Planer: Motor Gets Hot
If the motor gets hot in your planer, not to worry, we can help you fix it. Check the carbon brushes, planer blade, bearing, circuit breaker, fan, and housing. Our guide will assist you in how to locate the problem part, and the best way to fix it as efficiently as possible. If you require instructions specific to your model, refer to your owner's manual.
To check the armature bearings, remove the sides, gear box cover and remove the retaining clips holding the sprockets and chain on. Take off the bolts securing the motor housing to the planer. Remove the bolt on the belt tensioning bracket to release the tension and remove the belt.
For models without a belt tension, removing the belt can be tricky. You may have to gently pry it off with a screwdriver as you walk it off the pulleys. Make sure you only place the tip of the screwdriver on the pulleys, not for leverage but to avoid damaging other...
To check the armature bearings, remove the sides, gear box cover and remove the retaining clips holding the sprockets and chain on. Take off the bolts securing the motor housing to the planer. Remove the bolt on the belt tensioning bracket to release the tension and remove the belt.
For models without a belt tension, removing the belt can be tricky. You may have to gently pry it off with a screwdriver as you walk it off the pulleys. Make sure you only place the tip of the screwdriver on the pulleys, not for leverage but to avoid damaging other parts. Remove any power cable hold-downs. Lift the motor and detach any ground wires under it and place the motor assembly on a bench. Remove the brush caps and brushes, followed by the switch from the housing. Take a photo of the wire attachments before disconnecting them, for easier reassembly.
Separate the switch housing from the motor housing and feed the wires out of it. Remove the screws on the back cover of the motor, followed the retaining ring behind the pulley, on the other side of the motor. Now, tap the pulley with a rubber mallet to separate the armature from the motor housing. Remove the back cover from the armature shaft, with the spring washer. Spin the bearings to determine which one is bad – they should spin freely, with no noise. A worn bearing will spin rough and make a noise.
To replace the bearing behind the pulley, you will have to remove the pulley. Pulleys attach in may different ways. Examine yours for a set screw, holding it in place (if there is no nut). If your model has neither a set screw or nut, then the pulley is pressed on and you will have to use a puller to remove it. You may want to heat it up a bit for easier removal. Use a bearing puller to remove the bearings. If clearances are tight, then use a separator to remove any bearings and only tap on the shaft with a mallet, or brass hammer, to avoid damaging the shaft.
Install new bearings onto the shaft using a socket that only makes contact with the bearings inner race to avoid any damage. Tap the socket with a hammer to seat the bearing in place. Now, reinstall the pulley. If the pulley was pressed on, heat the pulley up to expand it and then tap it in place. You may need to press it on, if this does not work.
Install the spring washer onto the armature shaft and the cover, then place the armature back into the motor housing. Tighten the cover down and reinstall the retaining ring behind the pulley on the opposite end of the motor. Feed the wires back into the switch housing and then reattach the wires to the switch (refer to your photo) and secure the switch into the housing. Reattach the ground wires and install the motor back onto the planer. Reinstall the power cord hold-downs, followed by the spacer onto the roller shaft. Place the sprockets inside the chain and position the sprockets back onto the shafts, aligning the keyways. The hubs on the sprockets must face the planer. Install on one feed roller, then the second for easier installation. Once positioned on the shafts, slide all of the way back. Reinstall the belt on the pulleys, adjust the tension and tighten the bolt. Reinstall the belt on the pulleys, adjust the tension and tighten the bolt.
For models without a belt tension, this can be a tricky procedure and will require patience. Carefully manoeuvre the belt through the clearances, possibly using a screwdriver, ensuring you do not cause any damage to the threads on the adjustment rod or the belt. When the belt is in position, start feeding it onto the smaller pulley first, then place the end of the screwdriver on the larger pulley nut. Only then can you gently pry the belt along the larger pulley. Once it is on the pulley a little bit, turn the pulley by hand at the same time you push on the belt, to walk it onto the pulleys. Reinstall the gear box cover and side covers.
For planers without a tensioner, removing the belt can be tricky; you may have to gently pry it off with a screwdriver as you walk it off the pulleys. Remove the power cord hold-downs. Lift the motor off the planer and detach any ground...
For planers without a tensioner, removing the belt can be tricky; you may have to gently pry it off with a screwdriver as you walk it off the pulleys. Remove the power cord hold-downs. Lift the motor off the planer and detach any ground wires underneath. Place the motor on a bench and remove the brush caps and brushes, followed by the switch. Take a photo of the wire attachment, before removing them. Separate the switch housing from the motor housing and pull the wires out of it. Remove the screws securing the back cover of the motor and then remove the retaining ring behind the pulley on the other end of the motor. Tap on the pulley with a rubber mallet to free the armature from the motor housing. Remove the back cover from the armature shaft, with the spring washer. Take out the bearing with a bearing puller, or separator (if clearances are an issue), and then remove the retaining ring holding the fan on and slide the fan off of the shaft.
Install a new fan on the shaft and reinstall the retaining ring. Install the bearing back onto the shaft using a socket that only makes contact with the bearings inner race to avoid damage. Tap the bearing in place with a hammer. Install the spring washer and back cover and then install it back into the housing. Tighten the back cover. Install the retaining ring behind the pulley and then feed all the wires into the switch housing. Reattach the switch housing to the motor housing and connect the wires back to the switch (refer to your photo). Secure the switch to the housing. Reattach the ground wires under the motor on the planer and place the motor back onto the planner – tighten it down. Reinstall the power cord hold-downs and insert the sprockets inside the chain, positioning the sprockets back onto the shafts alighting the keyways. The hubs on the sprockets face the planner. Install on one feed roller, followed by the second, and then slide back on the shafts as a unit. This makes for easier installation.
Reinstall the belt – this can be difficult on models without a belt tensioner. Carefully manoeuvre the belt through the clearances, possibly using a screwdriver. Be very careful not to damage the threads on the adjustment rod or the belt. Once it is all of the way through, feed it onto the smaller pulley first and then place the end of the screwdriver on the larger pulley nut, gently prying the belt along the larger pulley. Once it is on the pulley a bit, you can walk it on the rest of the way by turning the pulley by hand and pushing on it. If your planer has a tensioner, then apply the correct amount of tension and tighten to hold in place. Reinstall the gear box cover and side covers.
To replace the blades, remove the screws supporting the blade in place. Most planers come with a T-handle tool to remove the screws. This handle has two magnets inside the handle to lift the screws safely out of the planer. Keep pressure on the bar because it is spring loaded. Once all of the screws are removed, use the magnets in the handle to lift out the bar and the...
To replace the blades, remove the screws supporting the blade in place. Most planers come with a T-handle tool to remove the screws. This handle has two magnets inside the handle to lift the screws safely out of the planer. Keep pressure on the bar because it is spring loaded. Once all of the screws are removed, use the magnets in the handle to lift out the bar and the knife. Now, remove the springs. Clean out the inside of any debris so the new knives and bar will lay flat. Reinstall the springs and install the new knife. Some knives are double-sided so you can flip them around to the sharp side. Install the bar and make sure it is positioned on the nipples correctly. Insert the screws on the ends first, to stop the springs from getting loose. Tighten the screws hand tight in the beginning. Then, go around a second time and tighten with the tool. You will have to do this for each blade on the cutter head. Once completed, reinstall the hood over the blades.