Replies

1. 
   tinkerer2 | May 17, 2007 06:58am | #1

   When you find out, let me know as I plan on getting a planer in the near future.

2. 
   JMartinsky | May 17, 2007 09:39pm | #2

   Dear Maple,
   Byrd lists a "generic" 20" 4-post installation:

   http://www.byrdtool.com/generic1520.html

   Best,

   John

1. 
   mapleman | May 18, 2007 03:24am | #3

   John,

   Thanks for the link - just what I was looking for. Looks to be pretty easy until you get to the part about changing out the gear box. I may call Sunhill machinery and see if they offer the head I need with the gearbox attached ($100 - $150 extra). Should save quite a bit of time.

   Thanks,

   Lee

1. 
   TomW | May 18, 2007 03:29am | #4

   Changing out the gearbox is a lot easier than it looks in the pictures. I put the shelix cutterhead in my 15" planer several yeasr sgo and it took less than two hours, maybe closer to 1 hour. I'm an aircraft mechanic so I have a bit of a knack for this kind of thing, but you shouldn't have any trouble. The instructions were excellent.

1. 
   mapleman | May 18, 2007 06:08am | #5

   Tom,

   Thanks, I will keep that in mind. I almost never seem to have a problem taking things apart, it's the putting back together that I have issues with ;)

   Lee

1. 
   xmike | May 18, 2007 04:50pm | #6

   Hi Mapleman,
   I sometimes have that problem of putting things back together, too.
   Something that really helps is to purchase a cheap digital camera and take pictures as you disassemble. You don't even have to print them out - just look at the pictures in the camera viewer as you reassemble, and all becomes clear.
   Mike D

2. 
   mapleman | May 18, 2007 06:06pm | #7

   Mike,

   Great idea! I think I may give it a go. Since I put the shelix on my jointer, I don't feel like I could ever go back to straight knives.

   Lee

3. 
   43Billh | May 18, 2007 08:20pm | #8

   mapleman,

   I just put the Grizly indexable cutter head on my 15" planer. I installed the Byrd shelix head on my 8" jointer about 2 years ago. Very hard to tell the difference in cut.

    I don't feel the Byrd shelix is worth the extra money. It is certainly a great product but I think the Grizly is also.

    As for installation, if you have any automotive experience ( brakes, water pumps, wheel bearings ) you should be just fine.

    One point I would like to add, find a bearing supply house and get a new set of " electric motor quality bearings".  Mine were $23 for the planer.

   Bill

1. 
   colebearanimals | May 18, 2007 11:31pm | #9

   Hi Bill,

         Was that a 15" Grizzly planer you put that cutterhead into or another brand? I have a 15" delta I'd love to stuff one of those cutterheads into. I'm very happy with Grizzly's indexable head. I've got one in one of their jointers. Also, are " electric motor quality bearings" better than what would normally be  in planers, so since it's apart you might as well change them?    

                                 Paul

    

    

    

1. 
   43Billh | May 19, 2007 01:17pm | #10

   Hi Paul

   My 15" planer is a Bridgewood, I forget the model number. It's basically the same Taiwanese imported machine most of the manufactures are selling.

   Yes, electric motor bearings are a level higher in quality than the 6204 and 6205's that come in most of the imported planers.

   The nice fellow at Wilkee machine let me in on the idea of upgrading bearings. If you rotate them in your hand you can actually feel the difference!

    Iv'e used them in my table saw and jointer ( both Grizly ) and now the planer. It's worth the extra $10 to me.

     The only place I could find them was an actual bearing supply house. MSC and  Mcmaster carr don't carry the "motor quality" bearings.   

   Bill

1. 
   colebearanimals | May 19, 2007 05:33pm | #12

   Guess what I'll be doing in the next couple of weeks? Thanks for responding

                                     Paul

1. 
   43Billh | May 19, 2007 08:19pm | #13

   your welcome, glad I could hep

2. 
   philip | May 20, 2007 12:08pm | #16

   Bill, the "electric motor quality " bearings you refer to: can you give me 1)the number designation of these and 2)the makers name and 3)the place of manufacture.Please. Thanks.Philip Marcou

1. 
   43Billh | May 21, 2007 01:14pm | #22

   Philip,

   My particular planer takes 1) 6204 and 1) 6205. Both are sealed bearings which means they have a rubber seal over the rollers instead of a metal shield.

    The brand I used was "FAG", I believe they are German manufacture.

   The supply house I used was Philadelphia Ball and Roller, they have a branch near me in Delaware. But a Google search will get you a ton of options.

    When you order, give the correct size form the parts list, example 6204 sealed and ask for the electric motor grade.

    The bearing guy knows what to do.

   Bill

2. 
   philip | May 21, 2007 01:44pm | #23

   Bill, FAG bearings are well known to me for quality. I was asking about this "motor grade " thing because I think the guy has found a "new" way to sell bearings.....If a bearing has a specific purpose or function it will be designated in the numbers and letters found on the bearing, by international agreement amongst bearing manufacturers. So 6204-2z is just an ordinary deep groove bearing with two dust shields. A better one may be 6204-2RS1, which is the same bearing but with two seals, not shields.....Philip Marcou

3. 
   43Billh | May 21, 2007 04:09pm | #24

   Hmmm, I may have purchased good quality bearings with a little "snake oil pricing".

    Although I did replace bearings in my table saw once. ( 2 ) 6202 shielded bearings from an online supplier, they didn't last long at all.

    The second time around I went to my supply house and used the snake oil, er, uh... electric motor bearings and it is still working fine today.

   Maybe I just got poor quality bearings the first time around????

   I'll see if I can dig up the boxes they came in and get the whole part number .

   Bill

4. 
   philip | May 22, 2007 08:46am | #25

   Bill --"Maybe I just got poor quality bearings the first time around????"
   That is possible, or maybe you did not talk nicely to them when you installed them.
   Having lived in Zimbabwe I have seen my share of bearings from unlikely places, such as Romania and Bulgaria. At least the snake oil man sold you bearings from a well known quality maker. Other good names are Timken, SKF, NTN. The only American one I know of is New Departure. Ofcourse all these are now made in various countries.Philip Marcou

2. 
   boxster9 | May 19, 2007 04:51pm | #11

   I just installed a Byrd head in my Delta 22-585X 15" Planer last night. I followed the instructions on the Byrd site for generic four post planers. The whole process was done in one evening. The only problem I had was finding 50 weight oil to fill the gearbox.

   -- Phil

4. 
   MWJones | May 20, 2007 04:45am | #14

   I took the plunge and bought the Powermatic 20” with the HH head.  Being accustomed to a 1951 Delta 13”, I was stunned at how quiet and fast this machine was and the surface was close to perfect.

    

   You can go to the Byrd website  http://www.byrdtool.com  They have some instructions, and heads for lots of machines

    

   Mike J

    

1. 
   mapleman | May 20, 2007 06:33am | #15

    

   MW,

   What do you think of the PM 20"? That was actually my first choice, since it already comes with the byrd head.

   Lee

1. 
   MWJones | May 20, 2007 04:31pm | #18

   I've only had it operational for a week, so this isn't a long term review, but I has literally speechless the first time I used the planer.  I ran a 1X8 hard maple board to test the machine, did not but on hearing protection, so I could get a real feel for the loudness.  It was so fast it startled me, and was any louder than a table saw cutting the same board. I just stood there in awe, and then ran to my neighbor (woodworker) and said you have got to see this to belive it.

   I can't image ever regretting this purchase. 

   mj

2. 
   MWJones | May 20, 2007 05:09pm | #19

   I forgot a couple of points. As to the speed. It has two feed speeds-as it comes they are 31 or 24 fpm. It also has an addition gear and change so that you can convert it to feed at a slower rate of 20 or 16 fpm.

   The finish was very smooth even at the fast feed speed.

   I have to go make sawdust.

    

   mj

1. 
   mapleman | May 20, 2007 06:13pm | #20

   MJ,

   Sounds like you have not changed out the gears to the slower feed speed. What is involved in changing those out, if I may ask?

   Lee

1. 
   MWJones | May 20, 2007 09:09pm | #21

   While I haven't changed them I did pull the cover off the side and take a look at the set up. My guess it would be less than a hour to do the first time, less with practice. All your doing is removing one sprocket and chain and replacing it with the one they provide.  I'm not going to change it unless I find a need, it could be a hold over from the straight knife machine where the slower speed would be need for a cleaner surface with figured wood. With the Helix head I'll wait and see.

    

   mj

5. 
   Wikkiam | May 20, 2007 03:49pm | #17

   I put a Byrd Shelix in my ShopFox 20" about a week ago and here are a few comments.

   The Byrd is superior to other insert heads, much quieter and a little smoother finish.

   The instructions from Byrd are very good, the pictures are poorly exposed and hard to see.

   I needed a gear puller to pull the pulley side bearing and an appropriately sized socket to tap it on the new head.

   The allen bolt inside the helical gear on the end of the cutter was very tight but a touch with a little Bosch 12V driver got it out easily.

   When pulling the cutter back in on the gearbox side I used the extra 6M bolt Byrd suggests you buy, put a large washer on it and used that to pull the cutter back into the gearbox.

   The PM and SF are identical machines mechanically so all this should work for you.

   Actually it's all pretty easy.

   One more thing- when you pull the outside cover for the gearbox, most of the gears come out with it which is no problem but be prepared for it to happen.

    

   
   

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   Edited 5/20/2007 10:39 pm ET by Wikkiam