Tbale Saw Motor Trouble

[Ickisrulz]

I have a Grizzly table saw with a 1.5 HP motor. It's about 20 years old.

Sometimes the motor starts and sometimes it just hums. It can be hot or cold, but there is no pattern to it working or not.

I replaced the starting capacitor because it was cheap even though the old one was not leaking. Still not working consistently.

Any ideas?

[Dutchie]

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Grizzly+table+saw+schematics&t=h_&iar=images&iax=1&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.circuit-projects.com%2Ffp%2Fmotor-driver%2Fschematic.jpg

something to see here on some pics ?

a looose contact ?

broken wiring ?

Hans.

[shaune509]

bad starter switch in motor, or saw dust collecting in the starter switch. the starter switch connects to the capacitor and opens up at full rpm, if contacts are bad or open the motor will not spin up.
Shaune509

[wlkjr]

bad starter switch in motor, or saw dust collecting in the starter switch. the starter switch connects to the capacitor and opens up at full rpm, if contacts are bad or open the motor will not spin up.
Shaune509
This would be my guess also. Try blowing out the motor with some low pressure air.

[NyFirefighter357]

I'm thinking same thing, first try to blow the motor clean with an air compressor.

[jsizemore]

Do you have a voltage and amp meter? It's most likely belt driven. Disconnect the belt and see if it still has a start issue. Disconnected and NOT plugged in, the blade arbor and motor pulley should spin freely when spun by hand.

[bdicki]

I have an old craftsman table saw that I have to spin the blade before I turn it on or it will just hum or run backwards.

[wlkjr]

I have an old craftsman table saw that I have to spin the blade before I turn it on or it will just hum or run backwards.
Most likely the capacitor but my old one did that a few times and a blast of air into the motor blew out some chips that was the culprit. I put a piece of cardboard over the motor and never had it happen again.

[44man]

Usually a capacitor start does not have the centrifugal switch inside. The switch is usually on brush less motors.
Have to watch brushes on motors made in China, brush springs get hot and lose tension. I had that with my Smithy lathe. I got new ones free but found springs in my spring can to replace before the new ones arrived. Been running years now without a problem.
You can tell if you have the internal switch from the loud click after it spins up. It does the same as the capacitor by supplying heavy start current but uses other winding's.
The capacitor stores amperage that is released to increase the magnetic force, if it fails the motor won't start.

[FredBuddy]

The problem with my craftsman was sawdust.

What's the temperature where you use it ?
My drill press likes 60+.

[DickelDawg]

Check and maybe change brushes but if you change brushes be sure you clean the commutator bars.

[Ickisrulz]

It runs with no load attached. As soon as there is a load, it will just hum.

[bullet maker 57]

Did you check bearings/bushings. Might need some lube.

[jsizemore]

Does the blade/arbor spin easily?

[Ickisrulz]

Does the blade/arbor spin easily?

Yes. The blade is not hung up on anything.

[jsizemore]

Since you don't have the tools/meters to see the electricity for you, I'd check all the connections from the plug to the motor. If you have a spare appliance cord you could bypass the existing cord and start switch to see if either of those is your problem. If you eliminate all other sources of trouble then whatever remains is the problem.

[Ickisrulz]

I ordered a new motor. I'll see if that gets the saw up and running.

[HABCAN]

My old Craftsman ran on 220............on 110 it just hummed, no start.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Do you know if the on/off switch is actually working? My brother in law had a lumber yard and his table saw was behaving much as you describe. I took the cover off the switch and found it packed with sawdust. I cleaned it out and it worked fine.

[Ickisrulz]

Do you know if the on/off switch is actually working? My brother in law had a lumber yard and his table saw was behaving much as you describe. I took the cover off the switch and found it packed with sawdust. I cleaned it out and it worked fine.

That is a good question. I'll look into it.

[Geezer in NH]

Mine did that I changed the brushes and good as new.

[Ickisrulz]

The switch is fine and I have power going through both hot wires.

[jsizemore]

I was hopeing it was the cheap solution. Shucks!

[wlkjr]

Just for the heck of it, read the voltage at the receptacle with nothing plugged into it.

[Ickisrulz]

Just for the heck of it, read the voltage at the receptacle with nothing plugged into it.

The only voltage meter I have for 120/240 is a light type. It lights up when stuck in the holes. It reads 240 at the wires I hook into the motor.

I took the motor apart so I could see if there was anything obvious. There is not. There are no contacts to clean, etc.

I have messed with it enough and don't feel like driving it to a repair shop and hoping the repair will be less than a new one. I will be receiving a new motor in a couple days.

[wlkjr]

A new motor is probably the easiest solution.

[mold maker]

Hold on to the old one to tinker with at a later date. Having a spare motor is like money in the bank. Lots of projects are possible simply because you have a motor.

[Ickisrulz]

Hold on to the old one to tinker with at a later date. Having a spare motor is like money in the bank. Lots of projects are possible simply because you have a motor.

I'll hold on to it until I either learn some more or decide it is just taking up space.