Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | May 12, 2008 02:14pm | #1

   Take a look at the gib screw heads, they are supposed to be slightly and evenly rounded and very smooth. If they aren't smooth and evenly rounded they can cam up the blades as they are tightened. Usually a little attention to the screw heads with a file and some emery paper will improve their shape.

   Also take a look in the slots in the cutter head and make sure the side of the slot the screw heads bear on is smooth. A pass or two with a file can't hurt there also. Put a bit of grease on the threads of the gib screws and a touch of grease on the screw heads also.

   When you tighten the gib screws, start by very lightly tightening all of them and then go back and make them fully tight in two or three steps. If one screw seems to be causing the knives to shift all of the time, skip over it initially and don't tighten it until you have tightened the other screws first.

   Don't get carried away with the tightening, if you apply too much force to the relatively small screws you will damage the screw heads and threads which will actually weaken them and that can cause problems with the knives shifting.

   Hope this helps, John White