Shopsmith Forums

I have very little experience with motors, but my current 120v single phase motor is making clicking noise when even turned by hand. It turns on by power but still clicks, so I turned it off to prevent any further damage. Could this be bearings inside the motor? Is this something repairable?

How do you know that the "clicking" is caused by the motor.

Check the belt for any possible cracks or breaks and check the pullys and their set screws for looseness. Disconnect the motor belt and run the motor by itself and see if the clicking goes away.
Bill V

Does not sound a bearing, they are usually constant, Is the clicking relative to motor speed? When turning by hand is the click just once per revolution?

ERLover wrote:Does not sound a bearing, they are usually constant, Is the clicking relative to motor speed? When turning by hand is the click just once per revolution?

I took the motor off the stand and its a click every revolution. It has nothing to do with the belt or tool.

Beave2012 wrote:

ERLover wrote:Does not sound a bearing, they are usually constant, Is the clicking relative to motor speed? When turning by hand is the click just once per revolution?

I took the motor off the stand and its a click every revolution. It has nothing to do with the belt or tool.

A bearing may or may not click every revolution. It could be something (debris) stuck on the rotor. I bet on a bearing.

The clicking stops if I put inward pressure on the spindle. Wonder if it something slid forward and it's hitting the front case. Might have to attempt to take it apart. Should be interesting...

Beave2012 wrote:The clicking stops if I put inward pressure on the spindle. Wonder if it something slid forward and it's hitting the front case. Might have to attempt to take it apart. Should be interesting...

There is nothing in a motor that rotates that can come loose and hit the case and still allow the motor to run basically normal under power. Again a bearing and they are not hard to replace.

If you open it up I would look for a wear mark of some type that 2 parts may hit to cause the click. I dont know if one of the bearings acts as a thrust bearing, like you stated, maybe something shifted, if so and one of the bearings acts as a thrust bearing, there your are. OBTW, I am no expert on motors.

So after taking it apart, the fan is slightly hitting the case and causing minor wear on the tips of the fan blade. The u shaped washer will prevent it from going close to the case. I may just let it wear off the tips of those blades since it's so minor in touching and the clip will prevent the fan from going forward more.