Big trouble in paradise

[Wildman]

a visit to the workshop yesterday (4 miles from the house) and I find a number of machines had motor problems. The tablesaw started slow but finally got up to speed however no guts the slightest cut and it stalled, same thing happened to me small bandsaw and thinking damp run caps, the big bandsaw was ok, disk sanded seemed ok but smelled a bit after a while. Saw running and linisher switched on and the trip went, linisher on its own runs fine. Power is supplied by a small 3.5kva diesel genny whilst the bigger one is being serviced no mains on site. I am tempted to run everything to dry it out a bit but don't want to damage anything any motor engineers who can advise please. No heating in the shop so maybe time I sorted a wood burner to keep the damp at bay. not easy to keep it fed 24 hrs a day though.

 

[sunnybob]

I'd look to the power source first. I was going to suggest that even before I read that you had a generator.

Check all cable connections, and make sure none of the cables are wet or laying in damp patches.

 

[novocaine]

pop out brushes and give them a clean (on any machines that have brushed motors, obviously), add a touch of grease to bearings and clean the commutator with a splash of contact cleaner. it's pretty normal this time of year to see grease thicken up and wood dust between contacts can cause issues especially when they swell with moisture in the air. my belt sander is due a service for this very reason (had to do the scroll saw last year for the same reason). also do as sunny bob says and check the generator too, although the fact the large (and I'm guessing induction motor driven) bandsaw is working suggests it's the machines not the genny.

 

[n0legs]

3.5 Kva isn't a big genny, insufficient supply would cause the underperformance of the machinery.

 

[CHJ]

3.5 Kva isn't a big genny, insufficient supply would cause the underperformance of the machinery.

+1
I seriously doubt the generator is man enough for the job, I would not advise trying to start and run any equipment that is reluctant to start, you could overheat the motor windings or blow any starting capacitors if they don't spin up to speed in a realistic time.
With insufficient back emf being generated from slow start or stalled speed because of load they could be drawing excessive current which will rapidly produce excessive heat.

 

[Wildman]

the genny runs the 2hp motor on my milling machine just fine. So update I have been in the workshop today, table saw is sorted and back to full power, I think the run capacitor is/was the problem as it would run up to max speed then die back before running up to max speed again. However leaving it running for 30 mins seems to have sorted it (reformed the capacitor) same with the small bandsaw although the biggest problen was an undersized blade making everything very tight, now sorted with a replacement blade that works fine). I normally use a 6.5KVA genny but it needs work so managing with the little mobile one for a while. I spent the day in the workshop running all of the motors I could think of to make sure they did not develop a problem. The 6" planer complained and failed to start so I removed the belt, motor is fine and ran that for 30 mins the bearings on the plane spindle are a little tight so will dismantle and service. All metal surfaces now polished with a silicone free beeswax that smells of lavender, makes a change to woody smell, hee hee.

 

[selectortone]

Have you checked the a.c. with a voltmeter? If the generator isn't man enough and the voltage is running low you are in danger of damaging the motors/electronics in your gear.