LATHE IS DEAD!!!!!!
LATHE IS DEAD!!!!!!
New lathe 2 months old and I think the motor is on it's way out. I was using it about a week ago and went into the house for supper. Went back to the shop and the dam thing would not start unless I spun the clutch by hand. Motor spins freely with the belts off but not on. Tested the start copasatator and it's good, next I pulled the motor apart to check the contact or points and they look fine. Any idea's out there.
It is a 12x36 gear head lathe Brand name Force made for House of Tools in Canada. Similar to PM 1236 or King Tools lathes. Looks like what every company carries just with there own name on them.
I have been on the phone with the Tech guy but he is 9 hrs away. I can get another motor if that's the problem but would like to figure this one out in the meantime just so I could finish some jobs. I am pretty sure I could hold the pullies with the belts off and the motor would not spin.
It is a 12x36 gear head lathe Brand name Force made for House of Tools in Canada. Similar to PM 1236 or King Tools lathes. Looks like what every company carries just with there own name on them.
I have been on the phone with the Tech guy but he is 9 hrs away. I can get another motor if that's the problem but would like to figure this one out in the meantime just so I could finish some jobs. I am pretty sure I could hold the pullies with the belts off and the motor would not spin.
- Bill Wilkins
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:59 pm
- Location: Northwestern Ohio
Lathe Caput
How did you test the capacitor ? It should not have a short or continuity thru it. If the motor runs after you spin it up, chances are it may be the start cap. I had a new import that did the same thing. Bought new caps, problem solved. Sometimes foriegn caps are not good quality.
- Bill Shields
- Posts: 10545
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
- Location: 39.367, -75.765
- Contact:
Testing
As Bill suggested, for a couple of $$ you can replace the CAP. HVAC guys carry spares around with them on alligator clips, that should be close enough to try.
Also, even though the switch may look good, is the starter coil functional?
It may be open inside the motor, in which case it's new-motor-city anyway. You can check it for continunity with an ohm meter easy enough.
Also, even though the switch may look good, is the starter coil functional?
It may be open inside the motor, in which case it's new-motor-city anyway. You can check it for continunity with an ohm meter easy enough.
Took the cap off and brought it to a guy that rewinds electric motor and he tested it. . It will only turn the lathe over with a spin of the chuck if it is 300 rpm or lower. Did a load test when it was running . Spiked to 35 amps and dropped to 6.6 amps . My neighbor and I were also thinking it might be the starter winding inside the motor. I am fed up messing with this thing. They can send me a new motor . It's bad enough that I have to do my own warranty work. That's the whole reason I bought new was for warranty but they don't have anybody close by to do repairs so I have to do it myself.. I have 10 sleds in my garage that are going to pay me money to get fixed. House of tools is not paying me squat.
- steamin10
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 11:52 pm
- Location: NW Indiana. Close to Lake Michigan S. tip
My experience with Chinesee Motors is they are designed by terrorists, ( to explode with no notice) Assembled by goobers, with stone hammers, and are generally best used for keeping your bass boat in one spot on a pond. (Keep the rope cheap).
WEG motors is another brand I find is a waste of materials. Spend the money at a surplus shop, or a motor wind shop for a 1750 motor, , and you will be far ahead. Use the same frame # and make it a closed motor please. no chips no hassle.
I have 2nd hand motors all over the place from the 50's on up, Sears, Marathon, (cheap), Dayton, and they do not give me any pause. 1 drop of motor oil per bearing per year, No failures. ( Well only one, I left my portable aircompressor in the grass for a month, it rained, the switch card came apart, Duh-uh. Not the motors fault.)
WEG motors is another brand I find is a waste of materials. Spend the money at a surplus shop, or a motor wind shop for a 1750 motor, , and you will be far ahead. Use the same frame # and make it a closed motor please. no chips no hassle.
I have 2nd hand motors all over the place from the 50's on up, Sears, Marathon, (cheap), Dayton, and they do not give me any pause. 1 drop of motor oil per bearing per year, No failures. ( Well only one, I left my portable aircompressor in the grass for a month, it rained, the switch card came apart, Duh-uh. Not the motors fault.)
Big Dave, former Millwright, Electrician, Environmental conditioning, and back yard Fixxit guy. Now retired, persuing boats, trains, and broken relics.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
- steamin10
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 11:52 pm
- Location: NW Indiana. Close to Lake Michigan S. tip
Ya, BUT.... Did you get what you asked for? Paid a lot af money for new paint and a hunnerd dollar headache, over a motor...
Not my cup of sunshine there.
Not my cup of sunshine there.
Big Dave, former Millwright, Electrician, Environmental conditioning, and back yard Fixxit guy. Now retired, persuing boats, trains, and broken relics.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
I would say I got what I asked for. As for a $100 dollar motor. I wish. Here is Canada not a chance. I searched for 2 years for a used lathe and all I could find was old Atlas lathes with a crap load of pully's and belts. Being new to this hobby I didn't want to start there. I found lots in the states but the closest was at least a 20 hr drive. I had one used one lined up and promised to hold it for 2 days so I could line up someone to pick it up as it was in another province and he sold it on me that night. That was the last time I looked for used. What you guys get state side I only wish I could find some gems like that up here but that is almost impossible. As for new stuff there is also very little to pick from. I believe there is three different ones that I could find. Busy Bee, House of Tools and King Canada. All carry the same lathe just a different paint job. King Canada was the most expensive and the furtherest away. House of Tools was the closest so that is who I delt with as I could go an pick it up my self. The motor is being shipped from another store in Alberta. I haven't even heard from the store in my province that I bought it from. We will see how the motor works if it solves the problem.
- steamin10
- Posts: 6712
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 11:52 pm
- Location: NW Indiana. Close to Lake Michigan S. tip
IpologizefornotrememberingthatitisdiferentawayfromChicago, especiallyinCanada.
If Chicago, (named for the Algonquin Indian Chic-a-goo plant in the lowlying lakeshore, or Skunk cabbage) is in the Heartland of America, the Calumet area, called 'The Region' is the armpit. If you cant find it around here, it doesnt exist. it is the only good thing about living next to a supercity.
Around here small motors are plentiful like field mice, 1/4 to 1 horse, used, in most big yard sales around here. I buy them when I find them, usually for $20 or less.
I started with a borrowed lathe that I kept for 11 years. An 11 inch SouthBend, with the overhead gearbox added on, like a spider looking at you. Cut my first wheels on that thing, and it still runs today, with its owner.
Keep us posted on your new exploding motor.
If Chicago, (named for the Algonquin Indian Chic-a-goo plant in the lowlying lakeshore, or Skunk cabbage) is in the Heartland of America, the Calumet area, called 'The Region' is the armpit. If you cant find it around here, it doesnt exist. it is the only good thing about living next to a supercity.
Around here small motors are plentiful like field mice, 1/4 to 1 horse, used, in most big yard sales around here. I buy them when I find them, usually for $20 or less.
I started with a borrowed lathe that I kept for 11 years. An 11 inch SouthBend, with the overhead gearbox added on, like a spider looking at you. Cut my first wheels on that thing, and it still runs today, with its owner.
Keep us posted on your new exploding motor.
Big Dave, former Millwright, Electrician, Environmental conditioning, and back yard Fixxit guy. Now retired, persuing boats, trains, and broken relics.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart. My computer beat me at chess, but not kickboxing
It is not getting caught in the rain, its learning to dance in it. People saying good morning, should have to prove it.
- Bill Shields
- Posts: 10545
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
- Location: 39.367, -75.765
- Contact:
Calumet
HEY - My father was born in Calumet...
Of course, the family had enough good sense to get out by the time he was 2, but still....use UP'er land for sure.
In partial defense to some Chinese motors, I have a lathe and a mill, both purchased around 1980, with the original Chinese motors on them, still running strong - granted, they have a lot of slip under load, but I am not critical about spndle speeds.
I had my doubts also, so I purchased one spare in 1983 (still has the shipping tag) - that has been sitting ever since.
Guess it was a good investment.
Of course, the family had enough good sense to get out by the time he was 2, but still....use UP'er land for sure.
In partial defense to some Chinese motors, I have a lathe and a mill, both purchased around 1980, with the original Chinese motors on them, still running strong - granted, they have a lot of slip under load, but I am not critical about spndle speeds.
I had my doubts also, so I purchased one spare in 1983 (still has the shipping tag) - that has been sitting ever since.
Guess it was a good investment.
Had exactly the same problem with my 13x40 Grizz awhile back.
It just woud'nt take off. I could spin the chuck by hand and it would start up. Eventually it just quit. I got one of my electrician friends and explained it to him.
It was some kindo start thingy that cost a total of 11 dollars. We went to an electric motor rebuild shop in town, brought the thing with us, and the guy had one just like it in stock, exept it was American made. Apparently the thing "dried out" and he said it was a pretty common occurence.
Hooked it up to the two leads, closed the cabinet and its been running like a scalded dog ever since.
It just woud'nt take off. I could spin the chuck by hand and it would start up. Eventually it just quit. I got one of my electrician friends and explained it to him.
It was some kindo start thingy that cost a total of 11 dollars. We went to an electric motor rebuild shop in town, brought the thing with us, and the guy had one just like it in stock, exept it was American made. Apparently the thing "dried out" and he said it was a pretty common occurence.
Hooked it up to the two leads, closed the cabinet and its been running like a scalded dog ever since.
Bob