Maintenance; Lubrication - Powermatic 201 Instruction Manual And Parts List

MAINTENANCE

Periodic or regular inspections are required to ensure
that the machine is in proper adjustment, that all screws
are tight, that belts are in good condition, that dust has
not accumulated in the electrical enclosures, and that
there are no loose or worn electrical connections.
Buildup of sawdust and other debris can cause your
machine to plane inaccurately. Periodic cleaning is not
only recommended but mandatory for accurate planing.
Close-fitting parts, such as the table locking rods, the
cutterhead slot and gibs, should be cleaned with a cloth
or brush and non-flammable solvent and freed from
clinging foreign matter.
Remove resin and other accumulations from feed rolls
and table with a non-flammable solvent.
Periodically check all the chains for proper tension and
adjust accordingly if required.
TIP: If a foreign object nicks the knives, instead of
throwing them away or trying to grind out the deep nick,
simply stagger the knives in the head, moving one knife
no more than 1/4" to the right and another knife no more
than 1/4" to the left. The nick will not be noticeable.

LUBRICATION

The gear box oil should be changed once a year. The
drain plug (A) is shown in Figure 23. Refill the gear box
with 60-90 weight gear oil through the fill hole (B). The
sight glass (C) should be checked periodically and oil
added as necessary.
The recommended lubrication for roller chains used in
medium to slow speed operation is to simply wipe the
chain clean. When there is an appreciable build up of
dust, dirt or wood shavings, use an oil cloth but never
pour the oil directly on the chain. Over-oiling defeats
the purpose of the lubrication, since it tends to invite the
collecting of dust, shavings, etc. and works into
members of the chain. This hastens wear and leads to
premature replacement.
The bearings on the cutterhead are factory lubricated
and sealed. They require no further attention.
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