Need help with HF lathe repair(motor)

[AAJIII]

I have this lathe, which has been very good to me until now.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...unction=Search

The motor will not turn anymore. Some time it will just rock back and forth or try to go backwards, but mostly it just hums.

So it seems I will have to get the motor repaired.

The problem is I can't seem to figure out how to remove the belt from the pulley.

It is a variable speed which is done by adjusting the width of the pulleys.

Thank you


Al

[ke4rdb]

If you have the product manual for this lathe, it has a scematic (sic) drawing showing how the reeves drive pullys come off. If you don't have it, you can download of the HF website or give me a shout and I can send you a pdf.

James

[LCHIEN]

B4 you take it all apart, it sounds to me like the starter capacitor or centrifugal starter switch may be bad.

can you give it a push (in the right direction) and make it run? if it runs its almost assuredly the capacitor is bad.
The starter capacitor is usually in a bolt-on hump on the side of the motor. The centrifugal switch is usually on the end of the shaft.

[wan2fly]

Or maybe

I've notice that every motorized HF item comes with an extra set of motor brushes. I'm thinking that if you have them, try replacing them and cleaning up the commutator with a pink pencil eraser. It is a free first thing to try.

[garymuto]

I have a variable speed lathe. The instructions state that it must be started in the low spped setting or the motor may fail to turn. are you by chance trying to start the lathe at the high speed?

[AAJIII]

Thank you for the replies.

James: I have the manual but it does not detail how to remove the belt.
Was able to just slip it off.

Lchien: It would not start with a push, did not try the switch.
Already took the motor for repair.

wan2fly: no extra brushes with this motor.

Gary: No it was set at the lowest speed.

Took the motor for repair, I'll know tomorrow what the problem is.

Thanks for all of the quick replies.

Al

[dale]

Well?

What did they say about the motor? I think I'm having a similar problem--when I try to start the lathe it just hums. I've tried giving it a spin, but that doesn't do the trick.

[AAJIII]

motor repair

Dale,

According to the repair shop the motor was full of sawdust and needed a good cleaning. The motor worked ok when I got it back but started acting up again a couple of weeks later.

As I was removing the motor I pulled the rear cover off and found the centrifugal switch loose. I re adjusted it and now the lathe is running like new.

AL

PS: which lathe do you have?

[garymuto]

Thanks for the post. It will probably help me save a lot of time and frustration in the future.

[dbhost]

Which model lathe is it? The link is dead now...

[dale]

Good To Know

Thanks for the info. I'll have to take a look just as soon as I get a chance.

Unless the model numbers have changed, I have this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34706

It's worked great until mid-pen Sunday. I've never set the speed back to the lowest setting except maybe the very first time I turned it on. Don't know if that really makes a difference or not.