Drive Chain 285960-00

1) Unplug planer
2) Remove plastic side cover closest to switch by removing two screws and lifting cover off
3) Raise planer as if you were planning a 6 In think plank
4) Remove plastic chain drive cover using a stubby Phillips screwdriver
5) Remove retaining rings securing sprockets using retaining ring pliers
6) Remove chains and sprockets
7) Affix new chains to sprockets and re-install sprockets
8) Replace retaining rings
9) Replace plastic chain drive cover
10) Replace plastic side cover

PS: If also replacing the urethane drive belt on the opposite side, soaking the belt in very hot water, and having a second pair of hands will help with this challenging procedure.

1. Remove covers
2.Remove sprocket holding snap rings
3. Slide the sprockets off with the chains
4. Block up drive rulers and remove bolts holding the bracket.
5. Remove blocks carefully and watch for springs, Note that on the output roller on sprocket end there are 2 springs one inside the other.
6. Replace bushings on drive rollers
7. Using blocks with a wedge to support the roller with springs on top of bushing slide the roller , bushings and springs up into the slot.
8. Bolt bushing brackets in place. Note: bolts are 1/2 in 10-32 I replaced the phillips head bolts with allen head bolts for easier removal in the future. Nearly all the phillips head stripped out on removal. had to use water pipe pliers to remove.
9. Put chain on sprockets, line up the keyway and slide sprockets on shaft.
10. Install snap rings to retain sprockets.
11. With coverings off, plug in and start planer. Observe the system in operation.
12. Replace covers.

1) Move cutting assembly to its highest level. This will give you just enough room for the screws you will have to take out.
2) Remove plastic yellow side panels. You must remove the one on left side of planer, the one on the right just makes it easier. There are two small screws at the top holding each in place. Quite a lot of force is required to pop these panels out.
3) On left side of unit, remove plastic housing covering chain/sprocket assembly. There are two screws from the bottom holding cover in place, one on either side, near the vertical rails. This should expose the ends of three axles, with two chain connecting them.
4) Remove retaining clips from end of axles to release sprockets. This was the hardest part, especially if you don't have the correct tool. I tried to get them with needle nose pliers and screwdrivers, but folded and purchased specialty pliers. Much easier with the right tool.
5) Remove sprockets, chains and spacers from axles.
6) The two bushings on this side should be exposed. You can identify the retaining bracket that is holding the bushings against some springs.
7) Remove all four retaining brackets. Each one is held in with two screws from the bottom of the assembly. This will require a very short screw driver as the clearance is minimal.
8) As the retaining brackets are removed the bushings will drop as they are being pressed by springs out of the assembly. Be sure to retain springs, they rolled all over my shop when I was not paying attention. There are two springs pushing the back left bushing, be aware.
9) Remove old bushings. Inspect for wear on the rollers. As the rollers are now out of the planer, this is a good time to clean them.
10) Lubricate new bushings. I used a silicon spray lubricant as suggested by my local power tool store. Slide new bushings on to rollers. Wipe away excess lubricant, you don't want that interacting with the rubber on the rollers.
11) Prepare retaining brackets, springs and bushing/roller assemblies. Insert spring first, then slide in bushing, paying attention to orientation. The long side should be parallel with the planing bed. This should mean there are no gaps between the sides of the bushing and the cutting assembly. Once spring and bushing are in place, re attach retaining bracket. Do this for all four bushings. Be sure to add the second spring to the back left bushing. This is the bushing where the rod had two sprockets, one from the motor and one going to the other roller.
12) Inspect chains. Lubricate or replace as needed. Re-attach sprockets with chains. Put the spacer on before putting the front roller sprocket on. Re-attach retaining clips.
13) Re-assemble housings and you should be good to go.

Use gear puller.
Replace new chain
Easy

Always unplug power tools before making repairs.
1. Remove the side panel on the drive chain side.
2. Remove the drive chain plastic shield.
3. Remove retainer springs from the outer sprockets.
4. Remove the sprockets and drive chain from the spindles simultaneously.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to remove the inner sprockets and chain.
6. Replace the old drive chains with the new ones.
7. Reverse steps 5 thru 1 to reassemble.

1.removed top
2. cranked cutterhead up as far as possible.and turned over machine
3. removed drive chains and sprokets from rollers
4. removed bottom plate.
5. removed phillips head screws securing roller bearing with visegrips. Impossible to turn with phillips head scredriver
6. removed rollers, cleaned and regreased bearings rollers now turn smoothly
7. reassemble in reverse order with new chains

I have to check that the planer produces a board of uniform thickness.

Once I determined what was the problem and got the repair parts the repair just took a little time. The feed was jerking causing the planer to stop and jump at regular intervals. I checked the drive belt which looked fine. I then checked the drive chains which were binding and some links frozen or stiff. I corrected the link problem but still the problem remained. As soon as I took apart the outboard drive roller the drive side bearing came out in two pieces. There was more time to tear the planer down than to actually fix it. Since I had it apart and it has some age on it I decided to replace all the drive chains, all four bearings and all four washer. Luckily the shaft of the roller wasn't damaged so all I needed to do was reinstall all the parts and it ran fine. One note, make sure you put the washer back one with the hard smooth side outward. I installed one incorrectly until I started assembling the other one and realized the error. Only took a few minutes to take the first roller back apart and turn the washers around. This is not a hard job to replace the bearings but time consuming as you have to crank the planer down all the way to take some parts off then crank it all the way up to get access to the bearing screws. You'll need four or five tools to disassemble and reassemble. I used a stubby Philips screwdriver as working conditions are tight. I also happened to have a ratchet Philips screwdriver which helped to break some of the screws loose. You will need the snap ring pliers to get the retaining rings off the chain drives and reinstall. The Allen wrench that comes with the planer you'll need but also a slightly larger metric Allen wrench, 5mm I think. It's doable, just take your time and make sure you pay attention to the disassembly so you remember how to reassemble. Also the bearings go in so the fit is tight. If you rotate it 90 deg it will be loose. Also pay attention to the bearing retaining mounts. One is round holes and one is slotted to allow fitting. Install the round ones first and then put pressure on the other as you assemble to get a good tight fit of the roller with little or no side play. And be careful of the blades as they are exposed. They should be out of the way but easy to let your fingers get in the wrong place and bump them. They are sharp!

took out old part put in new one

1. Removed the yellow left panel of the planer (opposite side from the thickness control handle)
2. Removed the black cover that houses the drive gears and chains
3. Removed the broken chain (there are two, in my case it was the inner chain)
4. Removed the outer chain (so I could install the new inner chain)
5. You will likely need to remove both gears that hold the chains to remove and install them since it is a tight fit. Gears can be pulled off once you pry off the little metal clip holding them on. Be careful not to bend the clip or let it fly off into some dark corner of your shop.
6. Put the inner chain on the gears in the orientation needed (there is a slot on the gears so they only fit on the shaft in one spot) and slide inner chain and gear assembly into position.
7. Replace the outer chain/gears and the metal clips holding the gears on.
8. Replace the covers and plane away!

Removed and replaced drive chains. Solved problem.