On 27 Jun 2009 20:36:33 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
MM writes:

Not until I dismantled the motor and housing. The impeller part of the
motor (inside the big round mounting boss) was stuffed full of carpet
fluff. I had to use tweezers to prise some of it out.

However, after a thorough clean and reassembly, the cutting out still
occurs.

Does the motor spin freely by hand (or are bearings stiff)?

Yes.

Does motor slow down before cutting out?

No. It just stops as if I had switched off the switch.

That can be caused
by windings which have been damaged by overheating and start
shorting out.

Could also be knackered brushes, although failure symptoms
are usually a bit different.

No, the brushes are fine. The machine has had very little use.

Having now dismantled the machine I have not found ANYthing that could
be a thermal fuse, at least, not at the motor end. Inside the handle
there is a small PCB (approx 50mm x 40mm) to which the cables to and
from the switch are connected. The PCB has what looks like a
capacitor, since it's marked uF. It is yellow, rectangular, about 20mm
x 15 x 5.

Probably interferance suppressor.

That's what I think. The Panasonic also has a cap, but it is just
loose on the wires, not mounted on a PCB.


There is also a resistor and what looks like a voltage
regulator.

Could the thermal protection be an integral part of the motor?

Yes.

That would be the worst situation, since new motors (I'm told) are
unobtainable for this model. Even if they were they'd cost more than
an equivalent new machine. One web site I looked at said £59.99 (for
the motor [though not in stock and no info re restocking]) and I only
paid £34 for the machine in the first place.

Thanks for getting back to me. The Panasonic is still going great
guns! The Hoover looks like it's destined for the tip, though, since I
expect the motor is a sealed unit. It looks pretty much like it.

MM