wso i just got my 1956 dewalt radial arm saw out of storage for the first time in YEARS. dad had been using it last, and it was working fine for him.
i plug it in, and go to fire it up, just to check things over before getting everything set up and dialed in.
the saw blade desnt move, motor hums, and i hear a pop.
now, when you manually start spinning the blade prior to turning it on (think lawnmower pull start) the blade will run, saw will operate perfectly fine in either direction. but it will not self start the blade spinning.
what went pop, and any ideas on what it loolks like/where to find it?
RossD
PowerDork
2/4/14 10:57 a.m.
Start capacitor would be my guess. It allows for a large surge of energy to help get the saw moving at power up. They dry up and only have finite life span.
so, as a complete electric motor repair noob, what would that look likem and where would ity be located? i pulled all the origonal manuals and documentation for the saw last night, and couldnt find any reference to the start capacitor. also tried googling on al gores internet, and came up with nothing.
i enjoy tool restoration. ive just never messed with the electric motor side of things othern than new wiring. im used to deburring, repairing stops, recreating missing pieces, etc. i should show you guys my great grandfathers lathe sometime.
is there agood source of info on the operations/repair of electric motors that i could learn from? or is it a matter if finding an old time guy that does it and bribing him with beer and cigarettes?
RossD
PowerDork
2/5/14 10:58 a.m.
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/small-ac-motor-wont-start/74255/page1/
I think there was a follow up thread after the above one, and I think the OP took it to an old shop and they had a part or a similar one.
You could get the specs off of the motor and take them Grainger or a similar store and they will probably get you something that will work.
Yes, mine took an oddball(nowadays) cap and I had to convert to an external one hanging on a short cord. If you post some pictures of the motor, we could be more helpful.
