My grinder needs to be started like a flintstones car

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dzlvs8

Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
948
Another day, another problem. So, I bought a cheap 1x42 craftsman grinder for $65 with a steel stand and it has served its purpose well and was EXACTLY what I needed. I didn't want to make a huge investment into equipment in the beginning. But after grinding on the thing for like a constant half hour or whatever, I think the motor got too hot and even though it works pretty much like normal once it gets started, it doesn't start well anymore. It just buzzes and barely moves for a while. Sometimes it eventually starts up on its own, but bascally I have to quickstart it with my hand or whatever to get it going.

Question 1:
Is this thing about dead? I am out of belts now and need to buy new ones and am not sure if I should do so.

Question 2:
I'd like a better grinder, I guess. I mean, I definitelydon't want to spend more than $250 on something. So I assume my only option under that price is a new craftsman 2x42. Is there anything else around that price range? Preferably something with the proper speed motor for knife grinding. I think the craftsman is double the speed of a common knife grinder.

and NO, I am not going to buy an expensive 2x72 or anything. It is not worth it to me now. 1. I don't know how long I will keep making knives. I don't want to spend ANY more money that $250 and even less would be better. 2. I make knives in my apartment. 3. Yes, I have searched craigslist a lot for a proper used grinder.
 
What you could do if the motor still spins freely is take the disk off, attach a pulley, and drive it with another motor. This would give you the advantage of being able to select pulleys based on the speed you want, or you could run step pulleys for multiple speeds. You should be able to achieve that for well within your price range. Essentially your current motor and housing just becomes a really big pillow block.
 
Ehhh, if its just the starting mechanism I am fine with that being bad. Also, I hate testing capacitors. I sold my multimeter that could provide the chargte to do it. I don't want to look into how to do it again. It's not worth it. Its fine if it just starts slow.
 
You could always buy a new start cap if you can get the size off the existing one. They aren't expensive. If that isn't the problem you aren't out a bunch and would have a spare I guess. That is if you can't test the current one. I don't think repeated use without a proper start cap would be great for a motor but don't know forsure.
 
I would look at the belt and the belt tensioner. Make sure it is tracking true and not getting hung up on anything.
 
Jeremy Barnard said:
Save your money and buy a proper 2 x 72 grinder with at least 1hp motor. 2hp is preferable.
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THERE IT IS! That didn't take long.

Grayzer86 said:
You could always buy a new start cap if you can get the size off the existing one. They aren't expensive. If that isn't the problem you aren't out a bunch and would have a spare I guess. That is if you can't test the current one. I don't think repeated use without a proper start cap would be great for a motor but don't know forsure.
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That's not a bad idea. I guess I wouldn't be out much. Hopefully it is easy to identify once I get it open. Wiring diagrams, I am good with, schematics, I am not!
 
dzlvs8 said:
Ehhh, if its just the starting mechanism I am fine with that being bad. Also, I hate testing capacitors. I sold my multimeter that could provide the chargte to do it. I don't want to look into how to do it again. It's not worth it. Its fine if it just starts slow.
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You can always ignore people's advice. You are good at it. Maybe its your superpower????
 
If it's a craftsman, there are probably some replacement parts for it, including any capacitor you might find. Probably won't cost more than $15 or $20 at the most. Probably cheaper if you can go on eBay and find the same kind. Then you're probably only talking $5 or $10 at the most.
 
tryppyr said:
I would look at the belt and the belt tensioner. Make sure it is tracking true and not getting hung up on anything.
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Don't overlook this...not sure your experience level. But if belts are too tight or in a bind, even just a little bit, it can be hard for those smaller motors to get going. I had a similar issue on my 1x30 before I got my tension properly adjusted.
 
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