Advice/identification needed

phillsam · Post by **phillsam** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:40 am

algale wrote:Well, we should have scared the original poster off by now!

Not at all scared off. More impressed actually.

algale · Post by **algale** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:43 am

phillsam wrote:Wow, the guys at the LJ forum were Right! You guys are amazing!
So much knowledge.

And great detective work on location. I live in Portland Oregon and the SS is closer to Corvallis.
By chance are any of you in the area?

The seller says that he has a 15amp breaker and it tripped it after running for a few minutes.
Is that a reason for concern? I assumed that he just needed a larger breaker...

Also sounds like there are quite a few pieces here and I will have to ask for more pictures. The jointer/jig saw are not pictured.

Should run on a 15 amp breaker although an improper extension cord or other load on the breaker might trip it. My guess is there's something going on in the headstock. I say that because the general condition/hodge podge of parts suggest lack of maintenance to say the least. At a minimum a lack of lubrication.

JPG's got the eyes of an eagle or he has one heckuva monitor or both. I am frequently amazed at what he can spot in a photo that I can't see (until he points it out).

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:47 am

JPG was a radiologist in another life

algale · Post by **algale** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:54 am

phillsam wrote:Not at all scared off. More impressed actually.

Great, because these machines are readily user serviced. The more experienced members really know what they are talking about. I still consider myself a rank newbie and I have no training in the engineering or mechanical arts, but with the help of the more experienced members here I have trouble shot a lot of minor problems and done everything from fixing a bad speed control pork chop to doing a complete strip down and rebuild of a belt sander with bearing replacement.

Al

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 12:36 pm

Portland and surrounding areas tend to have a ton of SS stuff listed on CraigsList - I keep an eye out up there occassionally as I live down in CA just south of the OR border, so ~7 hours from Portland and I have a sister who lives there, so always would consider a road trip for the right deal. Anyway, I do see tons of stuff listed up there - in general I'd say the asking prices I see up there are higher than "normal" but as always it's a buyers market and you shouldn't be scared to do some serious haggling. Currently I don't see a ton of stuff listed but usually I do up that way. There is a 510 listed with no photos in Aurora for $400 - he says the price is firm...just depends on the condition of the 510, it's completeness, and any accessories/SPTs that it includes - he mentions a band saw. Ultimately I'd rather pay $400 for a 510 if it's in good functional condition than pay $100 for a 500 that definitely needs some TLC. That being said, I wouldn't want to discourage you from taking on a rehab project, so you could definitely get your $50-$100 worth from that machine with a bit of elbow grease if it's for the most part complete and the headstock is reasonably functional.

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:23 pm

My rule of thumb is anything stored outside under a tarp comes with no expectations of being in working order, and requires a thourough going through.

Tripping the breaker means there is an electrical problem, to be expected when stored outside. 15 amp is plenty big enough breaker, at 110v that would cover almost a 3hp motor.

If you want a project, that's not an awful one but I would knock it down on price. Don't be afraid to leave your number and let the seller sweat it out.

If you don't want a project and just want to get to woodworking I would be leery of this one.

phillsam · Post by **phillsam** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 2:07 pm

frank81 wrote:Tripping the breaker means there is an electrical problem, to be expected when stored outside. 15 amp is plenty big enough breaker, at 110v that would cover almost a 3hp motor.

What would you guess would be the necessary repairs?

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 2:28 pm

Tripping the breaking is not necessarily an electrical problem. Anything mechanical that causes extra stress on the motor could make it draw too much current, popping the breaker.

phillsam · Post by **phillsam** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 2:43 pm

joshh wrote:Tripping the breaking is not necessarily an electrical problem. Anything mechanical that causes extra stress on the motor could make it draw too much current, popping the breaker.

Great thank you.
I was able to talk to the seller again, I mentioned my concern with popping the breaker and he understood. He did tell me that the motor seemed to run just fine and that popping breakers is a consistent issue he has with most his tools. His Harbor Freight angle grinder trips the breaker too, as does his air compressor. SO maybe (hopefully) it is more of an issue with his shop than the equipment.

Also he is going to take a few additional pics of it and the pieces since he knows little about it all. He will try and include different angles to I can get a better perspective. He had no idea that there were two different tables (the 500 and 510 tables) so he will try to capture it in pictures.

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:30 pm

joshh wrote:Tripping the breaking is not necessarily an electrical problem. Anything mechanical that causes extra stress on the motor could make it draw too much current, popping the breaker.

Yes but anything binding hard enough for that motor to blow a 15 amp breaker after several minutes of running without material should be obvious. It's probably not free of drag sitting out and not being maintained but that much would set off big red warning flags to shut the machine off.