ridgid 13" planer -- play in the height wheel when locked?

[TheKeith]

after debating whether to get the delta 22-580 or the dewalt dw735, I finally decided on the ridgid :) because of the lifetime warranty, the included stand, dust collection attachment, and extra set of knives. Anyway, I noticed when i tried it out earlier that even when the snipe lock feature is engaged, there is play in the height adjustment wheel (about half a rotation before it tightens up), which turns the gears and I'm guessing brings the cutter head up [or down] ever so slightly. I don't know if this happens when planing a piece of wood however (perhaps just when you turn the wheel). I was just wondering if this play in the wheel is normal? Thanks.

[tom]

Probably gear lash. Does the cutterhead move at all? Tom

[Wood Butcher]

Mine does that too. The head is truely locked and doesn't move unless I force the adjusting crank. I chalked the crank movement up to gear lash.

Art

[the_tool_man]

Mine does the same thing. The head does not move, you're just seeing gear backlash between the locked head and the adjusting wheel.

Regards, John.

[TheKeith]

great--thanks everybody.