Question on Byrd heads for planer

[Anthony Whitesell]

I had one on my Dewalt 735 shatter for no reason. Didnt abuse it or hit a knot/metal. I think sometimes the carbide just wasnt cast very well. That was one cracked in 2 years of very heavy use. I would guess you could over torque them and cause a crack, but I would imagine by the time you hit that level of torque the bolt would probably strip.

I would agree on over torque causing it to crack. I work with a lot of white pine, so knots are unavoidble (hence the change to the segmented knives). I suppose it could have failed. That is probably equally like as the one that broke is the one of the 36-38 cutters on that side of the head and this being the one I removed and reinstalled. Killing me that I don't have any screws on hand to get back to work. No one has torx plus screws on hand locally and the specs are just slightly better on the torx plus over the standard hex head. I'm not willing to take the chance with a substitute. So I will wait for them to arrive.

[John Lanciani]

Take the last insert in a row off and use that screw until the replacements arrive if you really need to get back to work.

[Earl McLain]

Take the last insert in a row off and use that screw until the replacements arrive if you really need to get back to work.

Comments like this that should be obvious things to do, and i just don't get it--make my "contributor" contribution worth every penny. I haven't been in the OP's position, but John's temporary fix is now in my memory banks. Thanks John!!

[Anthony Whitesell]

Comments like this that should be obvious things to do, and i just don't get it--make my "contributor" contribution worth every penny. I haven't been in the OP's position, but John's temporary fix is now in my memory banks. Thanks John!!

Somewhat obvious. I thought about it before it was posted. I was (am) worried about balance, throuwing the balance off with one cutter and screw missing. Doesn't seem like a lot of weight, but at that RPM, who knows. Sure the weights on you car's wheels are only slightly larger and the tire mass much larger but they are spinning as fast either. All I don't need is to make the situation worse.

[John Lanciani]

Somewhat obvious. I thought about it before it was posted. I was (am) worried about balance, throuwing the balance off with one cutter and screw missing. Doesn't seem like a lot of weight, but at that RPM, who knows. Sure the weights on you car's wheels are only slightly larger and the tire mass much larger but they are spinning as fast either. All I don't need is to make the situation worse.

I don't think there would be any real balance issue but you could always take the last insert out of every row to maintain balance if the machine showed excess vibration with one insert removed. I guess it depends on how important it is to get back to work vs. waiting for screws to arrive.

[Anthony Whitesell]

I don't think there would be any real balance issue but you could always take the last insert out of every row to maintain balance if the machine showed excess vibration with one insert removed. I guess it depends on how important it is to get back to work vs. waiting for screws to arrive.

That is also true and obvious. Didn't think of it. I would have done that too. Guess my mind was blown (a) with the broken insert and (b) the fact that it might be the one I removed and didn't put it back on correctly.

[John Lanciani]

Just a question, what specific tool are you using for torqueing the inserts? 45 in/lbs is essentially only screwdriver tight.

[Anthony Whitesell]

Just a question, what specific tool are you using for torqueing the inserts? 45 in/lbs is essentially only screwdriver tight.

I have two choices. Both 1/4" drive, a swing arm torque wrench and a break over torque wrench, both read in inch-pounds. I usually grab the latter.

[Bill Dufour]

AFAIK all insert screws are metric. What. is the designation of the inserts? Of course wood working folks seem to ignore common practice.
Bill D

[Anthony Whitesell]

AFAIK all insert screws are metric. What. is the designation of the inserts? Of course wood working folks seem to ignore common practice.
Bill D

It is a Byrd head that uses the KN400 inserts. As Robert mentioned in post #2, Byrd and Grizzly sell 10-32 replacement screws for the head. I would think they are 10-32.