Gazzar Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 I didn't try that, I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 I just had the contactor in mine die, I'd be looking at the start cap & contactor & checking the wiring before spending out on a motor. Machine mart sell universal-fit motors, Brook Compton or Parvalux make the pukka stuff but it'll be pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 Thanks everyone. Well, I finished the piece. A series three gearbox input pinion cover plate seal press tool. The seal is put in the 'wrong' way around, and so is easily damaged. I spun the motor by hand then started it. That worked, even if the lathe wasn't actually turning when I started it. What's a contactor? Is that the switch on the saddle? And where do I get a decent capacitor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 Start caps can be had on ebay, I've had to replace a few over the years. The value isn't super critical if you can't find any numbers on the original. I think Fridge means the centrifugal contactor inside the motor which cuts the cap out of the circuit once the motor is going. Its not always easy to get to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted August 25, 2019 Author Share Posted August 25, 2019 I'm not sure I want to go that far into the motor, but if it's an easy thing..................... I'll get eldest to strip the cap from the motor. He wants to be an electrical engineer, so it's about time he learned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 No I meant the big relay that goes "clunk" when you hit the start button, mine also had an overload device fitted which is what I think had failed... but if your motor will run when you spin it by hand I'd suspect the start cap. Should have some values printed on it somewhere that you can match but as LoFi says it's not super critical and there's guidelines based on motor size/power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 Mine has a lever, that operates the drum switch. It could be contributing, so I'll add that to the list...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 TEC make decent inexpensive motors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted August 28, 2019 Author Share Posted August 28, 2019 Thank you, I'll investigate the start cap this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 And? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted October 18, 2019 Author Share Posted October 18, 2019 I've a new cap, and hope to fit on Sunday. Eldest is studying electrics at uni, so I might "give him a learning opportunity" when he's home this weekend. I might explore the work to reverse the motor on the drum switch, if he's up to it. I've also bought a boring bar. Chinese, but should be good for my needs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 New cap is in, and it runs, occasionally. On low rpm it usually starts. Medium or can start, but it can trip the motor trip on the capacitor box. It can run on high, but usually not. It's never tripped the consumer unit. What I've noticed is that it hesitates on startup, I don't know if that's the motor, or the lathe, but the lathe spins freely enough when in top speed. I don't know, I think a good quality motor would solve all these problems. VID_20191020_110332.mp4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Hard to tell from such a short clip, but sounds like one set of windings is not properly energised. Double check your wiring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 I'll think I'll have to learn more about motors first! Something to do on the bus to work, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Thanks, that's enough of a hint to get me in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Before you strip the motor or spend time/money on it... bypass the contactor (wire motor direct to mains) and see if that works - if it's still weak, it's the motor. If not, it's the contactor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Good call. My lathe motor used to make that kind of noise with the bodged reverse switch it came with. This consisted of two rocker switches ganged together by a glued on piece of plastic. The plastic fell off, leaving the switches to be moved independently. Well you've got to see what happens, right? Janky, erratic running is what happens. I've since replaced with a proper (vintage) drum contactor, for which I've still got the wiring diagram if it'll help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 If you could, that might help. I've been meaning to disassemble that drum switch anyway, as part of the plan to get reverse working. No rush, it will be ages before I get back to this. Too many projects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 I know the feeling! I just bought a Bridgeport Mill My little Myford ML10 lathe is looking somewhat inadequate sat next to it. I'll grab scans of the drawings next time I'm in the workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 I get the impression it's the motor, but as Fridge says, wire direct to test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 I'm getting back to this, as i want to get this completed. The motor is off the machine, so I'll wire it direct to see what it does. But if it runs badly I'll just get a new unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 Well, that's odd. I hooked up the motor, off the machine. And it's running fine with no load. So, I've reinstalled it. Heavy brute. And I can run the lathe in all of the slower speeds, 7 out of twelve. Anything higher and it either needs a spin of the chuck to start or trips out the power. I think that will do for my level of messing about. Once I've a bit of clear time, I'll do more work on this, as is like the machine to be fully functional, including reverse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted December 19, 2022 Author Share Posted December 19, 2022 Not been doing much on the lathe recently, but when I did, it didn't start in any gear. So, when I saw a 3kw 4 pole motor on eBay for not a lot of money, I bought it. And a decrepit box arrived today. I wasn't disappointed, the casing had been broken in transit. Let's see how good the seller really is.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share Posted December 20, 2022 The feet demount, so I hope they can send a new piece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 That's a pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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