table saw blues

[SteveFaehnle]

After six years of faithful service my 10 inch Inca now refuses to start when I push the switch. have checked wiring, can find no over-temp breaker, etc. where do I go from here? Thank, Steve Faehnle

[NormMessinger]

Yellow pages for electric motors.

[Bob Smalser]

Did you check the wiring with a test light?

If juice is getting past the switch, then it's the motor....take it in to an electrical service for testing.

[Wayne Jeffers]

First, verify that you're getting power to the motor. A bad switch is fairly likely and you want to eliminate the simple stuff first.

If you're getting power all the way to the motor, and it's still not running, then what Norm said. If the windings aren't burned up, repair may be an option. Maybe just bushings worn out or a loose internal connecion.

Wayne

[JimD]

Sounds like you've already taken the switch apart but when the same thing happened to my table saw it turned out the only problem was that the switch was clogged up with sawdust the the metal contacts couldn't make contact. A quick cleaning was all that was required

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Two troubles come to mind.
If the motor has carbon brushes they may have worn out.
If the motor has a centrifical starting device it may haved choked on saw dust. This happened on my joiner because it has a cheap open-framed motor. There were contacts inside that were enclosed in a little plastic housing. The little enclosure was filled to the brim with saw dust.
Charlie

[Dave R]

Checking components such as the switch are definitely good places to start. Maybe the starting capacitor has given up. Using they're are attached to the motor under a cover that can be removed without complete disassembly of the motor. Depending upon the motor there may be a run capacitor as well. Sometimes its hard to tell which is which but if the start cap is shot, replace them both. They aren't that expensive.

[NormMessinger]

:D It could be any of the above. Steve didn't post a picture so how can we be of any real help? tongue.gif

[Tomcat]

I once replaced a motor on my bandsaw only to find as I was about to swap out the broken one that it had merely thrown out the key, and was spinning silently in the pulley.

[Big Red]

Is it a table saw or a hand saw? Inca doesn't mean much to an Aussie. If its a table saw, I'd say it might be the starting switch, which is not the on/off switch. Its a centrifugal switch mounted internally in the non-drive end. I'd say if its a single phase table saw it would have that feature. Though it could be one of the capacitors or the thermal overload too. It will get more complicated after that. Oh, did any smoke come out? ;)

If this is the case, you will need to disconnect the starting switch and remove it before you remove the end shield! As a mechanical device they will wear out or sometimes seize.

If its a hand saw, and it just stopped, I'd have a look at the brushes. Some brushes are "cast" with a small spring and plastic plug inside. As the brush wears down the spring pushes the brush away from the commutator. This is to stop the wire in the brush destroying your com, or the brushes running with not enough spring tension holding them down.

There are a bunch of things you could check, such as already mentioned, like continuity.

Make sure that when you work on it that the plug is in your pocket. Or the fuses are out. If your wondering which fuses then you shouldn't be doing it. Test everything (with a voltmeter) before you touch it. And have someone with you as you work on it! Preferably someone who knows CPR!

Good luck smile.gif

[skuthorp]

AH HA!!! big Red, you just saved me some cash.
Starting switch was my problem!
:D

[Big Red]

Hey, no probs smile.gif By the time the switch goes its usually time for new bearings too.