I am about to purchase this part - did you resolve your problem and how did you do it ???

We have an article and video on how to replace the belt on a Delta planer. Even though it's not the same brand. I think it will help you with replacing the belt on your Ryobi planer. Here is the link to it.

How to replace the Drive Belt on a Delta Planer

-WJA

Hello Pkk,

I haven't worked on one of these myself, but looking at the parts diagram. It looks if you remove the top of the machine so you can access the left sprocket,right sprocket and chain. By removing the chain you might be able to rotate either the left threaded spindle or the right threaded spindle. so the cutter head assembly is on an even plane. More of a guess than anything else.

Hope it helps,
-WJA

This threw me for a bit too. I finally realized I had to remove the top compartment and then sprocket on the left side (facing the feed side of the planer). Once the sprocket and chain are off you can rotate the screw spindles independently. I took a wider 3/4" piece of stock and placed it inside the planer with just a think gap between the blade drum and the wood so that I could see light between them. I mainly adjusted the right side where the handle is until the gap appeared even. I had to do this twice to get it just right but it is now very true. My planer was purchased second hand so I don't know if it was off from the factory.

I had the same problem. I just put a light coat of wax on the bed and the problem is gone.

I had to weld a piece of Allen wrench to one the bolts, but you might try heating it up with a small propane torch.

I'm fighting this right now too. I stripped the heads on a couple of the bolts trying to loosen them. Some are really tight. I finally just cleaned everything and put it back together and it is still cutting fine. Someday I'm going to have to remove the blade drum and either soak it in light oil to help loosen the bolts or just chisel the heads off and try to remove the rest of the screws. I'm glad to see they still off the blade drum although its more than I paid for the planer used.

When I bought my AP1300 used it had been sitting in the back of a garage for many years. It had built up sawdust and dust gummed up on the threaded adjustment spindles. I couldn't get it to go up and down very far and thought it was in a bind at first. I too the top off and then both sides, exposing the screw spindles. I cleaned them with a wire brush and then lightly lubricated them. Now it travels the full range with not problem. It was just very dirty.