Thread: The ongoing saga of the ML392

I was just speaking with Godfrey at Timbecon about the 392. He told me a story when I asked him about a customer that brought one back and they replaced it with a new machine. When they took the cover off aparantly there was lots of oohs and aaahs as it had been greatly improved. He did take the time also to say they don't sell "space age machinery". Considering some of the upmarket machines out there I think I know what he meant.

He did say the bearings are upgraded now and they have also been able to drop the price to $850. Think I'll get one of those.

Studley

I asked the guy at the new Carba-tec store about a new drive wheel for mine (without the rubber rings). He said they could get one in for me so that would be an improvement.

I paid $895 so the price of $850 is excellent. You won't be dissappointed and there's lots of experts on here who can help if you have teething probs.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I'd love to know what sort of wheel you have. When you open it up, can you let me know ?

I am finally getting around to picking mine up. Was waiting for my TSC-10HB to come in to save a trip to Brisy but found out yesterday that it had been there for a month.

Anyway its off to carbatec on Saturday with a clean credit card :eek: so ill have a look and let you know.

Being already aware of the delays BobR encountered, when the motor bearings in my 2hp dust extractor failed within days of buying it, I pulled it down, took the bearings to the local bearing shop who provided top quality replacements for about $15 all up, which have worked flawlessly for the last couple of years.

Originally Posted by Gumby

This one was $995 so I'm ok, mine was $895.

The rubber ring came off the again on the weekend and I was only running some pine through it. It's the outer one of the 2 rings on the large wheel which is engaged by the feed lever. I don't know why it does that. I put it back and ran it for a while with the cover off and it seemed OK. It was waitng for me to put the cover on before jumping off I think

Didn't somebody mention that there was a different wheel with a moulded edge. The guy at Carba-tec didn't know anything about it when i was there today.

Leader were fitting a moulded tyre to the thicknesser drive wheel as the rubber o-rings regularly failed and the metal to metal contact with the drive shaft sprayed metal shavings all over.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I'd love to know what sort of wheel you have. When you open it up, can you let me know ?

Gumby,

Ive got the machine home, and a couple of other odds and ends as I dont get to Carbatec very often. The drive wheel has a tyre moulded to suit the recess in the drive wheel rather than rubber rings. I can only assume that it would be available as a spare part.

My machine has a different problem, not entiely the fault of the machine though.

I bought 2 sets of Jet mobile bases from GPW but it wont fit properly. The problem is that the rear cover sticks out at the back a fair bit from where the rubber feet go so to fit the machine on the base I cant use the rubber feet which may vibration probs as its sitting on the case rather than the frame.

The answer is probably simple but escapes me atm as im a tad shagged. The father in law is coming over tomorrow to lift the machine back off the mobile base and the answer will probably be obvious.

That looks better than the old one on mine.
Does the chain wheel behind it run true? Mine's a bit wonky and I think that was the one that caused the original trouble on BobR's.

Originally Posted by DavidW

Gumby,

Ive got the machine home, and a couple of other odds and ends as I dont get to Carbatec very often. The drive wheel has a tyre moulded to suit the recess in the drive wheel rather than rubber rings. I can only assume that it would be available as a spare part.

My machine has a different problem, not entiely the fault of the machine though.

I bought 2 sets of Jet mobile bases from GPW but it wont fit properly. The problem is that the rear cover sticks out at the back a fair bit from where the rubber feet go so to fit the machine on the base I cant use the rubber feet which may vibration probs as its sitting on the case rather than the frame.

The answer is probably simple but escapes me atm as im a tad shagged. The father in law is coming over tomorrow to lift the machine back off the mobile base and the answer will probably be obvious.

Thanks dave, i like the look of that. I think I'll order one as a spare and do my own upgrade.

Originally Posted by AlexS

That looks better than the old one on mine.
Does the chain wheel behind it run true? Mine's a bit wonky and I think that was the one that caused the original trouble on BobR's.

I havent fired her up yet Alex, I want to set it on its base properly first but turning by hand it all seems to run true.

I have mine on a Jet mobile base too and it wouldn't fit as it came. The locking screws that lockted the base to the sides of the planer would twist downwards and scrape the floor till I fitted spacers to compensate for the flange on the base of the planer. Works well now - no vibration.

I have one of soundman's mobile bases. I highly recommend it.

That is the chain that caused me much grief. However, it was the bearings failing that was the real problem - kept making the sprocket throw the chain. All is well now .

I have my ML392 on a mobile base. Got the larger one from Timbecon. You might consider using something like 19mm+ ply as a base insert, then sitting the ML392 on to this.

G'day DavidW,

I had a similar probkem with my jointer and a generic wheeled base - the answer was simple: I just made up a 38mm thick timber (2 layers of 19mm stock, diagonally cut with one layer perpendicular to the other, glues & screwed) insert that fitted neatly into the mobile base, and then mounted the jointer on that.

Cheers!

Keeping this as the definitive information centre fo all ML 392 users, i have a question.

I spent a large part of the day retuning my machine. that is, resetting the out feed fence in jointer mode. It took a while and when i got it all beautifully set, i realised that I hadn't put those locking levers in place before I set the outfeed fence height. They actually raise the fence somewhat if you put them on tightly. I was wondering why they are there . I can't see the need. I stuffed around for another hour or so trying to get everything right when those levers where in place but it's a lot more difficult to do. lots of trial and error.

Can anybody give me a reason why they can't be left off ? And if you do use them, how tight do you do them up. They make a heck of difference to the outfeed settings.