Motor Refurb Recommendations Reno NV

[gmax137]

I have a 1950 Walker Turner bandsaw (14 inch). The motor (1/2 hp 110 volt) is making a bad sound, I assume its the bearings. Any members near Reno NV know a good motor shop? Ideally I'd like to get this original motor refurbished rather than plop a modern piece of crap in there. So I'm looking for a shop that knows how to fix/rebuild and not just recommend a new motor.

[mickeyf]

I'm not even in the same country, but I'm guessing that refurbing that motor might cost as much as a pretty decent new one. Motor bearings are generally inexpensive ($10-ish, or less) and easy to replace - I've done dozens of them. I'd confirm that the bearings are the issue (i.e. not a bent shaft rubbing) and if so look at replacing them myself. But then, I'm a tightwad do-it-yourselfer.

[rdfeil]

Plus 1 on the do it yourself recommendation. A single phase motor is very simple to work on. The biggest thing to be careful of is the start switch assembly. Just remove the pulley and then carefully remove the end bells. Under one end bell, usually the rear, is the start switch assembly. They are mounted and attached in various ways, but all are made to be removed for service. Just gently disassemble keeping track of parts and the way it was assembled. Pictures are a big help here. When you get it opened up you can feel the bearings and look for other issues. Pay close attention to the end bells. It is common for bearings to spin in the bell and wear on the outer seating surface. The bearings are a slip fit into the end bells and a press fit to the shaft. This is a basic starting point for basic repair....

[blwn31]

Boyles Future Technology in Auburn, CA rebuild just about any motor on the planet. It is a hole in the wall, crap everywhere kinda shop. Their number is 530-888-6290. I'm not affiliated or related to them, just a satisfied customer. They are a little bit of a drive for ya but...

Keith

[J Tiers]

YES! Replace them yourself. Not hard, the motors, if older, are made to be taken apart and fixed, so everything comes apart in a reasonable way, even though you may need to be careful, and look out for wires and fragile insulators.

Often, the end bell and switch will come off with little trouble, the rotor has a setup to push and open the start switch, and the two are not interconnected. Some are more complicated to get apart, so look first and use force only after careful looking..

You will probably want a suitable sized gear puller for the bearings.

[RMinMN]

if you decide to do the work yourself (I think you should) replace the bearings whether they are the problem or not. The bearings are cheap enough and the work to open the motor to do is later will be worth the cost of the bearings.

[BigMike782]

Sometimes it pays to have an experienced set of eyes look at something like this. I recently had a starter motor rebuilt. He said it was done and started listing parts replaced......fields?
Yup, when I got there he showed it to me and it was something I may have missed. It was worth it to me to have him do the work......correctly.

[Frugalguido]

As a native Renoite, the motor shop that most people think of is, Brown & Milbery

http://www.brownmilbery.com

They are on Gentry Lane off of South Virginia st..
But as others have mentioned price to repair vs purchasing new vs doing bearing yourself.

[gmax137]

Boyles Future Technology in Auburn, CA rebuild just about any motor on the planet. It is a hole in the wall, crap everywhere kinda shop. Their number is 530-888-6290. I'm not affiliated or related to them, just a satisfied customer. They are a little bit of a drive for ya but...

Keith

Thanks, My BIL is in Colfax and I get over that way pretty often.

As a native Renoite, the motor shop that most people think of is, Brown & Milbery

Thanks, I saw their website and going by the photo there they look like the kind of shop I was thinking about.

As to doing it myself, I am reluctant since this is a 70-year old motor and I'm concerned that if I opened it up the connecting wires/insulation would crumble, or something. OTOH, as J Tiers points out, older motors are made to be repaired. I would feel better if I had dissected a few otherwise dead ones for practice.

[MaxHeadRoom]

On a 1950 motor it would also be advisable to check the centrifugal switch if it has one, contacts etc, although it may be tricky to obtain a replacement for the age of motor.
Max.

[blwn31]

GMAX137 Did you ever get your motor repaired?

Keith

[gmax137]

Sorry, I just saw this. Yes I did, at Brown & Milbery in Reno. Nice folks, pretty fast turn-around, and about $100. Motor runs nice & quiet now. I would not hesitate to recommend them to others.

[Frugalguido]

Glad the recommendation worked out for you.

[wmgeorge]

Smart taking to a motor shop at the age of that motor my guess the starting switch and other parts besides the bearings needed replacement.

[Bented]

Ideally I'd like to get this original motor refurbished rather than plop a modern piece of crap in there.

You do realize that 70 years of development has occurred, why do you consider a modern motor a "piece of crap"?