hitachi planer noises

General Discussion
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you’ll not likely get a good grade of bearing from the hardware store, I use Valley gear and chain in San Marcos, you can spend from 3 bucks to 900.00 on single bearings, the 900 dollar ones are for NASA style applications where a tech CANNOT do a repair from 50 million miles away.

When I change blades, etc., I aways check the bearings, free spin them, if they spin way too easily and sort of whistle, they are worn past the lifetime, a good bearing has a slight resistance when spun.

Planer break down, removes dust shoot first, lossen and remove brush caps,remove the brushes, sometimes they have dust keeping them from seating any farther, they don’t always just pop out, so a little finessing when picking and tugging at them, remove small bearing cover next to exlaust shoot, when re-tightening caps only go finger tight, remove screws that hold on belt cover, removes belt by turning and working it off to the outside, remove large pulley, it turns clockwise to loosen, remove the screws on the bearing seat plate, use a scocket for a drift that will fit in the bearing seats on the brush side of the planer and GENTLY tap the armature and cutter head out of the bearing seats, the armature will come free with the outside plate still attached to it, rock it until it is free, same with the cutterhead, now you can have access to ALL the bearings, you will get to know which are good and what are in need of replacing, the worst case senario is the armature bearing against the brushes has gotten way too hot and flaired out the bearing seat, in which case, you are fucked, nothing to do but salvage all the parts and scrap the case, go to Tool depot and buy a stock Hitachi for 125 bucks and install the front shoe from the old one. I got a stock Hitachi at the O’side swap meet for 35 bucks, it looks to have 5 minutes running time on it, but it sits in reserve for any disaster that can and will happen. Scour alleys and dumpsters for sweeper, vacuum, shampooer’s, cut the long cords off them and replace the 6 foot cord with a 20 footer, nothing worse than an extension cord connector right where you are walking

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Take it into SLO.  There is a tool repair shop off of Broad st.   He’s on the street that runs north just past Warnes Paint.  I’m doing this all out of foggy memory banks.  If the old man isn’t running it his son probably still is.  They know all about Hitachis and Skils.  His Son was a team rider for Cole back in the day.  I’m sure they can set you stratght.  He worked on alot of stuff for me over the years.  He’s good and reasonable.  Sounds like you need brushes and bearings all the way around.  If you want to attempt this yourself;  find a bearing supply.  There is one in Santa Maria.  These kinds of supply houses mostly stock bearings for tractors, hyraulic equipment, forlifts etc.  But you’d be suprised what they sometimes have in stock or can get out of LA on short notice.  Seriously I’d take it to SLO.  Replace with sealed bearings only.  You could do the brushes yourself.  The trigger/switch will go next.   If I were you I’d take it to SLO and tell him to do the works.  It won’t cost as much as you think. Lowel

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okay thanks, maybe I’ll get a quote from him

24

Adam,  

JP Tool Repair in the name of the place off of Broad.  They are very good and reasonable.  They stock very nice bearings if you just wanted to buy the bearings off them as well.

Nick 

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That’s right;  JP Tool.  Thought of it on the way to the grocery store.  That IS your best bet.  Get to know 'em .  That’s a handy resource for now and future right in your own backyard.  Lowel

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thanks guys,

hope your feeling better nick, 

last question i think…i’m starting to notice that the grinding sound is happening only when I see a spark happen. it sounds fine when it doesnt spark. it sparks off and on about one second on one second off. does this change the original diagnosis?

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Get the works done and it’ll be good for another 100,000 miles.  Just like a VW(V-dub).  I send my Skils to Petec and tell him to do what’s needed. If you do just the brushes, you’ll have to do the bearings or trigger some other time.  Find yourself a back-up so you aren’t down when you need a repair. Good luck.  Lowel

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okay will do

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