- Joined
- Dec 22, 2015
- Messages
- 561
Working with the 12 x 36 lathe today and I shut it off to check a dimension and when I go to start it again, it won't start. Makes a clacking sound and then just hums. Did this several times then I started looking for the problem. Took the side cover off the headstock and could see the motor try to turn when it was powered up but it wouldn't go. I checked to see if something was jammed but everything turned freely, even the motor pulley. The motor wasn't hot either. Tried spinning the motor to a different start location and still nothing. Then suddenly it starts and runs fine for about an hour. Then the same issue again. One time it started but the chuck rotated very slowly and took about 3 seconds to get up to speed. Then I start hearing intermittent noises while the lathe is running. First I thought it was a belt that broke or was rubbing on something. Checked that and no issue there. Then I thought it might be in the headstock and pulled the cover to see and feel if there was anything going on in there. Couldn't find anything. The last time I thought it might be coming from the motor but it's hard to tell. I go in for dinner and when I go back the shop the lathe starts up like it should and ran fine for the rest of the night, maybe 45 minutes.
I started thinking it might be a bad motor or maybe a loose connection somewhere but the noise confuses me. I'll see how it goes tomorrow and maybe start checking connections.
I started thinking it might be a bad motor or maybe a loose connection somewhere but the noise confuses me. I'll see how it goes tomorrow and maybe start checking connections.