Pro-Planer problem

[doug45601]

Pro planer problem to watch for.. I've got a pro-planer that I bought used and in what looked to be excellent condition! Previous owner said it was only used a few times and from the looks of it I believed him. Yesterday while planing some cedar... approx 8 each 1x8x8 the planer started to drift the wood to the left. After a few passes, started hearing a squeel. Shut it down and looked things over. Cutter head bearing was stiff on left side and ready to fail.. Called SS and they said it was rare but has been reported esp on the older MKV mounted type planers. NOW, SS will not sell just the bearing! Sells the cutter head assy only!! $385.00 is a tough pill to swollow... Guess that's the end of my days with the Shopsmith pro planer!!

Anyone have a junker they want to let go of the bearing?

[a1gutterman]

Hi Doug,

I do knot own a Pro Planer, but it seems to me that if you could replace the bearings at one time, you still can, if you can get the bearings. Have you tried taking the assembly to a bearing supply house for new bearings? Or maybe a machine shop?

[dusty]

Pro planer problem to watch for.. I've got a pro-planer that I bought used and in what looked to be excellent condition! Previous owner said it was only used a few times and from the looks of it I believed him. Yesterday while planing some cedar... approx 8 each 1x8x8 the planer started to drift the wood to the left. After a few passes, started hearing a squeel. Shut it down and looked things over. Cutter head bearing was stiff on left side and ready to fail.. Called SS and they said it was rare but has been reported esp on the older MKV mounted type planers. NOW, SS will not sell just the bearing! Sells the cutter head assy only!! $385.00 is a tough pill to swollow... Guess that's the end of my days with the Shopsmith pro planer!!

Anyone have a junker they want to let go of the bearing?

Have you taken it apart, Doug? Doesn't the part have a part number stamped on it? Even if it doesn't, I'd bet you can take it to a bearing distributor and he can replace it.

Incidently, Shopsmith doesn't provide the common part numbers for most of the bearings used in SS equipment.

I have not had to do this myself, so the bearing may be difficult to remove and replace but I'd sure give it a try before I gave up.

If you need my address, I'll give it to you. Just send me a PM.

[Ron309753]

Doug,

I have a friend that has a press. If you can acquire the bearings maybe we can get together and get it fixed locally.

Ron,
Marengo, OH

[doug45601]

Haven't got down to trying to remove the cutter head yet. so far just removed the drive belt to verify the bearing stiffness and called SS about it. The first told me to remove the blades (knives) to prevent damage to my self... then put the drive belt back on and run the machine! and while running to make adjustments to the bolts that hold the 2 halves of the planer together... There are 4 of these bolts in all and I suspect that they feel that uneven torque on these bolts could cause a twist in the bearing housing.

Haven't done that as of yet... Too cold at the time but this weekend it's suppose to warm up a little ... will report back then.

[JPG40504]

Just ONE example of how SS customer service truely has the customer's interest in mind when they are called upon! It would be SOOOO easy to just sell a replacement part(s) and let the misadjustment be taken care of when re assembled!:)

[charlese]

jpg was right on there!

doug - Here's wishing you the best on that machine!

[doug45601]

Was able to get back on the Planer Saturday and removed the cutter with the bearings still in place. sure enough the left side bearing was very stiff and hard to turn. Took the entire unit to a local bearing shop for a look and possible repair. Their reply was that the bearings used on the cutter shaft were cheap china made preformed bearings that were actually heated, installed and locked more or less locked onto the shaft. They further recommeded I seek out a machine shop to have the bearing cut off and the shaft turned "trued up" before bearing replacement and only then replace the bearings in pairs. So found a machine that will remove old bearings and turn shaft to bearing manufacture specifications for new bearings with a slightly smaller inner hole.

All and all it appears to look like this: 2 new bearings 28.76
Old bearing removal: 12.40
Clean up and turning shaft ends: 62.70
Installing the newer bearings on the shaft: 36.00

Guess all that is not bad except for my time and fuel.

Called SS to discuss the avail of a reworked cutter head just to keep things all SS and was told they junk them as they are not cost effective to repair. Sorry to say they even sounded a little snippy with me not wanting to buy a new part from them. Even though the part wasn't in stock!

SS tech support said they would not assist me tech issues and set up if I used not SS components and parts on SS equipment... (Of which I can understand that) but what about if I had a motor issue or a roller issue later I asked... Was told then, once you call them and discuss tech issues on SS equipment and they know your name and Serial number of an item, that item is "flagged" for historical purposes...and future support may be out the window regardless of the issues.

In summary, I'll not buy the SS assy for an older planer.. Local repairs hopefully will work but if not I'll do without.