Just got this 30 year old Craftsman table saw for free because the motor's not spinning, 1HP 110v.  Before sourcing another I'm curious if I can get this one working again.  When you hit the power the motor makes a decent hum and sounds like it's trying to go.  Also there's an quick intermittent screeching that I'm guessing is a bad bearing.  If you take the belt off and spin the pulley it gets up to speed fairly quickly making no unusual sounds or vibration.  The notched arbor protrudes from the opposite side as well and I get the idea I could kick start it with a drill if I could hack together some kind of adapter. 

 

If I can do say a $20 dollar repair I'd rather do that as opposed to $80+ for a replacement.  Any idea what's gone wrong with this poor old motor?

 

Edited January 31, 20215 yr by bradleyheathhays

Sounds like it could be a capacitor issue. Pictures?

 

It's either the capacitor or dirt in the starting contacts. If you have the sears model number maybe we can track down the trouble.

I agree with Bob, just took a suspect capacitor to a electric motor repair shop about 3 months ago and it was bad and paid 20.80 for a new one and the motor runs like a new one again.. You can save the repair if you will take the capacitor off the motor and they will check it while you are there.   

Thanks for the advice.  After doing a utube search I'm sure what I have now is a bad capacitor.  Mine makes an ominous buzz for a couple seconds and then blows the house breaker just like in the video.  Wonder if I could get it straight off ebay or amazon.  I've been putting in the numbers on the capacitor but I'm not sure if I've found the right replacement yet.  It says MALLORY just above that writing.

 

 

you can probably find a replacement off ebay or amazon or one of the big supply houses....   if you don't have anyone locally who does that kind of work.   I would also suggest (I have an old craftsman table saw) that you check to see if there are oil cups at both ends of the motor housing and give each one a few drops of light weight oil if there are.  

This should hook you up.  $12.50  not bad at all.

 

Start capacitor

Not sure how close this Grainger is to you...https://www.grainger.com/branch/Lexington-Branch-429?stateOrCountry=Kentucky&city=Lexington, they may have one on the shelf.

When you replace the capacitor be sure to leave the excess wire outside the motor case with the capacitor. I pushed mine in and the first time I spun the armature I nicked one of the wires.

Grainger may have a set of motor clamps. You definitely want to get rid of the ty-wraps.

Can you post a picture of the saws nameplate, @Larry Buskirk was able to find the paperwork for my saw & yours looks similar.  

Thanks Duck.  I probably would have tucked the wires back in.

 

I have the plate posted up top but it looks like Gunny's already pinned one down for me.  Thanks G

11 minutes ago, bradleyheathhays said:

I have the plate posted up top

Do you have a name plate on the front of the saw with the saw's model number? I have the same motor but I think the saws are different.

@bradleyheathhays,

Before you do anything check the wiring.

The motor might be wired for 220 volts with a 110 volt plug on the end.

Give the motor a good blast of air to get the dust out of it too.

Oh I see...nameplate.  It's a Craftsman 10".  Not sure of the model number though.  I was able to get the capacitor out of the motor so I'll just match the numbers for a replacement.

Well, lesson learned is if it walks like a bad capacitor and talks like a bad capacitor, it very well could be a bad centrifugal start switch...and that's what it turned out to be.  After getting the new cap in it did the same growl no start and after getting it all apart and cleaning the switch it starts like a dream.  Well almost, I have a replacement bearing on the way but after that this 30+ year old motor should run like new.  Thanks for all the direction guys.

Glad you got it figured out.