DocsMachine
Titanium
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Location
- Southcentral, AK
Without too much fluff, here's the situation: 1939 Warner & Swasey No.2 turret lathe. 2-speed "consequent pole" motor, 2-1/2HP, 880 RPM and 5HP 1730 RPM.
Probably-original contactors were in workable, but sad shape. Board regular SAF volunteers to put me together a new set of starters, and being electrically incompetent, I readily agree.
Said shiny new starters arrived today, pre-wired and pretty much plug-and-play. I followed the instructions that he and I had been going over, in an attempt to get this antique wiring correct, and with some trepidation, fired it up.
And it worked great!
Both high and low speed, tried several gearbox speeds, clutches engage nice and smooth, brake works just fine, reverse works (geared, not electrical) and so on. Everything's cherry.
I stop the motor, swap collets to throw in a different chunk of scrap aluminum so I can try some "first chips" with a still-new-to-me, and newly-refurbished machine.
And now it doesn't want to start.
I push the low speed button and it tries to get rolling, but is audibly struggling. After three to five seconds, the breaker for the rotary trips out. (30 amp breaker on a 50 amp circuit.)
I changed nothing electrically. I didn't even shut the rotary off. The headstock is out of gear, and I can roll the motor pulley and belts by hand, easily.
I'm assuming, for the moment, that the contactors are good, the wiring is good, the buttons are good, etc. because it was all working fine just minutes prior. And I got no smoke, no electrical smell, none of the wires felt hot, etc.
That, unfortunately, leaves the motor. It's an antique, some eighty years old, and has been run on a static converter for more than a few years. (Albeit with only very occasional use in that time.)
Did that brief use on full, proper 3-phase, maybe two minutes of operation, finally break the proverbial camel's back? Varnish going bad, maybe? An internal wire losing it's insulation?
I plan on trying it again in the morning, to see if it's still bad, or if I get another single use out of it- which would indicate something's overheating?
Open to other options or suggestions. Things to try? Things to look for?
Really hoping I don't have to have this monster rewound. I have a very reputable shop less than 10 miles from here, but I can easily see it costing a grand or more.
Doc.
Probably-original contactors were in workable, but sad shape. Board regular SAF volunteers to put me together a new set of starters, and being electrically incompetent, I readily agree.
Said shiny new starters arrived today, pre-wired and pretty much plug-and-play. I followed the instructions that he and I had been going over, in an attempt to get this antique wiring correct, and with some trepidation, fired it up.
And it worked great!
Both high and low speed, tried several gearbox speeds, clutches engage nice and smooth, brake works just fine, reverse works (geared, not electrical) and so on. Everything's cherry.
I stop the motor, swap collets to throw in a different chunk of scrap aluminum so I can try some "first chips" with a still-new-to-me, and newly-refurbished machine.
And now it doesn't want to start.
I push the low speed button and it tries to get rolling, but is audibly struggling. After three to five seconds, the breaker for the rotary trips out. (30 amp breaker on a 50 amp circuit.)
I changed nothing electrically. I didn't even shut the rotary off. The headstock is out of gear, and I can roll the motor pulley and belts by hand, easily.
I'm assuming, for the moment, that the contactors are good, the wiring is good, the buttons are good, etc. because it was all working fine just minutes prior. And I got no smoke, no electrical smell, none of the wires felt hot, etc.
That, unfortunately, leaves the motor. It's an antique, some eighty years old, and has been run on a static converter for more than a few years. (Albeit with only very occasional use in that time.)
Did that brief use on full, proper 3-phase, maybe two minutes of operation, finally break the proverbial camel's back? Varnish going bad, maybe? An internal wire losing it's insulation?
I plan on trying it again in the morning, to see if it's still bad, or if I get another single use out of it- which would indicate something's overheating?
Open to other options or suggestions. Things to try? Things to look for?
Really hoping I don't have to have this monster rewound. I have a very reputable shop less than 10 miles from here, but I can easily see it costing a grand or more.
Doc.