Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 16, 2002 12:52am | #1

   Well, tried a 50MFD and that didn't work.  Must be the motor.  :(

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

1. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 16, 2002 05:08am | #2

   There is a centrifugal switch inside the motor that the contacts go bad on, especially if it is started and stopped frequently. Grainger sells them (under 10 bucks I think) and they are a peice of cake to change. Remove the fan shroud and the fan, unbolt the long bolts that hold the motor together and you will find the switch inside. Usually held on by two or three machine screws. I was able to fix mine by simply sanding the contacts and reassembling. Try it before buying a new motor, it's a cheap easy fix.

   Edit: see this thread for more info http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages/?msg=9404.1

   Tom

    

    

   Edited 12/15/2002 9:15:17 PM ET by Tom

1. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 16, 2002 07:32am | #3

   Tom -

   When I looked at the starting capacitor, one of the leads was dis-connected.  There are signs that the capacitor over heated, which could explain one lead coming loose.  When I tried the 50MFD capacitor, the motor almost got up to speed before the breaker kicked out.  This is the breaker on the motor.  With the 500 MFD capacitor, the motor only got to maybe 1/3 speed before the breaker kicked.

   I'm taking the motor to the Porter Cable place tomorrow to try a new capacitor of the correct size.  The old lead that was dis-connected had been spot welded very poorly.  I'm hoping its the capacitor!

   Mike

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

1. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 16, 2002 04:18pm | #4

   Sounds like you are on the right track then. Did you read the winding with a meter to see of they are shorted?Tom

1. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 16, 2002 09:49pm | #5

   Tom -

   I pulled the fan cover and discovered that the centrifugal switch had some string caught in it.  That and the capacitor was all that was wrong.  Now if I can just find another capacitor within a 2 hr drive.

   observations: 

   1) the starting capacitor on the Delta 50-850 model is very 'cheesy'.  Like maybe a 10 cent part?  very poorly made.  One wire had pulled loose from the case and on close inspection I saw that the spot weld holding it on had only grabbed one strand of wire. 

   2) the centrifigul switch is outside the case (TEFC) of the motor.  Not a good thing for an potentially explosive environment.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

2. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 16, 2002 09:53pm | #6

   I'm surprised to hear that the switch is outside the case. Hard to believe it can still be classified as TEFC. Tom

3. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 21, 2002 07:13pm | #7

   I called Delta to report the problem and the fact that their local repair center didn't have replacement capacitors.  Eventho the unit is 1 year out of warranty, they're sending me a free replacement.  I had already secured one at WWGraingers, but that still was a nice thing for them to do!

   I told them that the problem was caused by there being a thread caught in the centrifugal switch, preventing the contacts from closing.  And, that had the switch been INSIDE the housing, it never would have happened.

   By the way, a replacement motor was priced by them at $294.00, which is $4 less than what I paid for the entire unit.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

   Edited 12/21/2002 11:15:06 AM ET by PlaneWood