DW735 w/Shelix head starting to scallop boards

[woodshop1985]

Hello,

After my planer stated to scallop the white oak we were running I checked the cutter head for any radial play. The cutterhead on the end opposite the drive belt could be moved up and down. The drive belt end was fine. I replaced both bearings since they were original. A short test board came out fine. Next board was as bad as before. I pulled the cutterhead and after careful checking found the mounting hole  in the aluminum carriage was .004" bigger measured vertically than measured horizontally. I slipped in a piece of .004" shim stock (plastic). We ran one white oak board and it was fine. The shim vibrated out on second board. My next step is to use a metal piece of shim stock with adhesive and let it cure before running the planer. Any thoughts on what adhesive to use? Or is there a better way to solve this? Has anyone else had this issue? A new carriage is around $200.00. I figure I am better off just buying a new unit if a repair is not feasible. I know these planers are throw-aways but what really irks me is I have an older DW733 planer that has run for years with no issues. I bought this planer due to space constraints in my shop, not to be cheap. We own Festool, Mafell and Fein tools as well. With the Shelix head it I can plane highly figured hardwoods with no tear out.

Thank-you!

 

[Svar]

Any thoughts on what adhesive to use?
Or is there a better way to solve this?

J-B Weld Original Epoxy, Steel Reinforced, High Strength (8265S-2). It is specifically made for this type of repairs, oil and solvent resistant.
You can re-bore bearing seat slightly larger and install steel bushing friction fit. But that's more complex than getting a new spare part.

I'd check if your cutter assembly has excessive vibration which caused uneven wear in the bearing seat in the first place.

 

[usernumber1]

is there a chance this was a factory defect from the beginning? maybe got exaggerated by planing too much with a non factory shelix head? maybe would've happened with stock head?

cast aluminum

just thinking out loud

 

[woodshop1985]

Well, we used JB Weld to bed the bearing that was loose in the mounting hole. Everything was degreased thoroughly. We were very careful to not get the JB Weld in places it should not be. After putting the planer back together we ran a ½ dozen white oak boards thru it. It cuts like the day we first installed the Shelix head. We  used Timken bearings this time. I know 25 years ago Timken bearings were very high quality.  My Dad worked for a subsidiary of Timken and we used them all the time with no issues. I finally ran out of that stock I had and had to buy new ones. We'll see how they do. I'm kinda afraid when the bearing does go out I will be buying a new planer as I think it will be tough to get it out of the JB Weld without damaging the main aluminum carriage. I did email Byrd Tool that made the Shelix head. They had never seen this problem before but told me they would  help out however they could if this fix did not work. They said they dynamically balance every head they make. If the head was out of balance it had to be an extremely small amount for the problem to not surface for over 4 years of daily use. That's where I am at now. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know how long it holds up.

 

[Hipplewm]

I am all for the DeWalt 735 - I love mine

That said "Daily use for 4 years" is probably slightly out of the use case for this machine.....

It also gives me hope I'll die before I wear mine out....