renovating Powermatic 3520B *LINK*

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

David Walser

A new 3hp 3 phase motor costs less than $400 at Surplus Industrial Supply; a used one can be had for less than $200. A digital motor control (that includes variable speed control and phase converter) should cost a few hundred more. So, I think you could easily get the lathe up and running for less than $1,000. Will everything fit back in the headstock, maybe not. But, this would be a great time to move the controls to the tailstock end of the lathe.

So, you’ve got a chance at a 3520b with 50% more power for less than $1,500. I’d say that’s a deal.

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

john lucas

As long as you can get the proper motor mount that part should be easy. The controller mounts on the back so you may have to jury rig a mounting system if the screw holes don't match. Running the wires should be easy. The reason I bought my Powermatic over some other lathe was because you could do what your trying to do. When you consider the cost of a new lathe that's a lot of savings. As long as your are up to wiring everything up the go for it.

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

Don Tewell

If I were closer, I'd jump on this. Yeah, it may be a bit of work, but the price is right.

Spindle Bearings ? ? ?

Doc Green

If it got hot enough to cook the motor from the outside, that's some serious hot. So the question is, was it hot enough to bake the grease out of the spindle bearings? You will certainly have to put a new belt on it, which requires removing the spindle, so changing the bearings while the spindle is out should not be a big deal.

A 3420?

John K Jordan

I couldn't see the Facebook page but I assume there is a photo showing it is a 3520b model.

A used 3520b in good condition (and good paint) can be found for $3000, sometimes less. (Mine had the bed extension included at that price.) Could be some good deals coming up when the "c" model hits the streets.

Something sounds odd. "smoke damage and heat damage from an adjacent room fire. Motor and all electronics were destroyed. Lathe bed and headstock are ok with some smoke damage. "

How was a fire in the next room hot enough to destroy the motor and electronics but only have smoke damage to the rest?

What about the bearings, the belt, the knobs, top rubber pad, leg levelers, lubrication on all moving parts (locking levers, etc). Is the spindle in perfect shape? Are steel parts oxidized (rusted) from the heat? Were hardened steel parts affected? Does it have all the accessories in good shape (faceplate, live center, tool rest)?

I assume "all electronics" destroyed included the RPM display, switches, and wiring - will you have to rebuild those with replacement parts and at what additional expense? (Perhaps ask PM) If the fire was hot enough, I might be concerned with the bed casting - was it hot enough to warp the bed?

I know you can find a 3-phase motor and a VFD is not expensive, although it might be tricky to program without experience (but not impossible, and people will help). When I replaced one on a Jet 1642 Harvey Meyer helped me with parameters and pointers.

I'm not saying I wouldn't consider it but I'd take a close look. Assuming the castings are OK, if you have to replace the motor, VDF, all controls and display, belt, bearings, and perhaps the spindle and live center the cost may be closer to or even exceed $2000, plus a huge amount of work. I read of someone finding one for around $2500 ready to turn.

Might be a fun project, though!

JKJ

Re: A 3420?

john lucas

John covers a lot of good points. Bare in mind that you don't actually need all the digital readout stuff that is original with the lathe. I have a 3520A and it simply has the VFD mounted on the back with no readout up front. You would have to install a Potentiometer and possibly the switch that may have been damaged along with the motor but that shouldn't be too expensive.

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

Ron Bauer

If you are handy then buy it. If not you should pass.

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

Brent English

I'm under the impression that the 3520 motor has an extra long shaft so that the pulley on the motor can line up with the pulley on the spindle. If the sellers still have the existing motor you could get it rewound and repaired at a motor shop, or just buy the correct motor from PM.

So I'd call Powermatic and get some guidance. At $400 for the lathe, if you pay PM retail prices for the repair parts, you'd still come out ahead. PLUS, you'd spend a lot less time pulling your hair making non-standard stuff fit. But of course, every moment you spend fixing it could have been spent woodturning....

Re: renovating Powermatic 3520B

ben d.

Don't know where you are located but this is on Craigs list.

https://fortsmith.craigslist.org/tld/d/hot-deal-at-marks-machinery/6272126668.html

Re: Spindle Bearings ? ? ?

Dick Hines

Bearings are an easy fix. Take one of the old ones to an auto parts store and they can match them up. More than likely cheaper than buying the from PM.

I got mine for NAPA

Re: Spindle Bearings ? ? ?

John K Jordan

Perhaps it's easy when things go as planned. The uneasy part is when they don't come out or go back together for some reason. I got a call from a guy who had trouble getting things back together after replacing the bearings. It took a lot of effort and some tricks to get him up and running again.

JKJ

Heat and cast iron

Dick Coers

I'd check the cast iron bed really closely. A cycle of heat could have released some stresses left over from manufacturing. Also a serious result would come about if any water got to it when it was hot.

Re: Spindle Bearings ? ? ?

Dick Hines

Guess I was lucky. I bought two bearings pulled to old ones, installed the new one and was up and running in a hour or so.

Re: Selling Powermatic 3520B

ted sherman

Hey all, I decided not to keep the Powermatic, so I'm selling it. I pasted below my Facebook sale ad.

I Have a Powermatic 3420B for sale, that has smoke damage and heat damage from an adjacent room fire. All electronics were destroyed. Lathe bed and headstock are ok with some smoke damage. Pulleys are good, no distortion, belt appears to be good, bearings appear to be good. I was going to rebuild myself, and started purchasing parts, but I just don't have the time (or mechanical inclination). I have a several new parts: motor (Part 3520b-232), signal cord (JWL1642-170), digital readout and sensor (JWL1642-130A, JWL1642-130S), push-pull switch (6295839), and control pot assembly (6295915). I've got pictures at this craigslist ad: https://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/d/powermatic-3520b-wood-lathe/6403066688.html

Price is $1200 firm in person (just want to get out what I put in).

Local pickup in Murfreesboro, TN.

Message me thru this post if you have questions.

SOLD:  Selling Powermatic 3520B

ted sherman

It's sold.