Jet Bandsaw Diagnostic Help Needed
 

I have a Jet 18" bandsaw with a 1 1/2 hp motor. The motor is wired for 220v.
It starts and runs, but placing even the slightest load on it slows it down
dramatically, then blows the breaker. This is a brand new behavior. When I
turn the blade by hand, it moves smoothly and easily. I'm going to try another
blade in case this one is dull, but haven't yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug

Douglas Johnson wrote:

I have a Jet 18" bandsaw with a 1 1/2 hp motor. The motor is wired for 220v.
It starts and runs, but placing even the slightest load on it slows it down
dramatically, then blows the breaker. This is a brand new behavior. When I
turn the blade by hand, it moves smoothly and easily. I'm going to try another
blade in case this one is dull, but haven't yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug



If the blade doesn't help I'd try changing the breaker.

--
Jack Novak

Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

It sounds like a problem I'm having with my drill press. From what little I
know about electric motors, it's probably a start/run capacitor. I doubt
it's the blade, though.

Kevin
--
=====
"Nova" wrote in message
...
Douglas Johnson wrote:

I have a Jet 18" bandsaw with a 1 1/2 hp motor. The motor is wired for
220v.
It starts and runs, but placing even the slightest load on it slows it
down
dramatically, then blows the breaker. This is a brand new behavior.
When I
turn the blade by hand, it moves smoothly and easily. I'm going to try
another
blade in case this one is dull, but haven't yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug



If the blade doesn't help I'd try changing the breaker.

--
Jack Novak

Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

Could be. Or you might have lost a leg (from 240, and only have 120). That
could be in your house wiring, in your motor, or most likely the jumpers that
switch the BS to 240.
GerryG

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 15:50:15 -0400, "Kevin Singleton"
wrote:

It sounds like a problem I'm having with my drill press. From what little I
know about electric motors, it's probably a start/run capacitor. I doubt
it's the blade, though.

Kevin

sound like only one 120 leg is working to me also, grab the voltmeter and
check the outlet.. By the way, when you switched it to 220 did it perform
better? I have the 18" jet also, (still on 115v). Love the saw, just a
little underpowered. Just wondering if the switch to 220 would help with
this.


"Douglas Johnson" wrote in message
...
I have a Jet 18" bandsaw with a 1 1/2 hp motor. The motor is wired for
220v.
It starts and runs, but placing even the slightest load on it slows it
down
dramatically, then blows the breaker. This is a brand new behavior. When
I
turn the blade by hand, it moves smoothly and easily. I'm going to try
another
blade in case this one is dull, but haven't yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 19:41:58 GMT, "Dave jackson"
wrote:

sound like only one 120 leg is working to me also, grab the voltmeter and
check the outlet.. By the way, when you switched it to 220 did it perform
better? I have the 18" jet also, (still on 115v). Love the saw, just a
little underpowered. Just wondering if the switch to 220 would help with
this.


Switching to 220 "probably" wouldn't make much difference in the observed power
output. But it depends on the overall electrical configuration of the
installation. Running at 220 would cut the amperage draw in half. That would
reduce the voltage loss (drop) through the service wiring by half. If a
significant voltage drop were causing the power loss, running 220 would show
improvement. There would be improvement with 220, it just might not be enough to
be noticeable.

I run everything possible in my shop at 220 to try to keep the amperage as low
as possible. I have a 60 amp tap off the service entrance to power the shop at
the end of almost 200 feet of feeder cable. At 110 with lights, air conditioner
(Kansas summers can be brutally hot), dust collector, etc., it's pretty easy to
use up 60 amps in a hurry.

Anybody know a source for 220v light bulbs? The local Borg clones look at me
like I've got a loose screw when I ask them. I can't seem to find any 'murrican
sources in all the Euopean results I get from Google.


Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS USA

"Dave jackson" wrote:

sound like only one 120 leg is working to me also, grab the voltmeter and
check the outlet.. By the way, when you switched it to 220 did it perform
better? I have the 18" jet also, (still on 115v). Love the saw, just a
little underpowered. Just wondering if the switch to 220 would help with
this.

I never ran it on 115, switched to 220 before I plugged it in for the first
time. Like one of the posters, I run everything I can on 220. I don't expect
any real difference in tool power, but they do seem to start a little quicker
with less fuss.

The puzzle about a single 120 leg being blown is how the saw would run at all.
There is no neutral in the circuit, just a safety ground. Unless there is
something dangerously wrong with the saw wiring... Hmm, I better check it.
Thanks all,
Doug

Always go with the cheapest alternative when diagnosing a problem.
Changing the blade might be it, though I doubt it but it wouldn't
hurt. By "slightest load" do you mean resawing or cutting 3/4" stock?
Resawing puts quite a load on the motor.

My humble guess is that it's the motor not the house wiring. Check the
wiring on the motor. If it looks okay take the motor off and take it
to a electric motor repair person to get it diagnosed.

Layne

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 16:36:22 GMT, Douglas Johnson
wrote:

I have a Jet 18" bandsaw with a 1 1/2 hp motor. The motor is wired for 220v.
It starts and runs, but placing even the slightest load on it slows it down
dramatically, then blows the breaker. This is a brand new behavior. When I
turn the blade by hand, it moves smoothly and easily. I'm going to try another
blade in case this one is dull, but haven't yet.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug

Hi Kevin,

I doubt it's the start capacitor. If it were a faulty start capacitor
the motor probably wouldn't even turn over, especially given the
initial load a BS motor must overcome.

Layne

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 15:50:15 -0400, "Kevin Singleton"
wrote:

It sounds like a problem I'm having with my drill press. From what little I
know about electric motors, it's probably a start/run capacitor. I doubt
it's the blade, though.

Kevin

In article ,
Tom Veatch wrote:
On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 19:41:58 GMT, "Dave jackson"
wrote:

sound like only one 120 leg is working to me also, grab the voltmeter and
check the outlet.. By the way, when you switched it to 220 did it perform
better? I have the 18" jet also, (still on 115v). Love the saw, just a
little underpowered. Just wondering if the switch to 220 would help with
this.


Switching to 220 "probably" wouldn't make much difference in the observed power
output. But it depends on the overall electrical configuration of the
installation. Running at 220 would cut the amperage draw in half. That would
reduce the voltage loss (drop) through the service wiring by half. If a
significant voltage drop were causing the power loss, running 220 would show
improvement. There would be improvement with 220, it just might not be enough to
be noticeable.

I run everything possible in my shop at 220 to try to keep the amperage as low
as possible. I have a 60 amp tap off the service entrance to power the shop at
the end of almost 200 feet of feeder cable. At 110 with lights, air conditioner
(Kansas summers can be brutally hot), dust collector, etc., it's pretty easy to
use up 60 amps in a hurry.

Anybody know a source for 220v light bulbs? The local Borg clones look at me
like I've got a loose screw when I ask them. I can't seem to find any 'murrican
sources in all the Euopean results I get from Google.

Any _industrial_ lighting supply house will be able to get them.
"Let your fingers to the walking" applies. grin

Be advised that for the larger wattages (100+), 'mogul' base is common.

Layne wrote:

Always go with the cheapest alternative when diagnosing a problem.
Changing the blade might be it, though I doubt it but it wouldn't
hurt. By "slightest load" do you mean resawing or cutting 3/4" stock?
Resawing puts quite a load on the motor.

Cutting 3/4" stock.

My humble guess is that it's the motor not the house wiring. Check the
wiring on the motor. If it looks okay take the motor off and take it
to a electric motor repair person to get it diagnosed.

The capacitor has died. I'll get it replaced and see what happens.

-- Doug

More likely a run capacitor, but they're sometimes in the same package.

Kevin
--
=====
Layne wrote in message ...
Hi Kevin,

I doubt it's the start capacitor. If it were a faulty start capacitor
the motor probably wouldn't even turn over, especially given the
initial load a BS motor must overcome.

How did you determine that the capacitor is faulty? I need to check on my
drill press, and I'd like to know how it's done.

Thanks.

Kevin
--
=====
"Douglas Johnson" wrote in message
...

The capacitor has died. I'll get it replaced and see what happens.

"Kevin Singleton" wrote:

How did you determine that the capacitor is faulty? I need to check on my
drill press, and I'd like to know how it's done.

It was real easy. It had a hole melted into it. grin
-- Doug

Ha! Maybe I'll be that lucky, too!

Kevin
--
=====
"Douglas Johnson" wrote in message
...
It was real easy. It had a hole melted into it. grin
-- Doug

"Kevin Singleton" wrote:

It sounds like a problem I'm having with my drill press. From what little I
know about electric motors, it's probably a start/run capacitor. I doubt
it's the blade, though.

It was the capacitor. I replaced it and the bandsaw is back to its old self.
It only cost $8 from an electric motor shop, so it may be easier to just to try
a new one instead of diagnosising the old one.
-- Doug