Unisaw motor tripping breaker.

[Grandpadave52]

Happy to hear it wasn't anything too big Ron. Glad you got it going again and THANK-YOU for coming back and giving an update!! Always helpful to know the outcome.

[rlpeterson]

Update on the motor. 

 

After I got it back from the motor shop, who told me that it was fixed, I placed it in my saw and the same thing happened; ran for a few seconds and tripped the breaker. So I thought that the problem was outside of the motor. So I started at the electrial box at the panel to the electrical box on the back of the saw where the magnetic switch is located. Took me some time to test all the wires in the box and there is like a 15 Amp fuse in the box that first tested fine, but when I wired it back again I crossed some wire and blew that fuse. Replace that fuse and continued to test the wires with a multimeter but needed to get some help to push the on button. Then finally traced it back to the wires that went into the motor. I detected that they were delivering 245 volts to the motor. So I took the motor out of the saw AGAIN and had to rig up a wire to test it. Well, when I turned on the motor it was the PROBLEM. They told me that it was fixed! Did they not turn the motor on to test it!!!!!

 

I took it back into the shop and told the guy that I paid $50 and was told by them that the motor was working. He didn't trust my ability to wire it correctly and we took it back to a bench to test it. It failed as I expected. He asked me if it stopped working after they fixed it. NO IT NEVER WORKED! He asked me how much I was charged, the minium $15 and I reminded him that I paid $50. That made him know that they went into the motor. So just now, I got a call and he told me that everything checked out and now they will be looking for a centrifical switch for the motor.  Now I am wondering if he would be able to find one for the motor.  But it make me wonder if the guy who told me that it was fixed ever got it running when I told you all that it was fixed? I was told by everyone in this town that this was the shop to take the motor, all recommended them. Now I am wondering what the heck happened. 

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

A disappointing experience. It really sucks that things like that happen.

[HandyDan]

They may have taken it apart and tested the armature and fields under load and found them to be fine which guarantees the motor will run.  They skipped the bench test and it came back to haunt them with a bad centrifugal switch.

[Dadio]

They should eat the labor and charge you only for the parts, this time around.

Herb

[Stick486]

3 hours ago, Dadio said:

They should eat the labor and charge you only for the parts, this time around.

Herb

 

no...

fix it NC and comp him for the extra tear out/install...

[rlpeterson]

Well, it’s been a while for my motor. My son and his wife are having our first grandchild in about September. They are living in student housing at the University that my son is attending to get his masters degree in electrical engineering and don't have much space. They picked up a used dresser and I have been refinishing it and getting it ready to match the crib that my sister gave them. I nearly forgot about my motor. I called the company and learned that they guy working on it had a heart attack and they dropped the ball. I talked to the owner and he didn't know anything about it and took it upon himself to test the motor. He got back to me and said that they couldn't find anything wrong with the motor but it still had the problem. He told me because of the experience I had he would eat the mark up of a new Leeson motor. So I got a new motor for $250. I picked it up on Monday and took it to my shop. Can't wait to get it into the saw and start making more project with the Black Limba hardwood I have. 

[Dadio]

You saved about $150. on the new motor. should last you for ever.

Herb

[Roly]

You need a different motor shop.   Roly

[Stick486]

10 minutes ago, Roly said:

You need a different motor shop.   Roly

 

ditto...

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I'm glad this seems to be resolved, but that really was a crappy way for them to do business. Roly is right, don't go there agina. On the other hand the Leeson is a great motor and you should be set for life...congrats.

[rlpeterson]

Hopefully this is my last post on the motor. When I picked up the motor they had already wired it for me. So when I put it back in my Unisaw, I removed the old electrical wire that goes to the box on the back of the saw containing the magnetic switch and installed the new cord. After I buttoned everything up, test the motor. That familiar sound that I have been missing was there and the blade was spinning. A few days later, I go and try to cut some pine it was hard putting it through the blade and if felt like the board was being lifted up on me. I immediately stopped the saw and as I watched the blade coming to a stop, saw that it was moving the wrong direction! It was moving counter clockwise when it should be moving towards me. I called the company again and asked if it was a wiring issue or did I get a wrong motor. Now here is the kicker, he said that when he wired up the motor, he looked at the fan in my old motor and looked at how the debris was being thrown. I didn't tell him that the engine was thoroughly cleaned when they first gave it back to me the first time telling me that it was fixed. So tonight, I need to rewire the motor so that it is going the correct way from the wiring pattern on the motor. I will have to cut the wires at the wring nut he used because they are crimped on there tight. Hopefully I will never have another motor issue, but I have learned my lesson.....not going back there again. 

[Dadio]

I hope your problem is resolved with the change of direction of rotation. I have been wondering throughout this discussion if your mag switch is functioning correctly. I had a similar problem years ago and it was the mag switch, I had to replace.

Herb

[Smallpatch]

Never heard of someone changing directions of the motor turning when taken in to get repaired.  Thats strange. I don't believe I would go back there either.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

It's been a journey with this motor shop, they deserve all the bad press you can give them. I've also never heard of a shop changing the rotation of the motor (unless they were asked to do so). Some not-so-smart folks there.

[rlpeterson]

39 minutes ago, Dadio said:

I hope your problem is resolved with the change of direction of rotation. I have been wondering throughout this discussion if your mag switch is functioning correctly. I had a similar problem years ago and it was the mag switch, I had to replace.

Herb

During this journey, I too thought about the magnetic switch and replaced it, after I brought the motor home and they said it was fixed, So I have a new magnetic switch and a new motor that hopefully I can get going the right direction tonight. 

 

Ron

[Stick486]

2 hours ago, rlpeterson said:

not going back there again. 

 

I wouldn't either...

[rlpeterson]

DONE! Went to my shop tonight and cut off the crimped wire nut. I used an electrical tool to strip off the covering of all 6 wires in the box. It was a bit hard to read the wiring diagram but got it wired correctly. Now it's back! I cleaned up the place, hanging some clamps and turning on the dust collection system to clean up the area......now what to build with the black limba???

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

You are to be congratulated, not only for the perseverance, but having the patience of Job.

[Grandpadave52]

15 hours ago, rlpeterson said:

Now it's back!

"Saws well that ends well!" 

Glad you've finally resolved the issue and now can return to the fun stuff. Thanks for keeping this thread active. Your experiences (as unfortunate as they have been) may help someone else down the road.