Thread: Thicknesser Problems

How much were you trying to take off per pass?

only a shaving about 1/4 turn of the handle and it was only pine from a pallet. Was working fine but after she dropped out the cut out became strange to the feel as if it wasn't locking in properly.

Hi Benny...

What manner of overload protection does this have? Is it accessible for re-setting the cut-out setting? Was the motor hot to the touch?

I'm not sure what you mean by the cut being different afterwards. Are you happy with your chip extraction? (On my machine if the hose clogs the cut quality gets ruined instantly)

Greg

Bennylaird, be careful. What you describe could be caused by any number of things, but one of them is a binding bearing. If it were to seize under load things might go ugly on you. If you can (without dismantling and possibly voiding warranty), try to move the rollers and cutterhead by hand - power disconnected of course.

A few other causes may be inside the motor itself, but I am beginning to think that whatever the reason this may need a pro to fix.

It just has the push button reset beside the on off switch with no adjustment. The funny feel is in the reset not the cut, it feels like the reset button is the problem as it is sloppy and not a nice sharp click. I will try it again tonight to see if is ok after a week to cool lol.

Not sure how hot the motor was as I just assumed it was the hot day and being used for 15 mins straight. I might see if Timbecon have spares or a part listing for the cutout. If I can find the rating I may relplace it with a better reset.

No problems with chip ext. the chooks love the new shavings in the chook pen.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Bennylaird, be careful. What you describe could be caused by any number of things, but one of them is a binding bearing. If it were to seize under load things might go ugly on you. If you can (without dismantling and possibly voiding warranty), try to move the rollers and cutterhead by hand - power disconnected of course.

A few other causes may be inside the motor itself, but I am beginning to think that whatever the reason this may need a pro to fix.

May be bearing probs as it had been sitting unused for months and did actually sound as if it was begining to load up when it cut out.

What kind of bearings do these things have? Sealed, or lube type?

Not sure but assume sealed, will have to find my book.

I was thinking of a different machine. I can't imagine anything but a sealed bearing in your machine. Otherwise, there'd be access doors and big service schedule decals. (wouldn't there?:confused: )

I've heard it said that many of this type of machine have suspect bearings, but that they are a common size.

I'm sure you already know this, but here goes anyway:
Quality bearings are cheap. If it ends up being bearings, consider Fafnir or SKF. Or Timken. Or Ashai. The number on the bearing case describes the dimensions, just use that as a reference for replacement.

Greg

Try running it with no timber going through. If it trips with no load then the nature of the problem is quite different to a problem of duty cycle.

Qw

Thanks Guys

Will have a play tonight and see how things go.

Hi BennyLaird,

Apart from the colour, your thicknesser looks and behaves much like mine which is blue. I also had it cut out and had to wait "several minutes" (read a few hours) before I could get it to go again. The motor casing was hot to touch and it was warm. I was in the process of taking about 2mm of some pine.

I agree about the feel of the reset button. It does not seem "pressed" when you push it in. I have had some thought about some type of fan mounted into the motor casing, as it seems to be very enclosed, not really helping in the dissapation of the heat buildup. Just need to figure out how to get air in and keep woodchips out!

Cheers
Paul H

Thanks Paul, Most of these come from the same manufacturer just rebadged, painted etc to suit the retailer, but I was assured the Timbercon one was to better spec?????? Sure it was...... He then tried to sell me a coat hanger shaped bridge up north somewhere, trouble is it always needed painting.

Hi Benny!

I have one of those, and I've run through quite a few tens of metres of anything from Jarrah, through Red Gum, Blackwood - and of course our old mate, Crapiata! Mine seem fine, but it did, once, bind on some RG, and the cut-out cut-in (if you see what I mean). The re-set switch did feel a bit odd, but the machine was happy afterwards, so on I carried.

I'd tend to agree with the observation that one does need to keep the chips flowing away, else quality suffers very quickly, and resinous timbers can cause the old dusty to have a few fart-backs:eek: .

In hinsight (always 20-20, eh?), I should have bought a larger machine, but I have what I have for the moment. Little does it know that I've got another 25lm of Red Gum, and about 22lm of Blackwood to test it's mettle, plus some 21lm of Jarrag, some of which I'll re-saw, and, yep, thickness. The little Orange bugger is going to have it's work cut out

Cheers!