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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Veritas - Innovation in Tools

Lathe Problem

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Lathe Problem

#1

Lathe Problem

Dale Bonertz

So I have to report a problem with my VL300 lathe. I was turning away and lost power then it came back and then lost power. I thought what the h**l is going on. I check the read out and it was jumping around. My rpm readout was showing 115rpm when it was off. Checked my belt tension. Turned the lathe back on and no power at all. Shoot I am going to have to report a Vicmarc problem after I have been so vocal on how great they are. Getting frustrated because I cannot find the problem and about to call Christian when I grab my hair, as one does when frustrated, and look up. Wait a minute where is my power cord. Oh look it is laying on top of my light fixture. I have it plugged into a socket that I ran on the ceiling so it wouldn't be on the floor and in the way. Surely I would trip over it and unplug it. Somehow I unplugged it half way and then when I checked the belt tension it came completely out of the socket. So I have to report a Vicmarc VL300 problem. The problem with this VL300 is it has an idiot as an owner.

Re: Lathe Problem

#2

Re: Lathe Problem

John C Lucas

Dale. I used to work for Xerox. I cant tell you how many times i would call about a problem a d discover the machine wasn,t plugged in. I moved mh grinder in my new shop and plugged it into the ceiling fixture nearby. The next day i went to use it and it wouldnt start. DUH the ceiling lights were off and that outlet is switched. The same idiot must reside in my shop

Re: Lathe Problem

#3

Re: Lathe Problem

John Kaner

A retired appliance repairman told me that was the first thing he checked. Was it plugged in?

He had about 17 pennies glued to his toolbox lid. They were found behind fuses. This was in the day of 60 amp mains on houses.

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#4

Re: Lathe Problem

John K Jordan

Welcome to the idiot's club! We are all members at one time or another. Like John L, I once puzzled over why a switched outlet didn't work. And I had wired it myself. Right after that I made "SWITCHED" and "SWITCHES OUTLETS TO RIGHT" labels for the related components.

JKJ

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#5

Re: Lathe Problem

robo hippy

Well Dale, that is one I haven't done yet.... At least not on my lathe...

robo hippy

Re: Lathe Problem

#6

Brad Vietje

Re: Lathe Problem

Brad Vietje

OY!

I've wondered why the damn tool just wouldn't cut, only to find out the lathe was in reverse!

I've had a few computer issues that can only be described by the acronym PEBKAT, which means "problem exists between keyboard and chair"

Time may heal all wounds, but stooopid seems to be permanent!

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: Lathe Problem

#7

Re: Lathe Problem

Steve Kniffen

When I was flying in the Air Force, it was not uncommon for maintenance to discover that a problem a pilot reported was actually due to "a short between the headsets".

Re: Lathe Problem

#8

Re: Lathe Problem

Barry L Elder

That's usually why manufacturers have an 800 number to call for help solving a problem! Now check to see if it's plugged in! :D

Re: Lathe Problem

#9

Ric Taylor

Re: Lathe Problem

Ric Taylor

Steve, what did you fly? I'm an Air Force flyer too.

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#10

Re: Lathe Problem

John C Lucas

I was in long range radar during my stint in the Air Force. You guys were a green dot to us. :)

Re: Lathe Problem

#11

Re: Lathe Problem

Arthur McViccar

So I too, will confess.

I have a new woodturning student, so I go over to his house for the first lesson on his brand new Delta Midi, a lathe I do not know at all.

After turning it on and running through the variable speed control, I turned it off, opened the cover panel for the pulleys and proceeded to tell him that for today we would move the belt to the middle pulley. He unplugs the lathe from the wall. I show him how to move the belt , retension it and close the cover. He plugs it back in, and the lathe won’t turn on. Unplug from the wall and try the other outlet, still nothing. He goes to look at the circuit breaker while I reach for the closest electrical item with a cord which happens to be a grinder and I plug that in and turn it on. We’ve got juice at the wall.

I put the grinder back on the bench and am standing looking at the lathe, my eye follows the cord from the lathe down to where the plug is resting on top of the vacuum and the vacuum seems to be plugged in.

Great start to the first day and really a good way to impress the student.

Re: Lathe Problem

#12

Ric Taylor

Re: Lathe Problem

Ric Taylor

John, I understand your perspective very well. We had equipment on board that detected radar from the bad guys, and there was also a lot of radar from the good guys that protected us.

On the other hand, during my other career with the FAA I spent several years in Air Traffic Control looking at green dots before moving on to Flight Standards.