Jet Mini Lathe Motor

I'd suggest a little more trouble shooting

Dick Coers

Those lathes are known for spindle bearings going out, and motors that run hot. So I'd take the belt off the pulley and give the spindle a spin. I just have a feeling that the bearings may be failing and putting extra load on the motor. The bearings are easy to change, and if you've never replaced them, it would be good maintenance anyway. I've never heard of a motor upgrade being done on them.

Re: I'd suggest a little more trouble shooting

Carl Cooksey

Sorry, I left that out took the belt off and it's the motor.

Re: I'd suggest a little more trouble shooting

Dave Paine

Since you mentioned a sound getting louder, could be the bearings in the motor. If a bearing started to go it would put a load on the motor and eventually cause it to slow down.

Should be straightforward to remove the ends from the motor and then see if the bearings are the problem. Replacement bearings should not be expensive.

The smell was likely some plastic/insulation getting soft. May not be toast, but once the motor is apart look for any burned locations.

Did the handwheel get tightened?

John Kaner

Carl, The hand wheel is the "nut" on that side of the spindle. There are two set screws, try loosening them and back off the hand wheel. The set screws sometimes need to be "dressed", they push against the spindle and can cause slippage and tightening of the hand wheel. The end of the set screw gets flattened by trying to hold a round shaft. Dressing on the grinder returns the point.

This is what I had as well, really hot motor and the noise! When this happened to me, I was told to remove the motor. I did and it was fine. Then I was told not to over tighten the hand wheel.

Hope this helps, my Jet mini is over 15 years old, thousands of turnings, same bearings...

Re: I'd suggest a little more trouble shooting

Bill Turpin in WNC mountains

Scratch indexing marks at each end before taking motor apart. Make the marks different on each end. Lining up the winding holes, bolts, and end bells can be difficult without these marks. When installing new bearings, DO NOT STRESS THE ROLLERS OR BALLS in the bearings. Push only on the inner or outer race that is under stress. An assortment of deep wall sockets is helpful with this. While tightening the bolts, do both or all evenly while spinning the rotor.

Re: Jet Mini Lathe Motor - Any Update?

Re: Jet Mini Lathe Motor - Any Update?

Carl Cooksey

I think the hand wheel was too tight from the beginning and that made the motor go bad. The hand wheel was too tight but the set screws were tight and had not moved. I took the motor all the way off the bearings seem fine and it's not very load but it got hot with no load very fast so I think there is something wrong with the windings of the motor. I found a kit from Penn State that is DC and variable speed for $119 so I'm going to get that. Sorry it took me so long to reply I was dealing with the snow. I really want to thank you for telling me to look there because I would not have checked that.

Re: Jet Mini Lathe Motor - Any Update?

John Kaner

Tough luck there. Luckily I caught mine in time. The Penn state unit looks good. Everything you need in a package.

Better read the reviews

Dick Coers

I have yet to read about someone who likes that kit. Always complaints of low power.

Re: Better read the reviews

Bill Turpin in WNC mountains

I did the Pennstate motor upgrade on a Fische mini lathe about five years ago. I tried to stall it by grabbing a 2" diameter wood disc with leather gloves on. I won't try that again! I turned a 8" diameter red maple bowl with a 5/8" bowl gouge...I slowed it but never stalled it. If you decide to try the conversion be sure you turn the centering spindles before you start. Very pleased with the kit. This is a mini lathe kit not a PM3520. Be reasonable about power. Turn what minis are designed for, not 100# chunks of hard maple.

Well, now I've read one

Dick Coers

So I stand corrected. You're lucky you still have all your fingers Bill! Not sure I've ever read of anyone grabbing a spinning disc with a gloved hand either. So one for a positive review, and one for gloved hand. But for many, when you have a lathe with 10" capacity, they expect to be able to turn up to that diameter. I'm certain I would never try that 100 pound block you mentioned!