I was using my Ridgid bandsaw this afternoon.
I turned it off.
Tried turning it on again a few minutes later.
It wouldn’t start.
The motor only buzzed.
I checked the owner’s manual.
It informed me to blow out the dust from the motor.
I did.
Still no luck.
I purchased it 7 years ago.
I’ve used it lightly over the years.
Last few weeks I’ve used it a lot more.
I suppose I over-heated the motor w/ the dust and semi-sharp blade (which was fairly new).
The bandsaw has a lifetime warranty.
What to do?
Thanks!
Replies
First, I'd send off a letter or call Ridgid. You can also check the motor for a reset button which trips if the motor overheats, though I doubt this is the case as you turned the bandsaw off yourself. You can also check the belt tension.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Do the wheels turn freely by hand?
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
Jack London
Does everything spin freely when moved by hand? If so, it could be a bad start capacitor or a stuck centrifugal switch.
The wheels spin freely when moved by hand.
If it's a bad capacitor does it mean I have to take it in to a shop?
I'm not very good w/ electricals but maybe it's just a matter of replacing some minor item somewhere in the outer layer of the motor...
I was hoping someone with more knowledge on the subject would come along and offer instructions, but I'll try.
The motor caps are typically located in those long cylindrical protrusions sticking up from the main motor housing, though some may be stuffed inside the electrical junction box that's also located outside the main housing. It's worth a look and easy to do. Pull the cap cover off and see if there's a bunch of ooze that looks like it shouldn't be there and/or damage like it exploded ....if so, then just disconnect the cap and find a motor repair shop or electrical surplus place to replace with a similar size of comparable values...< $10. Looks something like this:
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It's also worth checking the centrifugal switch. The only one I've ever tinkered with was easy because it was an open back motor...I just sprayed the inside of the back end of the motor liberally with WD-40 and tapped around inside with a screw driver until I managed to unstick it. Not sure how you'd reach an enclosed TEFC motor, but hopefully someone will tell you.
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You could always have a shop check for these things but expect a minimum repair bill of $40 or more even for something simple. Good luck with it!
That is an excellent, very helpful post. Congratulations.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
I took the motor in--it's under warranty.
The guy took off one of the plates that encloses the turbine(?).
He blew more air into it to clean it.
It started just fine.Thanks!
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