Brought the Planer Home/Testing A Motor

[crokett]

I brought the planer home today. Forgot my camera and cell phone pics didn't come out well.

Here's a link to info I found on it:
http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=618&tab=0

There are pictures there of pubs from 1941 that show basically the same planer. Mine has a =Craftsman label on it though.

The guy giving it away said the motor is blown but doesn't have details on what is broke. The motor will run at 110 or 220. Assuming I wanted to test the windings, would it be as simple as wiring for 110, then seeing if there is current across the two leads? I figured to start there - if those are shot then it is not something I can fix myself and I'd either replace or let a repair shop do the rest. What else can I test? I didn't see a start cap on the outside of the motor.

[just started]

First thing you want to do is ohm out the windings to check for shorts or opens. If there is no external cap there might be one inside the housing at one end or a flat cap in the mount. If that all checks out AND the motor spins freely with no untoward sounds, then you could wire it to power and see what happens, but be ready to kill the power quickly if you see or smell smoke. If you just hear a hum try spinning by hand to see if that gets it running. If none of that works it's time for a tear-down and internal inspection, starting with the brushes and associated wiring.

[LCHIEN]

first thing to do is see if you have an induction motor or a universal motor.
An induction motor will have a start cap(acitor) but no brushes. A universal motor will have brushes but no start cap.
You can check for but won't find both a start cap and brushes.
If you state its wireable for 110 or 220 then most likely its an induction motor BUT most thickness planers are made with universal motors NOWADAYS but I don't know about 60 years ago.

[Tom Slick]

one quick method of testing a motor is to see if there is continuity between the ground/anything metal and any of the leads. If any of the windings burned/shorted you'll have continuity.
passing this test doesn't mean the motor is good, but it quickly tells you if it is bad.

[crokett]

Thanks guys. Thread is bookmarked. The pllaner is at my folks house - that is where it will live. I will get the motor and bring it home and then go from there.

[DUD]

David

I have a Parks planer, it works great. Bill

[crokett]

Good to hear that Bill. You may be getting a PM from me at some point.