Not sure what's going on here with this, how ever the lathe seems to want to act like it struggles with power at times.  Not sure if that's the motor problem or if its the variable speed problem.  It acts like its not getting enough power to the lathe when I put load onto the project piece.  I may have video of it but I've hit the overload protection button on it several times and did a reset of the GFCI on my out let.  So I'm not entirely sure what's going on with that hole situation.  Anyone have any ideas on this?  Or is it just time for a new lathe?  I mean this Wen lathe I have has gotten its use out of it and money well spent.  But if it is to the fact that it is requiring me to purchase a new lathe I will take suggestions on that as well.  Please KEEP IN MIND that I am on a disabled vets income so with that being said I cant afford anything over 300 to 400 dollars.

I'm not an electrician (and don't even play one on TV) but the first thing I'd try is a different power receptacle- non GFI. If it runs OK, there may be a problem in the electrical GFI connections.

At the moment I only have GFIs available....  I'm just hoping it's not a lathe motor problem or wiring problem.  None of my other tools do that to include my big 2x72.

Edited September 26, 20205 yr by AndrewB

Did you try a different circuit?

 

I did not how ever... I do have video footage of this.  Raw footage.  I have the variable speed in play so youll  be able to see.  But when I put load onto the work piece it wants to shutter.  Not only that at one point the speed seemed to jump around from  high to low to high to low.

 

Edited September 26, 20205 yr by AndrewB

Again, I'm not an electrician but it looks like there might be a loose connection within the speed control circuitry. If it's still under warranty, I'd call Wen, rather than doing any type of troubleshooting/disassembly. I found this on another site-

 

I have now been through two motors and three control boards. Just don't buy this lathe. If I could return it I would. Can't handle any kind of load or it pops the circuit breaker if you are lucky otherwise it blows the control board. I will now be ordering my 4TH one. if all you want to do is turn small stuff like pens and bottle stoppers you may be fine. But don't try doing any bowls or really hard wood or you will tax the motor and overload the circutry.

Well for the most part it seems that it was only doing it when the GFI needed a reset for some dumb reason.  Not sure why but now I put load onto the lathe even at a low speed it seems to be doing fine.  But as it already sounds its looking like I'm going to be needing to purchase a new lathe.  So now I guess I'll be looking for decent recommendations for lathes under 500 dollars.  If anything I've got my central machine wood lathe so I think I'll get that up on the table and see how well I can get that working today.

Edited September 26, 20205 yr by AndrewB

Again, not an electrician- my background is in electronics- but I'd double all the electrical connections to be certain they are secure. Being in a high humidity area may also be causing some of the problems.

Sweet.  Yep problem solved I'll be swapping over to the big lathe today LOL.  The little brother will be swinging by this afternoon after his golf game to give me a hand lifting the monster up on the bench.  Either way at least I have a back up lathe LOL.  So I'm not fully out with everything thank god.  How ever I'll have to do something about the variable speed lever because the speeds don't line up correctly with the handle positions.  Either way problem solved.  At least I wont have to buy a new lathe.  I just have to get the HF lathe working properly.

Edited September 26, 20205 yr by AndrewB

Found a discussion at IAP that may or may not help.

 

https://www.penturners.org/threads/gfci-vs-variable-speed.143651/

 

Yea I honestly don't think its the plug itself.  I trust my electrician.  Since he will be the one helping me put the HF lathe up on the bench later today.  It may be wiring issues internally with the Wen lathe itself.  Either way at least with the HF lathe I'll be able to do bigger bowls with the swinging head stock on the HF lathe.  On the Wen lathe I have used it pretty heavily for what its worth.  So I think I've at least got my moneys worth out of the lathe.  Unfortunately it is out of warren-tee already.

So the variable speed aparantly was dying.  Either way no huge issue for me.  Glad I did a mistake buy on the Harbor Freight lathe OMG.  Thanks to the little brother stopping buy and helping me lift it up on the bench.  Got it bolted in place.  It works properly.  No bouncy head stock at least for the time being.  Either way at least I wont have to spend a crap ton of money on another lathe I'll just use this one.  I'll be able to make larger bowls with it too if I want so I'll be really happy about that.  I'll just have to figure out a way to mount a tool rest angling out from the lathe.  I'll have to build one for that I suppose.  No problem there.  Either way its a win for me I get to keep turning.