Fried Lathe Motor

11/27/04, 2:35 AM #1

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(
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Fried Lathe Motor

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>After 6 years of sitting idle I finally got around to doing some turning yesterday and wouldn't you just know it I cooked my favorite old electric motor. It was a old GE cast iron cased, 1/4hp, 1725 rpm'er that I bought at a flea market back in '87. This motor worked so well because the weight of it is what tensions the belt as well as spins the spindel.

So now I need another one, so I got to looking at various sites and everything has a capacitor. The ol' GE didn't have a capacitor, and I don't think that I want or need one, but thought I'd seek advice on the subject before I bought another motor. Seems that when turning there is alot of off/on action and I don't think that a capacitor would like that very much would it?

Thought I'd go to the flea market tomorrow and see if I can find a replacement. I need a 1/4-1/3 hp, 1725 rpm, with a 1/2" shaft that turns clockwise. Sounds like hunting a needle in a haystack eh?

Todd O.

Re: Fried Lathe Motor

11/27/04, 3:23 AM #2

Ernie Miller *Topeka
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Re: Fried Lathe Motor

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>1/4 sounds kinda small for a lathe that is probably why it fried shoot for 1/2 hp. do you have any salvage yards? check them out on monday if you don't find one at the flea. I have to pay the scrap price for copper when I by them plus a few cents per pound.

Re: Fried Lathe Motor

11/27/04, 12:43 PM #3

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(
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Re: Fried Lathe Motor

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>I dunno if the hp rating is really all that important as much as the rpm is. Perhaps a 1/2hp windings are just a bit heavier than the 1/4 & 1/3 hp's which would make them better able to handle heat eh?

I do think that you're onto something tho, and will look for a 1/2hp. Thanks.

If I have no luck at the flea market I'm going to look for a motor rewinding shop and see what they have for sale.

Todd O.

Re: Fried Lathe Motor

11/27/04, 2:03 PM #4

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida
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Re: Fried Lathe Motor

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Todd,

The capacitor would be there, along with an auxiliary winding, IIRC, to provide additional startup torque. I think this is sort of irrelevant on a common wood lathe, but it would not hurt. So, if you find one in the size/hp rating you need, I would go ahead and buy it.

Addy Protocol: I have no certificates to prove I know a damn thing about motors.

Fried Lathe Motor

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