Recently the drive belt for my Makita 20-30 Jointer-planer bit the dust so off to the internet to find a replacement. First of all this belt is a poly belt maybe 15 inches long by one inch wide and is similar to serpentine belts found on autos. The first site quoted a price of $88, and the Makita factory site quoted $75. I doubt that a generic type belt of the exact dimensions is available so if you want to repair your machine you are at the mercy of the mfg. For comparison I priced a Goodyear poly belt 24 inches long at $7.50. Makita now has my money.
I understand that stocking parts for older machines is expensive but a $10 belt at 10% interest for ten years is only an extra $10 and if they never sell it they are only out $20 so charging $75 seems to me to be a gross rip off. So all I can say is grin and bear it because boycotting Makita and buying Porter Cable won’t help because they are on the same page. At least in the auto field there are junk yards for back up. Lee2
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Don't forget real estate tax on the property to store it, and inventory tax, and the salary for the old fat lady smoking butts over the old pentium machine to keep track of the inventory floppies...
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its still an awesome planer...... aloha, mike
Makita factory site quoted $75..
As others have stated, Inventory is Taxed and other reasons.
Many factories stock parts on a Just-In-Time delivery basis. If that part is still used someplace on their products you order and screw up their purchasing cycle! Ya get charged for that...
But such is life. A BUMMER sometimes..
The next time the belt breaks, go to an auto store and see if they have anything reasonably close. Your motor probably has some adjustment to accomodate a slightly longer or shorter belt.
I replaced the $50 belt on my John Deere riding mower with one from an auto store and it only cost about $15. And, it has lasted 17 years. The 1st one broke the first summer I had the mower.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Lee,
An OEM belt is available from ereplacementparts.com for $67. They stock every available part for this machine as well.
http://www.ereplacementparts.com/makita-2030n-planer-jointer-parts-c-97_417_662.html
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
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