I've been using my restored craftsman planer since I got it back up and running, but the other day the motor decided it was tired and just didn't want to work any more.
My motor guy is backed up and I can't find anywhere else close to take it, and even if I did, there is no guarantee its worth fixing.
A new motor is going to run me pretty close to the price of a new Dewalt 735, which means more portability (not a big deal) and much better dust collection (somewhat of a big deal). The old craftsman rattles and bangs so the dewalt will probably be quieter.
I should add I did nothing but clean up and repaint part of the craftsman. It doesn't own me a dime, I've planed a lot of wood with it. The rollers work and work decent, but they are original as far as I can tell, and I've thought about ordering new ones a couple of times, they show signs of wear from use.
Plus, I can part out the old girl for other who are restoring theirs.
I'm in the other boat, get the 735. 2 speeds, built in blower for better dust collection, carbide cutters and spiral heads are available for it and kits come with infeed/outfeed extensions and a set of extra cutters.plus it it's nice to use. When my rigid lunchbox planner dies, the 735 will be it's replacement.
Parting out the old one provides new life to someone who needs parts.
If this planer is like the Belsaw planers then it is worth repairing. It will outlast the Dewalt and do a good job while it is doing it. I am with shampeon. Sounds like a capacitor. Take it out and go to a place that sells those. They are relatively cheap and is the place the repairman will start too.
Don, it's your planer and you know how it's been maintained, but by your own admission it may need new feed rollers.
I would be hard pressed to invest that much in a CL planer purchase even with a new motor if it's more than 50 - 60% of the cost of a new Dewalt 735 with built-in DC.
...just a thought.
If and when I have a need to replace mine, it will be one with a Byrd Shelix Spiral Jointer Planer Head, down the road a few miles. ;-)
Don, take a marker and make lines to indicate the alignment of where each bell meets each side of the housing. You want to put it back exactly has you took it apart.
I have a 735 my wife got me for xmas in '97 and I'm pretty well pleased with it. The only thing that is a pain is getting infeed and outfeed tables right so as to avoid snipping. It also will blow dust from here to hell and back
again, but it planes very well with a minimum of tweaking.
That Belsaw (Craftsman) planer will outlast us all if taken care of.. much more of a machine than the Dewalt. Don't worry about the rollers.. if they are working fine, leave them alone. For the motor; as others have pointed out, it sounds like either a capacitor or centrifugal switch.. both are easy and cheap to fix (capacitor will set you back around $10 and you can clean the switch for free
And don't expect the Dewalt to be quieter.. not even close. Those things scream, loudly.
i agree with mrunix..my dewalts seems good and probably the best of the three planers i've gone through.. but the loudest tool in my shop..I got a helical head jointer recently…quietest tool in the shop..butter..
I took the back plate off the motor. Here is what it looks like.
Again, if there is a place I can just drive to to get these, I don't know of it. Is there a way I can test them? Should I actually pull the motor first? Can they be ordered online? (I'm assuming these 2 capacitors are what may be the issue?)
FYI…one of those capacitors holds a charge. Be careful with them, it will bite.
Yes, they are supposed to be different, one is a start and the other is a run. Do you have a Graingers close by? Those are about $25-$30. The value you are looking for is the MFD, 540-648 for the one you are holding.
Granger has that too
I would presume that if it was working correctly at one point that you would one to replace with the same models, but I will deffer to those who know more on the topic.
If you're looking at 100 mile round trip I'd order them online.
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