My drill press is going out!

fast14riot

fast14riot

Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
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Well this morning I went into the garage and needed to use my drill press, and it wouldn't turn on. Without having time to tear into it and properly trouble shoot it, I think the inductor windings are bad. Its a 2.2 amp split phase motor. I flip the switch and it just hums, I grab the spindle and spin it, it will start. Do any of you guys have experience with repairing motors such as this one? Or could there be some other cause for this? I don't really want to go buy another one, and Sears wants about $100 for a new motor. Anyone have any suggestions?



-Xander
 
dust and metal shavings shouldn't be a problem as I keep a towel over the motor when im not using it, but will definitely do that just in case.


-Xander
 
Harbor Freight's 8" drill press, 5 speed, will be going on sale on 1/14 for like $49.00. Hard to beat that price.
 
Is it a capacitor start motor? Often if the capacitor (cap) goes out, the motor will only hum when started, yet run after a hand spin. I've replaced these, it's pretty easy. If the capacitor (the small cylindrical component on the outside of the motor housing) has a microfarad rating on it (Mfd), copy that when you order a new one. If not, tables can be found online for Mfd ratings or you could maybe find out with a call to the service center at Sears. Just take a pic before tearing the old one off, or wait until you have the new one- sometimes there are several wires to deal with.

It cost me $8 or so for the replacement cap for a 1.5 hp motor that I found in a fab shop dumpster. Now it runs great. I got mine from McMaster Carr.
 
It sounds like a capacitor. I had a motor that acted the same with a bad cap. I don't remember any signs of a bad cap other than I remember the smoke from it blowing the safety vent.

A quick google search came up with this page that could help you with more descriptions http://liutaiomottola.com/Tools/Motor.htm
 
Salem Straub said:
Is it a capacitor start motor? Often if the capacitor (cap) goes out, the motor will only hum when started, yet run after a hand spin. I've replaced these, it's pretty easy. If the capacitor (the small cylindrical component on the outside of the motor housing) has a microfarad rating on it (Mfd), copy that when you order a new one. If not, tables can be found online for Mfd ratings or you could maybe find out with a call to the service center at Sears. Just take a pic before tearing the old one off, or wait until you have the new one- sometimes there are several wires to deal with.

It cost me $8 or so for the replacement cap for a 1.5 hp motor that I found in a fab shop dumpster. Now it runs great. I got mine from McMaster Carr.
Click to expand...
Yes it is a Cap start motor. I will check for a farad rating on it. I haven't had a chance to put a DMM to it yet to check the cap, so I hope that's all it is. If not I really hope the short is on the outside of the windings and easy to get to. If not then I am going to be on the hunt for a new/used motor.


Grizz- Your right it sure is hard to beat that price, but I do my own work on my guns as well and can't have the amount of play that the HF drill presses have. I know my craftsman has less than 0.001 play at full extension. You cannot feel it by hand. Those HF presses have very noticeable play at all points along their travel. Just doesn't cut it for me. I would rather use a hand drill, actually. Now if the motor could transfer over easy enough, that might be a good reason to buy one! Then the motorless press can be used for leather work!



-Xander
 
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