[OP]
Member
My planer will not raise or lower. I've spent the past few hours trying to fix it and would appreciate any advice. It's a dewalt 13". You can see from the picture that the planer is no longer level as well (sorry it is upside down). I've taken it apart as much as I could and can't find where it is stuck. Perhaps it's somehow crossthreaded? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
IMG_20190622_161111.jpg
Most likely your chain that drives the two acme threaded height adjustment rods has skipped one or more teeth.
IMG_20190622_161111.jpg
Lee Schierer
USNA '71
Go Navy!
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Contributor
I think Lee's right. The raise/lower mechanism is very simple and obvious if you remove the lid - just a chain wrapping a sprocket on each post, and a tensioner. Should be easy to take the tension off the chain, manually move each sprocket to reset to level, and re-connect the chain to each.
[OP]
Member
Thanks for the thoughts. I'll try again tomorrow. I was never able to get full access to the sprockets/posts despite taking off every part I could. I was able to create some slack in the chain. Hopefully I can move the sprockets tomorrow.
Contributor
There was a problem with the sintered iron sprockets on earlier models.
They would break.They sent me new steel ones and have had no problems for the past 8 years.
Contact customer service.
Contributor
Is there a built-by date on this?Originally Posted by cecil rolfe
Never, under any circumstances, consume a laxative and sleeping pill, on the same night
Contributor
Nor sure, call customer service with the serial number. ask about the sprockets. When I did they sent me new ones.
[OP]
Member
I got the machine working again on Sunday. It was a bear to take apart - with some hidden screws I couldn't find until I found some detailed instructions here:
https://amymakesstuff.com/2016/03/27...-dw375-planer/
https://www.lumberjocks.com/topics/25101
Once the tool was apart, fixing the misaligned sprockets wasn't too bad. I loosened the chain tensioner. Then I grabbed the sprockets with channel locks and twisted them into alignment (measuring from the top). One had a missing tooth, but it seems to be working fine.
Finished the job and got my project done today! Thanks for the advice.
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