Pillar Drill Problem

[Topcat47]

I have a small blue bench pillar drill. It's a godsend for smaller projects and mine has just packed up on me. There's no makers name on it now but I suspect it to be an old Draper or Clarke. It's not done a lot of work but now it won't start. I press the on button and the motor buzzes but does not turn. trying to "kick start" it by turning the chuck is ineffectual and turning the motor pulley through a few degrees isn't effective either so I reckon it's not a commutator problem. It may be the brushes or the starting condenser, I suppose but I've lost the handbook that came with it and before I start ripping it apart in the hope that something obvious is wrong, I thought I'd ask the forum in the hope that someone with a bit more electrical nouse than me can throw light on the problem. I am a Scots trained mechanical engineer so I've absorbed the caledonian approach to spending money needlessly.

For some reason I cannot attach photos of the beast. The "Attach files" button on screen is inactive.

 

[sarabande]

Some drills have an ID tag under the foot plate or the shroud for the pulleys. Any badges ?

 

[Topcat47]

No badges of any kind. The labels on the motor and drill are paper and I guess the original logo was too.

 

[sarabande]

Ooops, sorry.

A pic is the only way from here.

Can you store pics on e.g. Imgur or similar, and then post the link here ?

 

[Topcat47]

I have had a good look at photos of the drill and there was a label on the right hand side of the cover which looks as if the legend might have been Clarke.
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[Topcat47]

I've tried attaching photos here but the website returns a message the t a problem has occurred. Not a lot of help. I'll try sending via a PM.

 

[VicS]

I've tried attaching photos here but the website returns a message the t a problem has occurred. Not a lot of help. I'll try sending via a PM.

Make the photo smaller.
I usually do that with Windows paint.

You motor will either have brushes and a commutator or will be an induction motor which will not but most likely ( but not necessarily} have a starting capacitor

If it has brushes , check/ replace them

On a drilling machine Id expect to see an induction motor but if the capacitor fails it'll probably blow the fuse if you try to start it.

Many many decades ago we used to have to start our lathe by winding a cord round a pulley and spinning it fairly fast as we pressed the button. We soon got a capacitor to replace the missing one.

 

[Wing Mark]

Is it like this:
Drill Press Bench Top Speed Pillar Drill Press & Table Stand 13mm Chuck 350W 5057957029795 | eBay

There is a condenser/capacitor on the back of the motor. Under the little cover.
I've had one fail, got the part on ebay, I can't remember the value in uF You just need to search ebay for a 'motor capacitor' of that value and voltage.

 

[Tradewinds]

On my Clarke bench drill it was the run capacitor. Swopped it out.

 

[sarabande]

TC47, are you getting the 'problem' message with these icons ?

 

[LadyInBed]

Another vote for Start Capacitor.

 

[VicS]

Make the photo smaller.
I usually do that with Windows paint.

Ive had to reduce this one to 25% of original
Then I just copy to clipboard and past it in without messing with any of the attach files or insert image nonsense



( if anyone wants a very old lathe contact me )

 

[Mister E]

Ive had to reduce this one to 25% of original
Then I just copy to clipboard and past it in without messing with any of the attach files or insert image nonsense

View attachment 126622

( if anyone wants a very old lathe contact me )

You an were near North Wales? If so yes please.

 

[Boater Sam]

Best to replace the capacitor, it will likely be working then.

 

[mickywillis]

Try turning the drill on and then "VERY CAREFULLY!!!" spin the drive pulley with your hand in the normal direction of rotation WATCH OUT FOR HANDS/FINGERS BEING TRAPPED UNDER PULLEY BY BELT!! If the motor then runs, as others have said, start capacitor is faulty.

 

[penfold]

Ive had to reduce this one to 25% of original
Then I just copy to clipboard and past it in without messing with any of the attach files or insert image nonsense

View attachment 126622

( if anyone wants a very old lathe contact me )

Even knackered ML7s get decent money, you should not have difficulty marketing it. As more or less everyone has said the OP's problem is the capacitor.

 

[Bilgediver]

I have a small blue bench pillar drill. It's a godsend for smaller projects and mine has just packed up on me. There's no makers name on it now but I suspect it to be an old Draper or Clarke. It's not done a lot of work but now it won't start. I press the on button and the motor buzzes but does not turn. trying to "kick start" it by turning the chuck is ineffectual and turning the motor pulley through a few degrees isn't effective either so I reckon it's not a commutator problem. It may be the brushes or the starting condenser, I suppose but I've lost the handbook that came with it and before I start ripping it apart in the hope that something obvious is wrong, I thought I'd ask the forum in the hope that someone with a bit more electrical nouse than me can throw light on the problem. I am a Scots trained mechanical engineer so I've absorbed the caledonian approach to spending money needlessly.

For some reason I cannot attach photos of the beast. The "Attach files" button on screen is inactive.

It will be an induction motor and it sounds like the centrifugal switch on the rotor at the non drive end is stuck. Not unusual if in a damp place. Some times if you can spin it fast enough to run to hen the switch frees otherwise it's a strip down job.

 

[rotrax]

Ive had to reduce this one to 25% of original
Then I just copy to clipboard and past it in without messing with any of the attach files or insert image nonsense

View attachment 126622

( if anyone wants a very old lathe contact me )

Glad you posted that pic!

By comparison my untidy and seriously needing a clean lathe is quite together

 

[Topcat47]

Is it like this:
Drill Press Bench Top Speed Pillar Drill Press & Table Stand 13mm Chuck 350W 5057957029795 | eBay

There is a condenser/capacitor on the back of the motor. Under the little cover.
I've had one fail, got the part on ebay, I can't remember the value in uF You just need to search ebay for a 'motor capacitor' of that value and voltage.

Thats almost identical.

 

[Topcat47]

Try turning the drill on and then "VERY CAREFULLY!!!" spin the drive pulley with your hand in the normal direction of rotation WATCH OUT FOR HANDS/FINGERS BEING TRAPPED UNDER PULLEY BY BELT!! If the motor then runs, as others have said, start capacitor is faulty.

I can't do that as there's a safety interlock that stops power to the motor when the cover's open