Gunsmithing My lathe died...

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Beef_Supreme

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 11, 2011
438
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49
VA
#1
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'I broke and you suck!'- the lathe.

So once before the lathe would 'kind of start' i.e. juice would flow, it would hum and the chcuk would barely move. I could grab it and manually spin it and get it going.

Took the motor to a motor rebuild place and they said a capacitor blew, put a new one in and bam, ran like a champ.

Yesterday, went in- same story, except this time I could spin it and no matter what it wouldn't go. Haven't heard yet what's up......I suspect the capacitor again.

I'm not an electromatician......... any ideas what might be causing this? 3 year old Grizzly, belt drive, back gear tool room lathe, 12x36. No I don't know the number off of it and no I don't think they even make it anymore.

Getting ready to upgrade, but I need this one to run for the moment- 4 jobs to get done by monday.

Ideas?
 
#3
Re: My lathe died...

Upgrade motors?

If you understand a little about motors, there are some fantastic deals on used high quality American built electric motors...........scrap metal prices.

Or you can just buy one out of the Grainger catalog, but they are not cheap.
 
#6
Re: My lathe died...

I have a similar lathe and had a similar issue. The cap blew up, I replaced it and got back running. later on I was having a slow startup and had to manually spin the chuck to get it going. I pulled the motor and took it to a local shop. I paied to have the motor torn down and inspected. They tell me the cyntrifigual contacts are worn and they cant find replacements. $900 for a baldor motor.
I decide to try to source one myself first. if not able to a new motor from the lathe supplier was $390. I go to pick up the motor and they broke the cap. I point out it is cracked and they tell me I brought it in that way. Oh really? A few choice words later I am on my way home. I used a point file to clean the contacts very lightly, reassembled the motor, and it has been running 2 years even with a cracked housing on the cap.
Might be worth a look to pull the back cap on the motor and check the contacts. They look like points contacts on an old car. There is a simple cyntrifigual unit that lets the contacts touch when the motor is off so power goes thru the cap. once the motor spins up the cyn. unit pulls the contacts apart taking the cap out of the loop.
 
#8
Re: My lathe died...

I appreciate all the input. The motor place called and told my wife one of the wires going to one of the capacitors broke off (Shitty Soldering?) and she could pick it up.
So when I get home Friday I will reinstall it, and hopefully get it going- then thoroughly clean it, photograph it and sell it.

Now....time to decide what to replace it with.
 
#9
Re: My lathe died...

If that doesn't work make sure you check the voltage on every leg at the motor. Check em to ground then to each other.
 
#11
Re: My lathe died...

I have blown a couple caps on my chinese lathe motor. Finally got one way over rated and its held for a bit. Eventually I want to put a 3ph 1 horse motor on it and run a VFD. I put a VFD on the mill and it was worth every penny. Especially if you have to change pulleys to change speed. But just be sure to get one that can handle a good braking resistor so that you can set the spindle to stop nearly instantly when you hit the kill switch.
 
#12
Re: My lathe died...

Update.
"F**K NO GUNSMITH!" - The Lathe.

I reinstalled the motor, hooked it all back up- BAM!
Nothing.
There is a switch inside the box, with a reset on it (KM1 I think?) Again- I'm Smiff- not a Dr.

When I push the left pole, nothing but a blue flash, push the right and the motor fires right and it runs, as long as I hold it in.....Probably not a good idea. Going to see if I can get that piece of the box and give that a shot........

Lathe shopping.
 
#14
Re: My lathe died...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Beef_Supreme</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Update.
"F**K NO GUNSMITH!" - The Lathe.

I reinstalled the motor, hooked it all back up- BAM!
Nothing.
There is a switch inside the box, with a reset on it (KM1 I think?) Again- I'm Smiff- not a Dr.

When I push the left pole, nothing but a blue flash, push the right and the motor fires right and it runs, as long as I hold it in.....Probably not a good idea. Going to see if I can get that piece of the box and give that a shot........

Lathe shopping. </div></div>

Just get a new motor. A whole lot cheaper than a new lathe. Got VFD and you get more, better control. I have one on my 3hp sharp knee mill and it works awesome. All the controls are low voltage so I am not actually flipping a switch with full power running to it, and I can set up the ramp up time and the spin down time (assuming I have a braking resistor). And the whole VFD is the size of 2 bricks of 22 ammo.
 
#15
Re: My lathe died...

A new motor will not solve the problem, since the motor now runs, it is the switch in the box between the bump start button and the motor.

I of course have to fix, it paid for itself the first year, and everything since has been clear moent for it. I want a better machine all the way around and my work load is getting more and more serious and it will save me time to have the bells and whistles we all get spoiled on.

When it works, it isn't as though it is a bad machine, just growing past it.

We have grown apart....and it's time she take a different route in life, it will be an amicable split.
 
#16
Re: My lathe died...

'Suck it lathe- run you hooker!'- Beef_Supreme

Got the new switch from Grizzly, got it installed and BAM! Runs like a 7 year old on Mountain Dew.

I will be honest- my wife saved the lathe from impending doom.
When she got laid off from the company she worked for, and got the 'go back to school free because we suck' package, nothing they would 'let' her take worked for her so I chose what she should go to school for.

So I chose 'Instrumentation and Calibration'- lot of medical industry work in the area for someone with those skills, and if she can't wear sexy clothes to work, the next best thing- scrubs.

Turns out they have to do a certain amount of electrolyticalization training, and she read the wiring diagram and traced to my phuq up. Doh!
It lives now...spins at the flip of a switch and I am beginning to catch up on my latheing work. Busy weekend ahead.
 
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