[SOLVED] Dewalt Planer jammed

[javelin]

I closed up my house up north for 2 years, and then came back to do repairs. Another year went by before I got to unpack my Dewalt DW733 planer. I discovered 2 problems:

1: The head lock wouldn't lock 2: The head could not be moved up or down (the crank was ineffective).

The head lock problem was resolved with some mariner's jelly and WD40. The head raising/lowering issue is still a big issue. I managed to sand off the 4 guide posts that it slides on enough to clear the path, but it still won't move past 1/4" up or down. Half a can of liquid wrench and lot's of tapping on the part where the head is joined to the guide posts, but still nothing. This stinks. Do I need a pro, or can anyone suggest anything further?

Thanks for your advice. Boy am I needing it.

[Lew Hodgett]

javelin wrote: > I closed up my house up north for 2 years, and then came back to do > repairs. Another year went by before I got to unpack my Dewalt DW733 > planer. I discovered 2 problems: >

Call DeWalt, they will walk you thru the fix.

Had the same problem.

You remove some parts and throw them away.

Hope you still have the manual.

Makes life easier.

Lew

[javelin]

Thank you for the advice. I do have the manual. However, could you give me some hints as to what must be done? Maybe I can do it on my own. I hate to wait on "eternal hold", and tech support lines are known for this.

Thanks aga> javel> > I closed up my house up north for 2 years, and then came back to do

[Fred]

Me too! Got the same problem. It goes down, but have to use a pry bar to get it to go up. Fred

[Lew Hodgett]

javelin wrote: > Thank you for the advice. I do have the manual. However, could you give > me some hints as to what must be done? Maybe I can do it on my own. I > hate to wait on "eternal hold", and tech support lines are known for > this.

I could try but it will be better if you actually talk to the tech service guy.

Some of the stuff he tells you isn't doesn't show up in the manual.

My hold time was rather brief.

I'd wait till until maybe 7/7 since this is a holiday week.

Lew

[javelin]

OK, I got it to work. The prblem was that the rust build up was so bad on 2 of the columns, there was no getting it off without brute force. I had to take off all 4 columns (2 at a time so I wouldn't damage the threaded center rods), and clean them off. The last one was the worst, and I actually damaged one end. I was able to flip it and use the other good side down, since both ends take the same exact screw type.

Long story short, I am one step closer to planing again. This coming weekend I'll try again.

Thanks.

Lew Hodgett wrote:

[javelin]

Fred:

Sounds more like yours is a spring problem. The big springs on the threaded columns are supposed tohelp "push up" the head as you crank it (counter clockwise, I think). Maybe they are worn. I don't think a prybar is a good idea anyway, you may scratch/dent the chromed material table.

I ended up removing the botttom plastic cover (6 small screws), then the side steel columns. I only removed 2 at a time so the head could be partially supported as the machine lay on it's side. I also only loosed them a few turns so I could tap them, and they would put pressure on the columns, pushing them out of the socket. This also took lot's of lubricant (I used Liquid Wrench), and I had to loosen the screws on the small metal bracket that connected the head lock to the columns I was trying to remove.

After I removed the columns, I sanded them down, lubricated some more, and replaced them. It was a nightmare that took a couple of days.

I wonder if this is documented by Dewalt. I never even checked.

Well, I hope this helps you out.

J

Fred wrote:

[Ted Tanner]

replying to javelin, Ted Tanner wrote: I had the same problem with my DW734 planer. One of the 4 slider column posts was binding due to the planer being left outside (under cover) in the damp northwest fall. I took the side/top cover off, blew it all out with my air compressor, sprayed copious amounts of liquid wrench on all moving parts, and left it overnight. The next day I sprayed more liquid wrench on the posts and threaded rods, then cranked with as much upward pressure as possible and tapped with a hammer on the steel post-sockets, raising up and down as much as possible multiple times until it worked it's way free.

[Handyman]

replying to javelin, Handyman wrote: If you can take it apart you will find a worn out keyway that sits on the screw shaft behind the sprocket which there are 4 of , it could be any one or more than one ,this is most likely the reason the elevator doesn't move up or down. There are nuts on the top side of each screw jack , to undue there is a metal tab folded up into the groove of the nut The tab washer looks like a star and they only bend one on each nut. A good pointy knife will start it then a flat screw driver tapping with a hammer , once that is done take a small pipe wrench on that strange looking nut counter clock wise. Once that is off you will be able to lift the sprockets up ,watching in the groved area for the small keyways, If they are damaged in any way ,replace them . Mine was missing from brand new, surprising that it worked for a couple weeks . Now reasembling not to over tighten ,just snug so you are able to turn them before you put the chain back on.