Questions about my deluxe lathe.

Cuemaster98

Cuemaster98

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I've already called and let Chris a message but I thought I might ask here to see if I can get an answer faster.

I was working on my lathe yesterday and for some reason when I turn the switch to off, the motor was still power on like it wasn't turn off. I try turning the switch to forward and then it run but can't see to turn it. All of a sudden I see smoke coming out of the switch box with a bad burn wire smell.....so I didn't know what to do other then pull the plug. I let the machine cool for a bit and decide to try and plug it back to see if I the switch will work and same problem....smoke again starting to come out!!
I've been using this lathe for over 2 years and this is the first time it has happened. Anyone know what wrong and how it may be fixed? I'm sure I will get a call from Chris but just wanted to know what happen and if it happened to anyone esle??

Thanks,
Duc.
 
Hi Duc

I had this same problem with my Deluxe. Wires were touching which was causing the short. What I did was open up the switch and put some insulation on the wires so they would stop touching. Depending on how bad yours is you may need to get a new switch and maybe fix the wires . It should be a relitivley simple fix.

Dustin
 
Thanks Dustin...I'll open it up tomorrow but I have a feeling it not going to look too good. What type of insulation did you use?

Duc.

LosOsosCues said:
Hi Duc

I had this same problem with my Deluxe. Wires were touching which was causing the short. What I did was open up the switch and put some insulation on the wires so they would stop touching. Depending on how bad yours is you may need to get a new switch and maybe fix the wires . It should be a relitivley simple fix.

Dustin
Click to expand...
 
Most often it is simply the switch is worn out and needs replaced. Sometimes blowing high pressure air into the switch will give you some more life out of the switch. Place a tube of phenolic or whatever you have over the whole switch stem and then use your air compressor hose and blow air down into it. If the contacts are just dirty and not totally fried you should get it back to working. They rate those switches in a non dusty environment to be good for about 3000 clicks. I wish I could find a replacement switch that never wears out. When changing the switch move one wire at a time over to the new switch as I will not be able to talk you through making the connections if you pull all the wires off.
 
Chris could probably tell you better then me through his records how long I've had mine, but It's seen a lot of use, and I've replaced My switch one time since I've had It.

It's kind of a tight fit with a lot of connections, but not hard to change the switch. Do like he said though and do 1 wire at a time, because they are not color coded, and if You loose track of them You'll have to trace each wire down down to the source and figure them out all over again. You can insulate the wires with heatshrink If you wanted, don't remember if I did that or not, but I use the stuff all the time on other projects, and It works great for that.

In My situation, I think saw dust got down inside the toggle part, and caused It to fry the contacts, that combined with many accidental reverses when turning the switch off. A place like radio shack may have those little toggle boots that go over them, I would recommend something like that on the new switch to keep dust out, but all I did was use a piece of heatshrink over the the nut and toggle to prevent dust from getting down in there again, and It seems to be working great.

Anyway It's a very simple process as long as You don't get the wires crossed. That and wearing t-nuts out have been My only real problems, and like I mentioned Mine has seen plenty of use over the years. All things considered that's pretty low maintenance in My book.

Good Luck with It,

Greg
 
I just changed the switch on mine as well. Took 10 minutes and fixed the problem.

Doug
 
Toggle switch

Cuemaster98 said:
Thanks Dustin...I'll open it up tomorrow but I have a feeling it not going to look too good. What type of insulation did you use?

Duc.
Click to expand...

Hi Duc: When you replace the switch make sure you buy a boot to keep the dust out. Mine caught on fire when I wasn't using it. Luckily I was in the shop.
Bought my switch and boot from Graingers--both for 15 bucks. The boots are
less than 3 bucks--Chris might think about placing them on his machines as this is a real problem with serious consequences.
 
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