Kity 637 control wheel...missing.

[lupussonic]

Hi everyone, new here and hoping someone can help.

I have been given a Kity 637 planer thicknesser which is in good working order, apart from control wheel and I think the shaft (and business end) is missing. I cannot therefore move the thicknesser bed up and down. I've had it upside down to try to see where it engages but short of dismantling the entire machine cannot get access to see properly.

Ive rang NMA who say it's obsolete and they cant help. Axminster Tools might have something if they have dimensions. Cant find a manual online anywhere including fleabay.

Anyone know where I can get a manual? Or if anyone has the same machine, can they help by measuring and/or photographing the mechanism? I've heard the manuals are pretty poor and might not give me the info I need to get this running...

Thank you in advance!

I'm rebuilding a 42' 1910 herring drifter, in the woods, on my own.

 

[Eric The Viking]

If it's like the 439, the end of the shaft is like a large Torx screwdriver, and the handwheel has a corresponding socket in the end of it. Put a vernier on it to get the diameter across the ridges (not the flats), then see if Axminster have a handwheel with a socket to suit. The socket will be circular, but the grub screws will lock it on the shaft well enough.

It's not ideal, as you are forever removing and re-fitting the handwheel in use, BUT it would be easy enough to drill and file out a piece of thick brass or steel plate to the right shaped hole, then make it into a crank handle, which will do just as well as a wheel.

I lightly oil the threaded shafts and bushes on my 439, and clean and re-oil the drive chain underneath too. There's not much friction and the handwheel turns freely, even though the machine is fairly old. I don't think a home-made crank would be harder to use.

I'd also think it's a prime application for laser cutting the shape out of a thicker metal blank (or out of several and stacking them up), if you know someone who can do that.

Don't despair: it's doable, albeit with some elbow grease.

 

[lupussonic]

Thanks for that reply...I'm very resourceful at making up bits. The shaft itself is not present tho. And I can't see where it engages or how for that matter .
I guess I'll take the whole damn thing apart unless anyone has any info.....????

Pleeeeeeeaaaaase????

8))

 

[Eric The Viking]

Sorry - I've just realised that it IS different to the smaller model.

In mine (439), the handwheel drives one of the raising leadscrews directly. The other three are connected by a chain and sprockets.

The 637 seems to bring the mechanism out at right angles. That's most likely to be a worm gear, given the location of the handwheel, but it might be a bevel box, i guess. I am also assuming, possibly wrongly, that it has four threaded shafts to raise and lower the thicknesser bed.

Steve Maskery has one in the same series as yours - he might know how the drive works.

If it is a worm drive, and the wheel is damaged, it could be a right pain to fix. If it's just the shaft gone missing you might find that a piece of metric studding would do it (ends turned down to fit the handwheel and whatever the bearing is at the other end).

It sounds like a complete, or nearly complete strip-down though. On my smaller one, getting to the space beneath the planer bed is a real pain. I've blocked off every hole and crevice I can to stop things like nuts and washers dropping down there. The trouble is that, if you tip it over, there's a strong risk of knocking the planer tables out of alignement.

Sorry about the duff gen earlier. I fear you might have a major job on your hands.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi
Well I do have a 637. Nice little machine for the home workshop, although mine took lots of fettling when I first got it.
I have had it to bits, but a long time ago and I can't remember how it works underneath. I know there is a chain linking all four leadscrews, and that it is a PITA to get at them. IIRC you have to hoist the machine up and crawl underneath like a car mechanic. I think the drive is more likely to be a worm than a bevel gear.
Unfortunately I can't get at mine to have a look.

Steve