HI Folks

Last year I bought a Clarke 5-speed bench drill from CPC.
(Budget end of things, I know - but should be serviceable, I thought..)

It has been very lightly used since then - probably not more than 1 - 2
hours total use and is installed in a dry, heated workshop.

Just now it has refused to start - the motor buzzes, but it won't spin
up to speed. When it was running a few moments before there was a slight
'roughness' in the sound of the motor - and, perhaps, a slight
'electric' smell - but, at the time it was running very lightly loaded -
so I don;t think I'd have 'cooked' it.

The official warranty is for 12 months (so that expired in April!) - so
any suggestions as to anything I could check to maybe get it working
again, please ? It has a 'two-button' NVR start-stop switch...

I've contacted CPC and Clarke via email - but I'm not holding my breath g

Thanks
Adrian

"Adrian Brentnall" wrote in message
...
HI Folks

Last year I bought a Clarke 5-speed bench drill from CPC.
(Budget end of things, I know - but should be serviceable, I thought..)

It has been very lightly used since then - probably not more than 1 - 2
hours total use and is installed in a dry, heated workshop.

Just now it has refused to start - the motor buzzes, but it won't spin up
to speed. When it was running a few moments before there was a slight
'roughness' in the sound of the motor - and, perhaps, a slight
'electric' smell - but, at the time it was running very lightly loaded -
so I don;t think I'd have 'cooked' it.

The official warranty is for 12 months (so that expired in April!) - so
any suggestions as to anything I could check to maybe get it working
again, please ? It has a 'two-button' NVR start-stop switch...

I've contacted CPC and Clarke via email - but I'm not holding my breath
g


When it's buzzing, give the motor a tweak by hand. If it then runs, it's an
induction motor and the starting capacitor has blown. If it doesn't, the
brushes may have stuck or something.


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

HI Bob

Bob Mannix wrote:
"Adrian Brentnall" wrote in message
...
HI Folks

Last year I bought a Clarke 5-speed bench drill from CPC.
(Budget end of things, I know - but should be serviceable, I thought..)

It has been very lightly used since then - probably not more than 1 - 2
hours total use and is installed in a dry, heated workshop.

Just now it has refused to start - the motor buzzes, but it won't spin up
to speed. When it was running a few moments before there was a slight
'roughness' in the sound of the motor - and, perhaps, a slight
'electric' smell - but, at the time it was running very lightly loaded -
so I don;t think I'd have 'cooked' it.

The official warranty is for 12 months (so that expired in April!) - so
any suggestions as to anything I could check to maybe get it working
again, please ? It has a 'two-button' NVR start-stop switch...

I've contacted CPC and Clarke via email - but I'm not holding my breath
g


When it's buzzing, give the motor a tweak by hand. If it then runs, it's an
induction motor and the starting capacitor has blown. If it doesn't, the
brushes may have stuck or something.


Thanks for the suggestion.
No - 'helping' the motor doesn't make it start....

So - take a look at the brushes, do you think ?

Adrian

In article ,
Adrian Brentnall wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion.
No - 'helping' the motor doesn't make it start....

So - take a look at the brushes, do you think ?

Pretty well all the low end ones I've seen have induction motors - less
gearing required. And regardless of it being a budget one should be
expected to last longer than a year.

I have a B&Q cheapy (painted green) bought many years ago which still
works just fine. And it gets heavy DIY use.

This is the smallest one on the Clarke site - and it definitely looks to
have an induction motor - and to have come from the same factory as mine.

http://www.clarkeinternational.com/s...illing-systems

--
*Learn from your parents' mistakes - use birth control.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

HI Dave

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Adrian Brentnall wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion.
No - 'helping' the motor doesn't make it start....

So - take a look at the brushes, do you think ?

Pretty well all the low end ones I've seen have induction motors - less
gearing required. And regardless of it being a budget one should be
expected to last longer than a year.

I have a B&Q cheapy (painted green) bought many years ago which still
works just fine. And it gets heavy DIY use.

This is the smallest one on the Clarke site - and it definitely looks to
have an induction motor - and to have come from the same factory as mine.

http://www.clarkeinternational.com/s...illing-systems


That's the one - so induction motor == no brushes ??

(sorry for my ignorance!)

All is not lost - I can go back the the ancient
B&D-mounted-in-a-drill-press arrangement for the time being -
just kind of annoying when something breaks after so little use...

Adrian Brentnall submitted this idea :
That's the one - so induction motor == no brushes ??

(sorry for my ignorance!)

All is not lost - I can go back the the ancient B&D-mounted-in-a-drill-press
arrangement for the time being -
just kind of annoying when something breaks after so little use...

So take it back, tell them you have only had two hours use out of it
and you can expect them to either repair it, replace it or refund you
less the value of the use you have had out of it. If necessary, quote
the SOG act at them.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

In article ,
Adrian Brentnall wrote:
This is the smallest one on the Clarke site - and it definitely looks to
have an induction motor - and to have come from the same factory as mine.

http://www.clarkeinternational.com/s...illing-systems


That's the one - so induction motor == no brushes ??

Correct. Induction motors are larger and less powerful than a brush motor
- but run at a lower speed so better for this purpose. They should also
have a *very* long life.

(sorry for my ignorance!)

All is not lost - I can go back the the ancient
B&D-mounted-in-a-drill-press arrangement for the time being -
just kind of annoying when something breaks after so little use...

Absolutely. I wish you luck with CPC, though - I had no success with an
out of warranty claim. You might do better with Clarke - their website
says they do actually repair things.

--
*Too many clicks spoil the browse *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

on 02/09/2009, Bob Mannix supposed :
When it's buzzing, give the motor a tweak by hand. If it then runs, it's an
induction motor and the starting capacitor has blown. If it doesn't, the
brushes may have stuck or something.

They are not, so far as I know, a capacitor start motor, nor have they
any brushes - just a straight DOL induction motor.

I have one similar if not the same. Try taking the drive belt off and
see if the motor runs without the belt. Is the buzzing definitely
coming from the motor, rather than the NVR's coil? If from the NVR, it
could be
that some dirt or etc. is preventing it closing fully.

I seem to remember there is an interlock on the belt drive cover, to
prevent it running with the belt exposed.

If you are still stuck, keep in mind that the 12 month limit on the
guarantee means nothing much. The law now allows you to return faulty
goods up to six years after purchase, 2 hours use is not what a
reasonable person would expect from such an item.



--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:13:58 +0100
Adrian Brentnall wrote:

HI Folks

Last year I bought a Clarke 5-speed bench drill from CPC.
(Budget end of things, I know - but should be serviceable, I thought..)

It has been very lightly used since then - probably not more than 1 - 2
hours total use and is installed in a dry, heated workshop.

Just now it has refused to start - the motor buzzes, but it won't spin
up to speed. When it was running a few moments before there was a slight
'roughness' in the sound of the motor - and, perhaps, a slight
'electric' smell - but, at the time it was running very lightly loaded -
so I don;t think I'd have 'cooked' it.

The official warranty is for 12 months (so that expired in April!) - so
any suggestions as to anything I could check to maybe get it working
again, please ? It has a 'two-button' NVR start-stop switch...

I've contacted CPC and Clarke via email - but I'm not holding my breath g

Thanks
Adrian

Sue them. The warranty is irrelevant. It was not of merchantable
quality.

R.

Adrian Brentnall wrote:
HI Folks

Last year I bought a Clarke 5-speed bench drill from CPC.
(Budget end of things, I know - but should be serviceable, I thought..)

It has been very lightly used since then - probably not more than 1 - 2
hours total use and is installed in a dry, heated workshop.

Just now it has refused to start - the motor buzzes, but it won't spin
up to speed. When it was running a few moments before there was a slight
'roughness' in the sound of the motor - and, perhaps, a slight
'electric' smell - but, at the time it was running very lightly loaded -
so I don;t think I'd have 'cooked' it.

The official warranty is for 12 months (so that expired in April!) - so
any suggestions as to anything I could check to maybe get it working
again, please ? It has a 'two-button' NVR start-stop switch...

I've contacted CPC and Clarke via email - but I'm not holding my breath g

Thanks
Adrian

Following up my own post....
Clarke's (bless 'em!) have kindly sent me a new motor start capacitor -
which fits in a 'pod' on the outside of the motor. I't rated 6uF /
450vAC. The original has two black wires that disappear into the innards
of the motor (don't want to go there ! g) - but the new one has a
black wire and a grey wire. Am I right in guessing that this is likely
an unpolarised capacitor, and can be connected in either way round ?

I was going to snip the original wires and butt-crimp the new connections...

Meanwhile - CPC who sold me the thing in the first place - have sent me
a second email .... as follows -

"My position within CPC is to deal with any feedback that comes through,
whether or not this be negative or positive. My role has been
established in order to liaise with the General Manager, Contact Centre
Manager and all other departments, passing information so that we can
strive to improve our service at all levels.
Whilst I do not wish to enter into any conflict our position remains the
same. Your order was placed 8th April 2009 and therefore out of any
warranty period for return. I am aware that a " hobby drill" is not to
be used in an everyday situation and please be assured that I am not
suggesting you have done so, however we are unable to prove how and in
what application this has been used and with it being out of its
warranty period we are unable to accept this back for replacement or credit.
As previously stated an inherent fault under the " not fit for purpose"
legislation would mean that the goods have been faulty since date of
despatch and you would have not had any use from this equipment, there
are no notes against this order to suggest otherwise. After the 1st 6
months from date of despatch it would be the customers responsibility to
prove that the item in question was not fit for purpose. If you would
like to return the part for inspection I am more than happy to do so but
please note this is not a return for credit or replacement. I will
request that our engineers take a look at the drill and ask their
advise, once this has been processed I will of course update you as to
their findings.

Should you wish to proceed with the above please feel free to contact me. "

Love the bit about 'strive to improve our service at all levels' -
but, in essence, the message is the same as the last email - "f**k off"!

.......nice !


So - top marks to Clarke's - CPC "nil point"

Shame that their delivery costs are so cheap - everything else about
their service is pretty awful!

Ho hum...
Adrian