Just got a relatively untouched clark hitachi. Plan on doing a handle relocation. Needs a new foam insert as well, but I don’t know how the knob is removed. This is the older style clark knob. Can anyone help with this? I looked through other posts but couldn’t find info on this particular knob, everyone seems to have the other type. Does it simply twist off? I don’t want to break it so I did not twist it too hard. Any help would be great, thanks.
Those knobs are epoxied on. Forget about the foam insert. It’s not that important. You could wind up ruining the depth mechanism trying to get that knob off. Take the front shoe off and I think you can access the sleeve from the bottom. I was told along time ago you have to heat the knob to get them off. The guy who did the original Clark’s epoxied the knob on because it couldn’t be threaded onto the shaft. I took one apart once and managed to get the knob off and it was indeed epoxied on.
What’s the number on your planer?
I might add; It has been at least 20 years since I took one of those Green Machines apart. I can’t remember exactly how I did it.
If installing the foam insert is the only goal, I would not attempt to remove the knob. Don’t risk it. Instead, go for an improvised install of the foam insert.
If it were me, I would cut a slit into the foam, allowing you to wrap the foam around the front shoe shaft. Then glue the slit back together.
For the handle relocation, do not follow early videos from Brian Pavlick. Hats off to Brian Pavlick Hitachi P20SB surfboard planer conversions. In his newer videos he admits that his early handle relocations sometimes didn’t hold up to rigorous use of the planer. He does not disclose his newer method.
I have a modified Hitachi with a strong handle relocation. I am not going to articulate how it’s done with pics and a how to explanation because I didn’t do the conversion, I bought the planer already converted. I took the handle apart to take a peek to make sure it’s a really secure method of a handle relocation. It is solid.
Crookedcat, where are you located? Perhaps we can meet up. I can disassemble the handle and you can see how it’s done.
Steve is giving you good advice. Moving the handle is a nice add-on. Be sure you get it exactly where you want it. If my memory serves me well(sometimes naught) there was an online video that mentioned how to secure the back/bottom of the handle.
Ok, thanks for the info. The knob seems very secure so that makes sense its epoxied on there.
The number is CF5164
I don’t think you can get the front shoe off without first removing the knob, right?
Installing the foam is definitely one of the goals, and yeah i can easily just slip a new piece in there. I also wanted to slightly adjust the knob because there is a slight amount of play, but if its epoxied on I’m sure its something that I can just get used to.
I am on Oahu. I have a couple ideas to do the handle that seem more secure than the original Pavlick method but would love to see/hear your ideas and methods
It might be a week or so but I may take a picture of the crucial point of where you need to attatch the handle.do not just start hacking it off.
There is one for sale here on Sways that is #186. On a straight # system I would say that yours is a later model. But it is always difficult to hypothesize what people are thinking when they number a run of something.
No screw in The front shoe. Vernor makes a nice bearing puller set for 39.99. In its own case, fits multiple sizes and can be used on a press.
You should try to locate a parts diagram somewhere online. There’s got to be one. PS Just watched a video of a dismantling of a 20SF. Essentially the same planer. The original knob screwed on. So when Clark epoxied the knob on, that ended that. No screw in the front shoe.
Greeting,
Here is the rough instruction or crux of how to get a solid handle relocation for the Hitachi P20SB.
If you look at pic 1., when you cut this side of the handle off of the housing, make sure NOT to cut off the mounting tab/hole circled in red. This mount tab/hole is what will hold both sides of the handles solidly in place.
Pic 3., shows which male tab will go into the left intact housing tab/hole (pic 1). **Please note, see my next post, as I forgot some steps in this post. See pic with step 4 and 5.
Pic 2. gives you the over all plan
You will figure it out, but there are little details I left out..
At pic 4, drill out the material in the center of the tab/hole so you can completely see thru it, as this will recieve the modified male end at pic 5.
At pic 5, you will need to make this a male end, but it will still have a thread. Dremel approx. 2.5mm around the tab until you have a complete male end that fits snuggly (but not super tight) thru the new modified pic. 4 thru hole.
Might not be the clearest instructions,but as far as I know, this is the first explanation of this more solid handle relocation method-cat is out of the bag.
I used pics from an unmodified Hitachi. The modified one I have is tucked away.
Keep in mind that this is just part of the handle relocation. You will still need to plan out the angles that you will cut the bases of both handle sides. Measure 3 times, cut once.
The rest, creating the bent metal piece that connects the front of the planer via rivets to the front of the handle is well covered on yt and plenty of pictures around.
Thanks for the info. A friend of mine sent similar pictures of his handle. That is the same way he did his as well. Seems pretty solid. I bought a rubber washer and put it around the base of the mounting tab and cut off the excess when finished to add a little cushion. Otherwise all the same