Knife Inspection
The Model G0550/G0551 Planer has a three- knife cutterhead. The cutterhead is located in the head casting and rotates on two sealed bearings. No lubrication is needed for the life of the bear- ings.
Because of normal use and wear, the knives must be periodically sharpened, replaced or adjusted. Adjustment from the factory must also be checked prior to use due to possible move- ment during shipment.
To inspect the knives:
1.Disconnect the machine from the power source!
2. Lower the table and place the gauge block or a Rotocator under one end of the cutterhead.
3. Remove the
4. Slide the gauge block to the opposite side of the cutterhead and check the same knife, rocking back and forth to determine bottom dead center.
—If the knife does not contact the gauge block, use a feeler gauge to determine the difference between one side and the other. See Figure 31.
—If the knife bottoms out on the gauge block, repeat steps
G0550/G0551 15" Planer
Figure 31. Using the feeler gauge to
measure the gap.
5.The variation between one side and the other should not be greater than 0.004". Repeat steps 1-4 on the other two knives. Again, the variation between all three knives should not be greater than 0.004".
Once you have completed inspection on all three knives, you will able to determine whether or not there is a need to adjust the knives in the cutter- head. Proceed to the appropriate section, depending upon whether you are using the jack screws or the springs.
When making adjustments, all three knives must be adjusted the same. DO NOT adjust one knife without adjusting the others as well. Improper knife height adjustment can result in damage to knives, poor planer per- formance and possible operator injury.
NOTICE
Always adjust the thickness scale after adjusting the knives.
