Thread: The ongoing saga of the ML392

Well, I've just discovered the first rule of installing a new belt....

Don't stretch it too hard :mad:

Back to CT tomorrow

Gumby, just be careful, if you stretch those belts too far they'll break.

Oops!!!:eek:

Funny thing though Bob, the ring only goes around about 5 of the 6 sections of the wheel (see photo) when I lay it out after breaking it like that. It isn't very strtchy so maybe it's the wrong size. I pulled on it for ages trying to get it on and broke it when I put it in some hot water and tried to stretch it out. It just doesn't seem anywhere near long enough.

Originally Posted by Gumby

It just doesn't seem anywhere near long enough.

Story of my life.

Gumby, it will be interesting to hear what Carba-Tec have to say. Those who have already replaced the rubber, did they have any problem?

Carba-tec don't have another one in stock but will get one by Wednesday. They want me to bring the wheel down and said they'd fit it for me, so it will be interesting.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Wow what and interesting thread - I got one of these thicknessers about a year ago.

Arrived with two round pin Euro electricity plug - fixed that myself Carbatec posted a replacement. Bearings on small cog lasted a day and collapsed resulting in the chain falling off like everyone elses, then replaced them myself from a local bearing place as many others have.

Similar to Gumby am not impressed with the silly round rubber ring on the large drive wheel as it is shreading and looks insufficient but await updates Gumby on your progress for improving it before I try and make the same mistake - keep us posted.

I too have a large wobbly looking chain cog but it works so will leave it alone. Still have to check the grub screws - just found out!

Just for the report card too I get shipe on the joiner, none on the thicknesser. Can remove heaps of timber on the joiner but with the thicknesser less than 1mm at a time - more like 0.5mm and even in oregon if it gets near a knot it isn't happy. In retrospect wished I bought a nice big 3hp thicknesser, but hey it works pretty well just have to be gentle and do lots more

Cheers

TJ, don't worry about it not taking off too much in one pass. I only shave off about half a mm each time, particularly if it's wide timber. You get a much better finiush that way and it doesn't take long to make several passes. Particularly in jointer mode, it's pretty quick.

So to the tyre saga.......

I went to Carbatec today and saw Trent, who I think is the manager. He was very helpful. They rang me to say the replacement tyre was in, just as they said they would.

I took my wheel and Trent took one look and couldn't see how the tyre would fit. (I also had my broken tyre with me). We decided to pull the cover off the machine they had on the floor to see if the wheels had changed size. We found that they hadn't - mine was exactly the same dimension but the groove for the tyre on the new wheels is vastly different. (see attached diagram).

We took the tyre off the machine and it was quite a bit bigger than the one I broke so we put it on my wheel. It was tight but fitted fine. I also decided it was better to put it on inside out and have the raised section up, where it would engage the drive shaft. This way it sitts better on the two grooves which the rubber rings are supposed to go in (again, see daigram).

We pushed, pulled, strained and did just about everything else and between the 2 of us, we got the replacement tyre on to the wheel of the machine in the store. (take the wheel off to do this) You'd never do this alone so don't try - it needs another pair of hands to stop it slipping off as you go around the wheel and gradually force it over the rim.

I think the tyre on their machine had stretched out over time, from being on the wheel, which made it easy to put on my wheel. I took it home and fitted it back this evening. I ran some pine through, leaving the cover off and it looks fine. I'll be very surprised if it comes off. If it does, I'll just get a new style wheel as well - shouldn't be too expensive.

Trent said one of the biggest problems thay have had with the ML 392 is that rubber ring problem so I think anyone with the old style would be wise to order a new tyre, if not the whole new wheel.

The part number for the tyre is ML-392-581 and cost $11.25 inc GST.

Hope that helps - I've done the diagram in case it's a bit confusing.

Update report - after some more use on the weekend, the new belt is still in place.

I managed to get a second hand wheel with wide rubber strip on it already fitted from Carbatec for $55 - even looks like a new one. Will keep it handy for when it is needed.

Cheers

Good move. Mine is still in place so i can assume I'll have no more probs. (Now where's the wood, I need to touch some)

I went to change my blades for the first time and was surprised that the new set didn't seem all that sharp (one was hopeless, the other 2 not bad). I decided to run my old set over a diamond sharpening stone I bought at the WWW show and they came up a treat. Put them back in and the difference is obvious. So I've still got 2 spare sets (Just thought I'd let you all know.)

Hi All,

I got my new toy yesterday, an ML-392.

I did the basic setup so that the outfeed table is right with the blades.

I then noticed the infeed slowly drops off to the right.

By this I mean, when I use a straight edge, the left edge is say .5mm below the blades/outfeed table but the right side of the infeed table is say 1mm below the blades.

Any ideas ?

Oh and the fence is not square with the tables. I'll fiddle with this, it's most probably pilot error.


thanks
Andrew