HF 2HP dust collector problem

[Dashiell]

I've waited forever it seems to get a dust collector. I finally sprang for the 127 special. I got it home, assembled, and I used it for one day without a problem. Next time I tried to use it again, the motor won't even spin the impeller. It just oscillates back and forth for 10 seconds and then trips a 20 amp breaker. Ocassionally it would rotate the impeller slowly, but no where near fast enough to work. I didn't even have enough dust in the bag to cover the bottom. Now I have to disassemble the whole thing and take it back to Harbor Freight. What a pain. Anyone else have the same problem with these? I'm hoping it's an isolated problem.

Thanks,
David

[sweensdv]

Unplug the DC and try spinning the impeller by hand. If it doesn't spin freely, you might have a wood chip jammed up in there or you just got a bad motor.

[LCHIEN]

it sounds to me like a starting capacitor/switch problem, probably the centrifugal switch. There's a thread where someone had this problem and got the switch unstuck and it worked.

[MBG]

it sounds to me like a starting capacitor/switch problem, probably the centrifugal switch. There's a thread where someone had this problem and got the switch unstuck and it worked.

I think someone found loose wires on the start cap also - worth a check.

[AlanWS]

HF will take back and exchange parts. If you bring back the motor, they will take one off a different unit for exchange. At least my local HF does that -- you could call first and ask. Or, if you can transport it, you could could return the defective one fully assembled.

[lago]

I tried to start my up right after I assembled and it wouldn't start. Called HF and they let me bring just the motor in and took a new one from stock. I had them start it up a few times just to make sure it was working.