So this thing followed me home finally last week. Its a bit of a mess but I'm hoping I can get it all cleaned up.
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So this thing followed me home finally last week. Its a bit of a mess but I'm hoping I can get it all cleaned up.
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Helical head is rusted and missing/broken cutters. But the head moves freely, it was powered up and running when I checked it out.
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The table was frozen. Cuprit was the chain. Once the chain was removed I could crank each column individually.
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Next items:
- get the helical head removed so I can de-rust it. I could probably do it in place but it would be a pain. Need to get the gearbox drained of oil and open. The gear shift is rusted.
- Get the screws removed from the columns and likely replace
- get the 4 rollers removed and de-rusted. Those are in pretty good shape.
- replace every single bolt on the planer
The manual is remarkably detailed with every part. Easy to get replacement bolts at the big box store. Speciality parts here are reasonably priced online.
Worst case scenario for me is that the helical head needs replaced. I would hate that but it would move me from 'awesome deal' to 'good deal'.
Soak that head in evaporust and it should be good to go. I cleaned up my 15” planer that was in a similar state.
Unless the bolts are broken they can be reused. HF sells a good buffer cheap and put a couple of wire wheels on it, one course and one fine. Take the planer completely apart, clean, repaint and put it back together.
I use Super clean (purple bottle conc) and wash everything scrubbing all the parts. It will take off loose paint and clean off the grease. It may be a good time to replace the cutterhead bearings even if they seem decent. You want to do this once so it’s a good time for the bearings.
Don
The hex socket caps and socket set screws are mostly shot, I've stripped one of them that I'll have to drill out. Busted off one other bolt.
I think the cutterhead bearings are sealed. The table screw bearings are definitely shot.
Is it blasphemy to repaint the powermatic in John Deere green?
The bearings may be sealed but the grease still dries out. If they are more then ten years old I would replace them while you have the machine apart. At the least pull the seal and clean and regrease.
Bill D