Shopsmith Forums

I have been dreading this day for a while! The break link on the chain on my planer came off and I turned the depth gauge before I realized it. So I will have to realign that. Add to that a small wobble in on of the jack screws from shipping and some sort of issue with the outfeed roller and the dust chute and I have what looks to be a lot of work to do.
1: I am not a great mechanic and I am not real patient, so the jack screws could be more than I want to do.
2: I have no idea what happened to the out feed roller, it apparently rubbed on the metal dust chute and scuffed off the rubber at both ends ( 1/8 in off at the end, about 8 inches in the center untouched.
3. Replacing the roller appears to require taking the whole frame apart, and I really don't think that is something I want to do!
The planer was fully functional before, the minor wobble was not an issue and the outfeed roller seemed to work fine, dispite the damage.
4. I really do not want to ship this thing again, so SS will be down the list. I have used the heck out of this planer and really like it, so I do not want to give up and get something else.
Thoughts? I'm reading the manual again now.

If the outfeed roller works ok, ignore the gouges.

The chain is not all that difficult IF careful sequence of actions is observed. It does require much trial and possible error, but good sequencing will zero down on the correct synchronization of the jack post sprockets.

IMHO the secret is to do it with the chain completely removed. Mark the sprockets so you can absolutely re position them as you install the chain. Last step is to tension the chain(again watching sprocket positioning). They will likely move slightly, but a tooth away is too far.

If the sprocket end is what is 'wobbling', I would attempt to 'fix' that first. If the wobble causes binding elsewhere, it needs to be fixed.

Thanks, I am going to contact SS today to see about the outfeed roller issue and see if they have the clip for the break joint. I spent a few minutes looking for it , but I have used the shop vac before I started this project, so I am probably out of luck. Might check at the local farm equipment place to see if the chain is an " off the shelf " issue. can't help wishing Bill was on, I really am in deeper than I want to be!!

dlbristol wrote:Thanks, I am going to contact SS today to see about the outfeed roller issue and see if they have the clip for the break joint. I spent a few minutes looking for it , but I have used the shop vac before I started this project, so I am probably out of luck. Might check at the local farm equipment place to see if the chain is an " off the shelf " issue. can't help wishing Bill was on, I really am in deeper than I want to be!!

Geez! You are really making me feel 'guilty' for not following through with my Planer reassembly thread(I have lost track of de pix:mad:). If the bent rod was not causing a big problem(causing the link to fail????) you should be able to for the moment just reconnect the chain ends, then resynchronize the jack posts. I used a piece of mdf with a spot of a thick layer of paint as a go-nogo gauge.

Don't feel guilty, I am just a bit of a coward when it comes to some of this!

I found rebuilding the thickness planer was easlier than rebuilding the headstock. Just need an area to move the planer around and from side to side. You have to build a gauge for adjusting the table height at each of the 4 corners and a feeler gauge for the differences at each corner. Somewhere I have the measurement of how much each sprocket tooth (jack shaft) moved on the chain does for the table height. I found I had to have the planer manual available to keep track of all the parts when I assemblied them. Taking pictures as you disassemble the planer will help too. I have the remains of a few planers damaged from shipping that I collected over the years if anyone has a need for any parts that are unavailable from Shopsmith.

Well, sometimes life just throws up a real softball! ( not often). But here is one. As per this thread, I was thinking about putting in a new infeed roller while I had the planer apart. Changed my mind due to the work involved and I was not sure about it. After talking to Bill and several of you, I thought I might be willing to try. SS confirmed that I can take the old front roller out and use it to replace the damaged out feed roller, so I decided I might do that. I was " over budget" in my hobby account and was saving up while I thought about all involved. My Bride, found the order info on the computer and decided to order the new infeed roller! Ordered it on Friday last and it arrived just now!!! ( can't gripe about the service on this one) I had no idea it was coming! But now I guess I have no choice but to give the whole thing a try! I think I will try to document the process, might be a good thread; " An idiots guide to SS planer repair". I will start tomorrow! I have a back up plan, I have some scrap plywood to make a box and ship the whole mess to Bill if I get to messed up. So far the biggest hurdle has been finding a replacement master link clip. The #25 chain is not commonly available. Bike shops, farm implements and other s do not have it locally.

Did you try a motorcycle shop? Or a dealer that services off road vehicles?
Bill V

That size chain would more likely be found in a scooter shop.

Have you tried looking online?

Seems to be a lot of them listed.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les ... 79&bih=724

Ed

Thanks, I was mis-informed as to the correct # for the chain. ( read I had no idea what I was talkining about) I should have just listened to all of you guys in the first place! I got the links from you posted site, cost me less than I expected, got two so I can lose one:) and All of the other parts are here. I have two end tables to finish and a shop cleanong to do and I will begin the reconditioning of my planer. I have enough scrap ply to build a box and send it to Bill if I need to.