John:
Some very interesting thoughts...
Imagine that the length of the chain is longer than the peripheral distance around the four jacking screws/sprockets that raise and lower the planer bed. That extra distance is there to permit the motor to be mounted and tightened, pushing in the chain, snugging it into place on all four post sprockets as well as the motor sprocket. When the motor mount was removed, the chain fell down off the 4 outside sprockets, as it was significantly longer than them. I wish I had known of the magnet idea. If I had put magnets on all 4 outside posts keeping the chain in place, then this would have been simple. But Felder didn't suggest this. They said just loosen the chain and remove the motor mount.
Frankly, I never thought of trying to turn individual sprockets to tighten the chain. The problem I could see with that is that they could make the platform no longer parallel to the knives (one side slightly lower than the other. I would think that all four of them have to be on the same relative height on the screws on the posts. But if they can be turned (they must be able to, the chain must turn them when running), I can see that tightening the chain. But I pulled pretty hard on the chain and they didn't move, so, hmmm...
Perhaps the clamps are constraining the chain/sprockets from moving. But without them, the chain just falls down. A second pair of hands could clearly help with that.
Mounting the motor mount loosely on the bolts doesn't work yet. I will once I can get more slack on the chain in the only place I need it - around the motor sprocket.
Trying to find some local help / 2nd pair of hands locally. I'm not connected with any local woodworking presence here - Covid kinda put a serious hold on that. A shame for many reasons. So I'm a one-person operation here.
- After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
- It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.