How long should a motor last?

CroweCues

CroweCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
not sure if i should put this here or the ask the cuemaker section.

I have a 1/3hp motor and it is starting to seem really slugish. I have had this motor less than 6 months. so here are my questions.

1. how long should it last with little use?
2. can it be affected by a cold room?
3. could it possibly just be dirty from wood dust?
4. is this a sign that it is going to burn out soon?

would like to hear your opinions on this problem, thanks all.
 
A good electric motor can last you a lifetime. I can't give you a brand of motor to point you too but I generally go by this rule: You get what you pay for. If there's a certain spec motor and everyone is selling ABC's motor for $50 and they are also selling XYZ's motor for $200. Then most likely XYZ's motor is going to be better built and last you a longer time. Not an absolute, anything can die prematurely.

I have an old Craftsman Drill Press. It was owned by my Grandfather. He used is, my dad used it, friends, me and my brother growing up and now I have it in my basement. It still has the original motor and has no issues that I know of.

I bought a Harbor Freight 1" x 30" Belt Sander. The motor burnt up in under a year with very light use.... certainly under 50 hours. Same with several HF Handheld Angle Grinders I used rebuilding an old mansion. I'd replace the brushes 2 or 3 times then finally they'd die completely. I went through 2 or 3. Finally I broke down and bought a Dewalt and never had to mess with it or buy another one.

Not sure how this might help with your present issue. Just throwing in my $0.02

FYI, you mentioned dust. If they are getting dust in them I would change how they are located so it doesn't keep happening and certainly clean them out. I'd vacuum them out then blow out the rest with an air hose. Unplug first :)
 
First, blow the dust out of it. If it is cheaper motor it might have sleeve bearings that the lube in them has dried up. If lt has ball bearings they may be shot. It is not hard to take a motor apart to service the bearings.

If it has a start capacitor it could be bad.... the capacitor will be in the bump on the side of the motor....

Kim

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
 
Start by blowing out the dust. If it is a DC motor check the brushes, as many motor's brush life is only around 200 hours of use.

Speaking of brushes does anyone know a place that stocks Dremel Tool brushes? I know they did not give me anywhere close to 200 hours, but need replaced.
 
brushes

I thought Home Depot and Lowes carried the brushes for Dremel products. I could be wrong.
 
My ACE Hardware has them as well - 2 or 3 different kinds to match the different models of Dremels.
HTH
Gary
 
bruppert said:
A good electric motor can last you a lifetime. I can't give you a brand of motor to point you too but I generally go by this rule: You get what you pay for. If there's a certain spec motor and everyone is selling ABC's motor for $50 and they are also selling XYZ's motor for $200. Then most likely XYZ's motor is going to be better built and last you a longer time. Not an absolute, anything can die prematurely.

I have an old Craftsman Drill Press. It was owned by my Grandfather. He used is, my dad used it, friends, me and my brother growing up and now I have it in my basement. It still has the original motor and has no issues that I know of.

I bought a Harbor Freight 1" x 30" Belt Sander. The motor burnt up in under a year with very light use.... certainly under 50 hours. Same with several HF Handheld Angle Grinders I used rebuilding an old mansion. I'd replace the brushes 2 or 3 times then finally they'd die completely. I went through 2 or 3. Finally I broke down and bought a Dewalt and never had to mess with it or buy another one.

Not sure how this might help with your present issue. Just throwing in my $0.02

FYI, you mentioned dust. If they are getting dust in them I would change how they are located so it doesn't keep happening and certainly clean them out. I'd vacuum them out then blow out the rest with an air hose. Unplug first :)
Click to expand...

NEVER buying anything from HF that has an electric motor is a VERY good rule of thumb.
 
thanks.

thank you for all the help guys. i will look into more detail on what i have exactly and see if i cant find the issue. I have to agree on the you get what you pay for. I really did not expect the stock motor to last too long for sure.
 
cueman said:
Start by blowing out the dust. If it is a DC motor check the brushes, as many motor's brush life is only around 200 hours of use.

Speaking of brushes does anyone know a place that stocks Dremel Tool brushes? I know they did not give me anywhere close to 200 hours, but need replaced.
Click to expand...

If you can't find the brushes try S&H Hardware in Phila Pa on Castor ave. They were and still might be a large Dremel dealer.
http://www.shhardwareonline.com/hours/
 
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