Craftsman 124.33383, Operator'S Manual

10

TROUBLESHOOTING

SYMPTOM

Snipe
(gouging at ends of board)

Fuzzy grain

Torn grain

Rough raised grain

Uneven depth of cut 
(side to side)

Rollercase elevation adjusts
with difficulty

Board feeds inside, but stops
moving past the outfeed roller

Board thickness does not
match depth of cut scale

Chain jumping

Planer will not operate

Belt slipping

POSSIBLE CAUSE(S)

1.Dull blades

2.Inadequate support of long boards
3.Uneven force on cutterhead

4.Rollercase not level with base

5.Lumber not butted properly

Planing wood with a high moisture
content

1.Too heavy a cut
2.Blades cutting against grain
3.Dull blades

1.Dull blades

2.Too heavy a cut
3.Moisture content too high

Rollercase not level with planer 
base

1.Gears dirty
2.Elevation screws dirty
3.Gears, elevation screws worn
4.Friction between rollercase and

covers

5.Rollercase not parallel with planer

base

1.Outfeed roller cannot rotate due

to clogging of chips

2.Too much pressure on the

cutterhead from long workpiece

Indicator not set correctly

1.Sprockets worn
2.Chain worn

1.No power to planer
2.Motor overload protection tripped

3.Defective or loose switch or wiring

Loose belt

CORRECTIVE ACTION

1.Reverse or replace blades per instructions.

See “Maintenance”

2.Support long boards. See “Avoiding Snipe”
3.Gently push board when board is in contact

with only one feed roller. See “Avoiding Snipe”

4.Adjust rollercase

See “Adjusting Table Level”

5.Butt end to end each piece of stock as

boards pass through planer

Remove high moisture content from wood by
drying.

1.Review “Depth of Cut”
2.Review “Feeding Work”
3.Replace blades per instructions

See “Maintenance”

1.Replace blades per instructions

See “Maintenance”

2.Review “Depth of Cut”
3.Dry the wood or use dried wood

Rollercase not level 
See “Adjusting Table Level”

1.Clean and lubricate gears
2.Clean and lubricate elevation screws
3.Replace gears, elevation screws
4.Clean and lubricate

5.Adjust rollercase.

See “Adjusting Table Level”

1.Clear the clogging from dust collection

system. See “Clean Planer”

2.Use support stands to support workpiece

longer than 24

″

Adjust indicator and tighten securely

1.Replace sprockets
2.Replace chain

1.Check power source by qualified electrician.
2.Turn planer off. Reset motor overload

protection. See “Overload Reset”

3.Check switch and wiring by qualified

electrician

Replace belt, see “Replacing V-Belt”