Shopsmith Forums

So I got my greenie up and running yesterday. I noticed, before I reassembled the headstock, that the motor made a scary noise when running.

It sounds like there is an irregular wire brush scratching the inside of the motor casing or a small creature trying to claw its way out. It seemed even noisier once in the headstock.

What can I do to help my motor run more smoothly adn quietly?

Jason Sabala

jasonsabala wrote:So I got my greenie up and running yesterday. I noticed, before I reassembled the headstock, that the motor made a scary noise when running.

It sounds like there is an irregular wire brush scratching the inside of the motor casing or a small creature trying to claw its way out. It seemed even noisier once in the headstock.

What can I do to help my motor run more smoothly adn quietly?

Jason Sabala

Bearings?.......

Did you have the motor apart?

I didn't get the motor apart, just out of the headstock.

So you think it might be the bearings in the motor? I am thinking of taking it to a small motor repair shop, but am unsure. I'd rather put in time than money.

Thanks,

Jason

I had a motor where the fan sheave setscrew loosened and let the sheave rub against the motor. Made a terrible racket. If you take the motor out, turn it by hand and see if the sheave is rubbing. If not, then it could be bearings. Bearings are easy to get and not difficult to replace if you have a bearing puller.

Remove the belt cover. Put a face plate or sanding disk on the quill and rotate while listening for the noise while feeling and looking with no power applied. Watch the headstock inside (remove LOGO hole) and the open end to see if you can see what is hitting/rubbing. Operate and set the speed to FAST. Go thru the speed range if possible. If problem not seen, set speed to FAST and turn off. Walk the belt off the motor sheaves. Apply power to the headstock. Look and listen again. You may have to disassemble the headstock to locate the problem if nothing is found. A nice light will help you see inside the headstock. Bad bearings can normally be felt or heard when rotating by hand.

I find seeing, feeling and listening when turning the quill by hand & power will help locate most problems.

billmayo wrote:Remove the belt cover. Put a face plate or sanding disk on the quill and rotate while listening for the noise while feeling and looking with no power applied. Watch the headstock inside (remove LOGO hole) and the open end to see if you can see what is hitting/rubbing. Operate and set the speed to FAST. Go thru the speed range if possible. If problem not seen, set speed to FAST and turn off. Walk the belt off the motor sheaves. Apply power to the headstock. Look and listen again. You may have to disassemble the headstock to locate the problem if nothing is found. A nice light will help you see inside the headstock. Bad bearings can normally be felt or heard when rotating by hand.

I find seeing, feeling and listening when turning the quill by hand & power will help locate most problems.

It still made the sound with the motor completely removed- kind of a grinding, scratching metal on metal sound. I haven't yet opened the motor case. I was not immediately sure how to procede. Will look at it again later today.

Did you put the spacer behind the fan sheave on the motor shaft back in place? If the spacer is missing and the fan sheave rubs the motor housing you will hear a metal to metal rubbing sound. IIRC the fan sheave should be no further from the motor than 1/8 inch. The spacer should provide this clearance.
Bill V

Hmm. I didn't check that. I left the sheeves on the motor. They looked good, just needed a brushing and oiling.