Some would say I
have too much equipment squeezed into my one car garage shop. Maybe it’s my New
York attitude, but I scoff at those who say they work hand tools because their
space it small. I say if there’s a will, there’s a way.
have too much equipment squeezed into my one car garage shop. Maybe it’s my New
York attitude, but I scoff at those who say they work hand tools because their
space it small. I say if there’s a will, there’s a way.
One of my favorite
pieces of equipment is my Grizzly 15” planer. It has a segmented cutter head
and will spit out just about any board with a beautiful, tearout free surface.
pieces of equipment is my Grizzly 15” planer. It has a segmented cutter head
and will spit out just about any board with a beautiful, tearout free surface.
I was quite
dismayed recently when I moved the planer out of the way to find that the
plywood I had recently stacked besides it was oil stained at its base where it
adjoined the planer. A quick investigation revealed the planer’s gearbox as the
source of the oil.
dismayed recently when I moved the planer out of the way to find that the
plywood I had recently stacked besides it was oil stained at its base where it
adjoined the planer. A quick investigation revealed the planer’s gearbox as the
source of the oil.
 |
| That’s not the right type of oil to finish a project with. |
After a review of
the Grizzly owner’s manual and a few days of worry, I took the infeed/outfeed
gear cover off to expose the gearbox. Before changing the oil I tested the
allen bolts which held on the gearbox face and found all of them to be loose
and between ½ and ¼ turn from tight. I tightened them all and I hope this will
stop the leaking of oil from the gearbox gasket.
the Grizzly owner’s manual and a few days of worry, I took the infeed/outfeed
gear cover off to expose the gearbox. Before changing the oil I tested the
allen bolts which held on the gearbox face and found all of them to be loose
and between ½ and ¼ turn from tight. I tightened them all and I hope this will
stop the leaking of oil from the gearbox gasket.
The first step was
to remove the top cover of the planer because the oil fill plug is so high, the
only way to reach it is with a hose fed through the main planer body. Then I
made a makeshift funnel out of tape and removed the oil drain plug into a
graduated plastic cub. 12 ounces of oil came out of the gearbox. Because the
total gearbox oil volume isn’t listed in the owner’s manual, I wasn’t sure if
12 ounces was good or bad.
to remove the top cover of the planer because the oil fill plug is so high, the
only way to reach it is with a hose fed through the main planer body. Then I
made a makeshift funnel out of tape and removed the oil drain plug into a
graduated plastic cub. 12 ounces of oil came out of the gearbox. Because the
total gearbox oil volume isn’t listed in the owner’s manual, I wasn’t sure if
12 ounces was good or bad.
Once the gearbox
was empty, the drain plug was re-installed the area around it wiped of oil.
Then I carefully fed in the 3/8” tube into the fill hole.
I taped a funnel to the top of the tube and clamped it in place to the top of
the planer body.
was empty, the drain plug was re-installed the area around it wiped of oil.
Then I carefully fed in the 3/8” tube into the fill hole.
I taped a funnel to the top of the tube and clamped it in place to the top of
the planer body.
Then I slowly
poured 12 ounces of fresh 80w-90w oil into the gear box. All 12 ounces
disappeared into the infeed hole. So I then – ½ ounce at a time – continued
filling the gearbox. When I got to 16 ounces, oil finally began to spill out of
the infeed hole.
poured 12 ounces of fresh 80w-90w oil into the gear box. All 12 ounces
disappeared into the infeed hole. So I then – ½ ounce at a time – continued
filling the gearbox. When I got to 16 ounces, oil finally began to spill out of
the infeed hole.
Reacting to the
spilling oil I made a mistake. I unclamped the funnel, knowing I needed to pull
the hose out of the hole and place it in the plastic cup to drain. What I
forgot was that I needed to re-clamp the funnel end. It wasn’t until oil began
to drip onto the planer bed from the cutter that I realized I had simply left
the funnel to fall over and spill out.
spilling oil I made a mistake. I unclamped the funnel, knowing I needed to pull
the hose out of the hole and place it in the plastic cup to drain. What I
forgot was that I needed to re-clamp the funnel end. It wasn’t until oil began
to drip onto the planer bed from the cutter that I realized I had simply left
the funnel to fall over and spill out.
Once this was all
cleaned up, I put the fill plug in and re-assembled the infeed/outfeed gear and
top covers. Then I started up the planer and ran a piece of scrap maple through
it until it stopped coming out with oil residue on it.
cleaned up, I put the fill plug in and re-assembled the infeed/outfeed gear and
top covers. Then I started up the planer and ran a piece of scrap maple through
it until it stopped coming out with oil residue on it.
Through that
limited testing, the planer seems to be running smoothly again. Here’s hoping
that tightening the gearbox face addresses the leak and the gears stay nice and
lubricated as I get into the serious business of milling for the Bartop Arcade
Cabinet.
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