Induction motor tune-up??

[Jason White]

I've got my 3/4HP JET bandsaw motor (single phase) torn apart and am waiting for the new bearings to arrive.

Aside from replacing the bearings, what other cleaning and lubrication should I be doing? Is there a good tutorial on the web that explains this process?

Jason

[Pete Bradley]

There's not much to tune up beyond replacing the bearings. Make sure the centrifugal switch mechanism is clean and moves freely and that it all goes back together properly. Make sure that you have a properly connected ground and properly insulated/capped electrical connections with no exposed conductors.

Pete

[Josiah Bartlett]

You can replace the capacitor if you want- they tend to leak after a while. However, you could just wait until it fails, since they aren't difficult to replace.

[kenneth kayser]

Don't lubricate the centrifugal switch unless it was lubed. When installing bearings, push on the inner ring only when mounting on a shaft and on the outer ring only when mounting in a housing.

[Jason White]

Dumb question --

Which part is the "centrifugal switch?" Not sure what it looks like. Anybody got a picture of one?

Jason

Don't lubricate the centrifugal switch unless it was lubed. When installing bearings, push on the inner ring only when mounting on a shaft and on the outer ring only when mounting in a housing.

[Pete Bradley]

There are all different designs for centrifugal switches. If you look at the rotor, you will see something attached to it that has some arrangement of weights and springs. That's the centrifugal part. When it's spinning the springs stretch out and some part of it opens a switch. There are a lot of designs for the switch too, but the switch doesn't spin so it's attached to the case at the same end as the centrifugal mechanism.

this picture will give you a general idea:


Pete

[Jason White]

What picture?

There are all different designs for centrifugal switches. If you look at the rotor, you will see something attached to it that has some arrangement of weights and springs. That's the centrifugal part. When it's spinning the springs stretch out and some part of it opens a switch. There are a lot of designs for the switch too, but the switch doesn't spin so it's attached to the case at the same end as the centrifugal mechanism. this picture will give you a general idea: Pete

[Chip Lindley]

Jason? Did you wear your BS motor out? 1000s of hours can take it's toll. If the motor is in need of bearings, no doubt the BS is also.

Otherwise, IMO, If it ain't broke, don't be fixing it!

[Jason White]

I've already changed the wheel bearings in the saw. I bought very expensive (and hopefully high-quality) German-made ones from Iturra Design.

I'm just waiting for the new motor bearings to show up. Boy, Reid Supply is slooooow........

JASON

Jason? Did you wear your BS motor out? 1000s of hours can take it's toll. If the motor is in need of bearings, no doubt the BS is also. Otherwise, IMO, If it ain't broke, don't be fixing it!