Powermatic 201 instruction manual Maintenance, Lubrication

MAINTENANCE

Periodic or regular inspections are required to ensure that the machine is in proper adjustment, that all screws are tight, that belts are in good condition, that dust has not accumulated in the electrical enclosures, and that there are no loose or worn electrical connections.

Buildup of sawdust and other debris can cause your machine to plane inaccurately. Periodic cleaning is not only recommended but mandatory for accurate planing.

Close-fitting parts, such as the table locking rods, the cutterhead slot and gibs, should be cleaned with a cloth or brush and non-flammable solvent and freed from clinging foreign matter.

Remove resin and other accumulations from feed rolls and table with a non-flammable solvent.

Periodically check all the chains for proper tension and adjust accordingly if required.

TIP: If a foreign object nicks the knives, instead of throwing them away or trying to grind out the deep nick, simply stagger the knives in the head, moving one knife no more than 1/4” to the right and another knife no more than 1/4” to the left. The nick will not be noticeable.

LUBRICATION

The gear box oil should be changed once a year. The drain plug (A) is shown in Figure 23. Refill the gear box with 60-90 weight gear oil through the fill hole (B). The sight glass (C) should be checked periodically and oil added as necessary.

The recommended lubrication for roller chains used in medium to slow speed operation is to simply wipe the chain clean. When there is an appreciable build up of dust, dirt or wood shavings, use an oil cloth but never pour the oil directly on the chain. Over-oiling defeats the purpose of the lubrication, since it tends to invite the collecting of dust, shavings, etc. and works into members of the chain. This hastens wear and leads to premature replacement.

The bearings on the cutterhead are factory lubricated and sealed. They require no further attention.

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