than the original ones.

What is the HP of your motor? The 'faster' pulley set needs 1.75 HP.