A problem shared, anyone sorted this?

[Wildman]

I have an Axminster CT330 12" thicknesser. For various reasons it was unused last year and fell foul of condensation last winter. When I came to use it the handle broke and I realised the winding mechanism was seized, so made a new steel handle rather than the plastic jobbie and managed to free up the winder, but something else is broken because only one side at a time raises or lowers so the problem comes down to the bevel gears and transverse shaft that transfers the drive to both sides. Hopefully only a pin sheared but I doubt it as there is a retaining ring shown in the diagram and no pin. So it looks like a major strip down to cure the problem (if they are plastic gears then they are probably stripped. Anyone else had one apart that can point me in the right direction. I can see the top and sides have to be removed, then what, are the gears visible then or do I need to dismantle further.

 

[marcros]

i had an issue with my ct330- I cant remember what it was though, but the stripdown wasnt too bad.

I think that you have the option of putting the handle on both ends- have you tried swapping it over to see whether it is jusy the other end sticking a bit?

 

[Wildman]

well I had a little time today and back improved a little to allow me to lift the thicknesser onto the workbench for servicing and it seems it was not so much seized as worn out, everything turns as it should independently, ha ha the drive train is accessed from the bottom with no dismantling of the bodywork, 4 allen screws and two circlips and the crap plastic gears are off, I think I need new ones.

ah well, will phone Axminster tomorrow and see how much, if too dear I'll make some steel ones.

 

[marcros]

i ordered a new handle for mine and was expecting a much bigger bill than I got. Hopefully, yours will be the same

 

[Wildman]

well the gears are £5.42 each and a new handle £9 however they do not have any gears in stock and will not have for 10 -12 weeks so it is either make them or buy and adapt something made in the UK. I am awaiting a reply from a manufacturer who has helped me out in the past. I may well go for steel and avoid future problems, the handle I can make no problem. Whilst awaiting the gears. My taper turning attachment build for the lathe will have to wait a while as well .

 

[n0legs]

My little machine was plagued by the same problem. Plastic gears as well.
I ordered some metal gears from the Makita thicknesser. They had the same 10mm bore but a different tooth count, 15 instead of the originals 16 IIRC, so four new ones were needed.
Powertools Plus in Nottingham, I think, is where I got them. Approx £1.50ea, again if I remember correctly.
A little filing of the shafts length was required on mine to ensure the correct offset, but nothing to drastic. Works fine now but a little more noisey when winding up and down.

 

[SVB]

Can't believe they fit plastic gears on a machine tool, esp for something as frequently used at a p/t adjustment.

 

[n0legs]

Wildman, I've just checked and I had kept the two surviving gears from my machine.
They're yours if you want them if they're any good until a new set can be delivered. Just PM me your address and I'll get them in the post.