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Can't get my planer re-assembled

2K views 13 replies 6 participants last post by  ajosephg 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I took the feed rollers out of my old Delta 22-540 to inspect the bearings and clean the slides.

Well guess what - I can't get the roller chain back on, it's like if it is one link short. Has anybody been there done that?
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
This is the chain connecting the feed rollers?

Everything else went back together properly? All the bearings are seated?

Can you take the sprockets off the roller shafts, assemble the chain, align the sprockets and push them on at the same time? Rotate them by hand to insert the keys if necessary. Maybe there is more wear on one side of the sprockets than the other? (you did say old, I am old and my sprockets are unevely worn)

I have an old Planer, different brand, which is fairly similar. Never had this problem though.

If it came off and nothing changed, it should surely go back on.
 
#4 ·
It's the chain that drives the feed rollers (from the transmission.)

Everything went back together ok. The "bearings" are not really bearings - just a cube with a hole bored through it that the ends of the roller go through.

There is no visible wear on the sprockets, chain, or bearings.

The problem seems to be that the height adjusting jack screw is real close to the chain which gets in the way when trying to reassemble. I tried breaking the chain, wrapping it around the sprockets, but can't pull it tight enough to get the links to engage.

It didn't want to come apart easily so I persuaded the it with a hammer.
 
#7 ·
No, I wasn't able to persuade it to go together, too many pieces and parts and not enough hands.

As much as I can tell the "cube" bearings are symetrical. I really looked at them closely before taking them off the shafts. I'm thinking that the factory installs the chains before the jack screw. I really don't want to take the jack screw out because that begs all kinds of alignment issues.

I'm going to try one more time tomorrow and if that doesn't work I'm going to lengthen the chain by 1 link (unless someone gives me a new idea). I don't think that will hurt the operation because the rpm of these rollers is pretty slow so it shouldn't throw the chain off.
 
#9 ·
Whoop De Doo! - Success, I got the chains on without adding links.

A combination of a little more finesse, and a light tap with a rubber mallet caused them to say uncle.

I think I'll still pop for a new one though. I think the rollers on mine are worn out, and new ones are $75.00 each. The main problem I've been having is slippage especially when taking light cuts. I took the rollers out and sanded them lightly to give the surface a better bite, and cleaned them real good with acetone. (It's hard to do a real good job of cleaning while they are installed.) It helped, but it's not as good as I want.
 
#10 ·
get the dewalt and sell the delta, i have a ridgid but want a dewalt for some reason maybe cuz everyone has one or the two speeds i don't know i just like it. my ridgid works fine as far as i can tell. Good Luck!
 
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