Thank you all for suggestions. I would have had a resolution on this
sooner, but the annoy thing called work got in the way. Oh well, need some
way to afford the stuff I want.
As the story goes, I called up the 800 customer service number to see what
they could do. They in turn called the regional manager, who in turn called
the service center. The service center wanted another crack at fixing my
planer, so I took it back in (another delightful 40 mile drive). They got
the sprocket replaced and started running 2x4s through it for testing
purposes. The service guy was taking ~1/32" off and the planer seemed to be
working just fine. I suggested going up to 3/32" (well within the chart on
the front of the planer). About 4" into planing the board, snap goes the
sprocket. I'm glad I didn't wait until I got home to start planing.
The options I was then given were:
1) Have a new replacement machine sent to the service center (time ~1
week). In the mean time, replace the sprocket on my machine, make the least
aggressive cuts I can, and hope the sprocket doesn't break.
2) Wait for WoodCraft to get a replacement machine with the same interim
solution (time ~3 weeks).
3) Take another machine that was slightly used (returned due to snipe
problem; however, it was most likely PEBMAF*)
I went with option 3. Before I did however, I made sure that the blades
were in excellent condition and that the machine wasn't used very much. I
also made sure that the machine could plane the 3/32" without snapping the
sprocket.
While I was waiting for the planer to be repaired, I was talking to the
manager of the service center and learned a couple things:
First, the stuff they sell at the service center is list price. They
can/will give a discount, if you ask.
Second, the service center manager and the regional manager acknowledged
that there was a problem with how they were dealing with this issue and with
how things were being stocked (e.g. my region and another region were have
stocking problems with the sprocket, but other regions were not). I don't
know what changes will occur, if any, because of this, but at least they
realize that there is a problem. I did let the service center manager know
about my posting to a news group and that a lot of people weren't pleased
with DeWalt's actions.
In the end, I ended up with a working planer and a hope that problems like
this won't follow the same path to resolution. Oh, and a small gloat. I
got free in/out feed tables. I had the choice between replacement knives or
the tables, but I figured I could talk SWMBO out of money for knives a lot
more easily than I could talk her out of money for tables.
*Problem Exists Between Machine And Floor
I'm surpassed you took option 3 unless it included an agreement from
DeWalt to replace the used unit ASAP with a NEW unit shipped directly to
your home. Hope the one you have continues to work without incident.
Have you had any snipe with that one? What kind of material is the
sprocket made from, pot metal? I take it DeWALT hasn't mentioned their
final solution for all these broken sprockets, yet?
dave
G_McFly wrote:
> Thank you all for suggestions. I would have had a resolution on this
> sooner, but the annoy thing called work got in the way. Oh well, need some
> way to afford the stuff I want.
>
> As the story goes, I called up the 800 customer service number to see what
> they could do. They in turn called the regional manager, who in turn called
> the service center. The service center wanted another crack at fixing my
> planer, so I took it back in (another delightful 40 mile drive). They got
> the sprocket replaced and started running 2x4s through it for testing
> purposes. The service guy was taking ~1/32" off and the planer seemed to be
> working just fine. I suggested going up to 3/32" (well within the chart on
> the front of the planer). About 4" into planing the board, snap goes the
> sprocket. I'm glad I didn't wait until I got home to start planing.
>
> The options I was then given were:
> 1) Have a new replacement machine sent to the service center (time ~1
> week). In the mean time, replace the sprocket on my machine, make the least
> aggressive cuts I can, and hope the sprocket doesn't break.
> 2) Wait for WoodCraft to get a replacement machine with the same interim
> solution (time ~3 weeks).
> 3) Take another machine that was slightly used (returned due to snipe
> problem; however, it was most likely PEBMAF*)
>
> I went with option 3. Before I did however, I made sure that the blades
> were in excellent condition and that the machine wasn't used very much. I
> also made sure that the machine could plane the 3/32" without snapping the
> sprocket.
>
> While I was waiting for the planer to be repaired, I was talking to the
> manager of the service center and learned a couple things:
> First, the stuff they sell at the service center is list price. They
> can/will give a discount, if you ask.
> Second, the service center manager and the regional manager acknowledged
> that there was a problem with how they were dealing with this issue and with
> how things were being stocked (e.g. my region and another region were have
> stocking problems with the sprocket, but other regions were not). I don't
> know what changes will occur, if any, because of this, but at least they
> realize that there is a problem. I did let the service center manager know
> about my posting to a news group and that a lot of people weren't pleased
> with DeWalt's actions.
>
> In the end, I ended up with a working planer and a hope that problems like
> this won't follow the same path to resolution. Oh, and a small gloat. I
> got free in/out feed tables. I had the choice between replacement knives or
> the tables, but I figured I could talk SWMBO out of money for knives a lot
> more easily than I could talk her out of money for tables.
>
> *Problem Exists Between Machine And Floor
>
>
1/32 passes WOW! that rocks..I bet Dewalt changes the specs to that depth of
cut to fix the problem....
Like I said in part one. I worked the Dewalt to it's limits and didn't get
it repaired (at my expense) till I replaced rollers bushings chains etc...
I now have a General International 15" 3 horse and won't look back.
The 735 while when working does a nice job but for only a little more there
are certainly better machines available.
EJ
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm surpassed you took option 3 unless it included an agreement from
> DeWalt to replace the used unit ASAP with a NEW unit shipped directly to
> your home. Hope the one you have continues to work without incident.
> Have you had any snipe with that one? What kind of material is the
> sprocket made from, pot metal? I take it DeWALT hasn't mentioned their
> final solution for all these broken sprockets, yet?
>
> dave
>
> G_McFly wrote:
>
> > Thank you all for suggestions. I would have had a resolution on this
> > sooner, but the annoy thing called work got in the way. Oh well, need
some
> > way to afford the stuff I want.
> >
> > As the story goes, I called up the 800 customer service number to see
what
> > they could do. They in turn called the regional manager, who in turn
called
> > the service center. The service center wanted another crack at fixing
my
> > planer, so I took it back in (another delightful 40 mile drive). They
got
> > the sprocket replaced and started running 2x4s through it for testing
> > purposes. The service guy was taking ~1/32" off and the planer seemed
to be
> > working just fine. I suggested going up to 3/32" (well within the chart
on
> > the front of the planer). About 4" into planing the board, snap goes
the
> > sprocket. I'm glad I didn't wait until I got home to start planing.
> >
> > The options I was then given were:
> > 1) Have a new replacement machine sent to the service center (time
~1
> > week). In the mean time, replace the sprocket on my machine, make the
least
> > aggressive cuts I can, and hope the sprocket doesn't break.
> > 2) Wait for WoodCraft to get a replacement machine with the same
interim
> > solution (time ~3 weeks).
> > 3) Take another machine that was slightly used (returned due to
snipe
> > problem; however, it was most likely PEBMAF*)
> >
> > I went with option 3. Before I did however, I made sure that the blades
> > were in excellent condition and that the machine wasn't used very much.
I
> > also made sure that the machine could plane the 3/32" without snapping
the
> > sprocket.
> >
> > While I was waiting for the planer to be repaired, I was talking to the
> > manager of the service center and learned a couple things:
> > First, the stuff they sell at the service center is list price.
They
> > can/will give a discount, if you ask.
> > Second, the service center manager and the regional manager
acknowledged
> > that there was a problem with how they were dealing with this issue and
with
> > how things were being stocked (e.g. my region and another region were
have
> > stocking problems with the sprocket, but other regions were not). I
don't
> > know what changes will occur, if any, because of this, but at least they
> > realize that there is a problem. I did let the service center manager
know
> > about my posting to a news group and that a lot of people weren't
pleased
> > with DeWalt's actions.
> >
> > In the end, I ended up with a working planer and a hope that problems
like
> > this won't follow the same path to resolution. Oh, and a small gloat.
I
> > got free in/out feed tables. I had the choice between replacement
knives or
> > the tables, but I figured I could talk SWMBO out of money for knives a
lot
> > more easily than I could talk her out of money for tables.
> >
> > *Problem Exists Between Machine And Floor
> >
> >
>
You are making me happier with my 733 than I've been since I saw the 735
at the San Mateo WW show.
dave
Eric Johnson wrote:
> 1/32 passes WOW! that rocks..I bet Dewalt changes the specs to that depth of
> cut to fix the problem....
> Like I said in part one. I worked the Dewalt to it's limits and didn't get
> it repaired (at my expense) till I replaced rollers bushings chains etc...
> I now have a General International 15" 3 horse and won't look back.
> The 735 while when working does a nice job but for only a little more there
> are certainly better machines available.
>
> EJ
>
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I'm surpassed you took option 3 unless it included an agreement from
>>DeWalt to replace the used unit ASAP with a NEW unit shipped directly to
>>your home. Hope the one you have continues to work without incident.
>>Have you had any snipe with that one? What kind of material is the
>>sprocket made from, pot metal? I take it DeWALT hasn't mentioned their
>>final solution for all these broken sprockets, yet?
>>
>>dave
>>
>>G_McFly wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Thank you all for suggestions. I would have had a resolution on this
>>>sooner, but the annoy thing called work got in the way. Oh well, need
>
> some
>
>>>way to afford the stuff I want.
>>>
>>>As the story goes, I called up the 800 customer service number to see
>
> what
>
>>>they could do. They in turn called the regional manager, who in turn
>
> called
>
>>>the service center. The service center wanted another crack at fixing
>
> my
>
>>>planer, so I took it back in (another delightful 40 mile drive). They
>
> got
>
>>>the sprocket replaced and started running 2x4s through it for testing
>>>purposes. The service guy was taking ~1/32" off and the planer seemed
>
> to be
>
>>>working just fine. I suggested going up to 3/32" (well within the chart
>
> on
>
>>>the front of the planer). About 4" into planing the board, snap goes
>
> the
>
>>>sprocket. I'm glad I didn't wait until I got home to start planing.
>>>
>>>The options I was then given were:
>>> 1) Have a new replacement machine sent to the service center (time
>
> ~1
>
>>>week). In the mean time, replace the sprocket on my machine, make the
>
> least
>
>>>aggressive cuts I can, and hope the sprocket doesn't break.
>>> 2) Wait for WoodCraft to get a replacement machine with the same
>
> interim
>
>>>solution (time ~3 weeks).
>>> 3) Take another machine that was slightly used (returned due to
>
> snipe
>
>>>problem; however, it was most likely PEBMAF*)
>>>
>>>I went with option 3. Before I did however, I made sure that the blades
>>>were in excellent condition and that the machine wasn't used very much.
>
> I
>
>>>also made sure that the machine could plane the 3/32" without snapping
>
> the
>
>>>sprocket.
>>>
>>>While I was waiting for the planer to be repaired, I was talking to the
>>>manager of the service center and learned a couple things:
>>> First, the stuff they sell at the service center is list price.
>
> They
>
>>>can/will give a discount, if you ask.
>>> Second, the service center manager and the regional manager
>
> acknowledged
>
>>>that there was a problem with how they were dealing with this issue and
>
> with
>
>>>how things were being stocked (e.g. my region and another region were
>
> have
>
>>>stocking problems with the sprocket, but other regions were not). I
>
> don't
>
>>>know what changes will occur, if any, because of this, but at least they
>>>realize that there is a problem. I did let the service center manager
>
> know
>
>>>about my posting to a news group and that a lot of people weren't
>
> pleased
>
>>>with DeWalt's actions.
>>>
>>>In the end, I ended up with a working planer and a hope that problems
>
> like
>
>>>this won't follow the same path to resolution. Oh, and a small gloat.
>
> I
>
>>>got free in/out feed tables. I had the choice between replacement
>
> knives or
>
>>>the tables, but I figured I could talk SWMBO out of money for knives a
>
> lot
>
>>>more easily than I could talk her out of money for tables.
>>>
>>>*Problem Exists Between Machine And Floor
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>