I need some assistance please

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Texatdurango

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I have the Jet mini lathe and three years ago I added the PSI variable speed controller ( http://www.pennstateind.com/store/TCLVSKIT.html ) .

Recently it has been acting up, more and more frequently and before I just trash the whole kit and order a new kit I thought there might be a simpler, less expensive option like tinkering with or replacing just certain parts. If I can't fix it this weekend, I'll order another kit.

The problem is that the only thing I know about electrical things is that need to be plugged in to work!

When I flip the switch on, usually the lathe starts right up and runs fine, changing speeds when I rotate the dial. Lately when I flip the switch on the lathe it either does nothing or will start really slow with a jerky motion with the speed dial having no affect on anything. THEN out of the blue without touching anything it fires up like normal just like nothing happened. Sometime when I flip the switch off you can still feel a jerky motion for a few seconds if holding the hand wheel or have your hand on the chuck as if the electricity is still trying to turn the pulleys.

This would happen several times in a day then would dissapear for months then the same thing would happen again then dissapear for months. Who knows, perhaps tomorrow I'll go out to the shop and it will work just fine but I figure it's time to solve the problem and fix it.

The motor runs perfectly as does the speed control dial and the on/off switch when things are normal so I can't find anything to point a finger at.

Any ideas as to what the culprit could be and what to possibly look for?
 
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Are there moving parts inside the kit? I know the temperature in my shop affects my speed changes until everything warms up. My ShopSmith and VS Jet lathe both have sheeves that move to change speeds. On the SS, I have had to do some lubricating on the shafts, especially when it is cold. The Jet is balky at changing speeds initially when it is cold.

My $.02, worth at least what was paid for it.

Tomas
 
George, I have a Jet mini with factory VS. Mine started the same problems a couple years back. Bad on/off toggle switch. Unplug lathe, remove switch and take to local hardware store. Mine local hardware had a match and problem has not been back. Hope yours is as easy.
 
There's a circuit board inside the speed control box.
Most likely it has a loose connection or a cold solder that has to be resolder.
Intermittent problems like that, are always due to something being loose.
 
This subject and problem for this motor and switch came up about 2 years ago and the culprit for most people, including me, was the switch. I didn't believe the discussions and thought it was the circuit board. But I tried cleaning the switch and it worked.

I am not going to say that it IS the switch in your case, because it "might be" something else. However, would check out the switch first.
 
If I had that problem I would check the motor brushes for wear and acring since three years is about the life of motor brushes. Then I would clean the switch and check it for connectivity with a multimeter.
 
I have experienced similar problems with electronic speed controllers albeit not on a lathe the cause has normally been traced back to the circuit board or temperature issues e.g resistors overheating even condensation or dust etc getting on the board and in effect "blocking" the flow of power or adding to resistance. There is a cleaner for circuit boards which i'd guess you can find through Radio Shack or the like i use pure turpentine just make sure its wiped dry before you restart preferably with a tack cloth if thats not the cure its probably cheaper to replace rather than get it fixed
 
George; There is a Trouble shooting document here.
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Reference/DriveTroubleshooting.pdf

This is intended for Mini-metal lathes, but the basic information is certainly applicable.

The most common faults as others have pointed out.
UNPLUG THE LATHE!
1. Power switch. Replace.
2. Speed Control Pot. Clean with contact cleaner or DNA
3. Motor Brushes. Inspect brushes. Replace if needed.
4. Bad Solder Joint on controller board. Inspect for bad joints or loose components.

Hope this helps....
 
I have a PSI vs and it was doing the same thing. I took the cover off and found a wire had a loose connection where it plugged in. I temporarily put it back to where it would work but it kept giving me problems. I called PSI and they sent me a new box. I installed it and it is like new again.
 
My first thought was the variable speed potentiometer. You can (or could) buy tuner cleaner at Radio Shack. It has the same type of long, skinny tube you can insert in the nozzle like WD-40. You can more accurately spray it into the pot. Once you've sprayed inside it, turn it back and forth many times. It's non-conductive, so you can turn the lathe on immediately to see if it works. Good luck!
 
Well I'm operational again!

Thank you everyone for the tips and suggestions and Randy, that PDF file will indeed be filed away for future reference. It turns out that the on/off switch was indeed the culprit. When I opened the switch itself the body just fell apart. Obviously there has been a lot of arching between the contacts since all the rubber and plastic parts were smoked pretty bad and the contacts were shot. I didn't bother cleaning anything up, instead headed for the local Ace hardware and they had just what I needed.

If this ever happens to anyone else, the switch is available at your local Ace hardware as a Heavy Duty Toggle Switch, Double pole - single throw, part number 31505.

I thought I was going into panic mode since a lady dropped by yesterday Christmas shopping and bought a few pens and 27 bottle stoppers, 12 of which were already made but 10 needed to be made. It never dawned on me to just use my larger Jet lathe! First time it's been turned on in two years and actually was fun using, the variable speed goes all the way to dead stop and reverses when you need to unscrew a stopper from the mandrel so.......all in all, it was a good day!
 

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George:
The sound like a pot (volume control, if you will). Many times a shot of contact cleaner (available at many or most Radio Shacks) will temporarily remedy the problem.

If not, the pots cost less than $10 at Radio Shack. Take the old one with you. The sales assistant can read the ohms from the body of the old pot. It is a matter of un-soldiering and re-soldering.
 
Didn't see your previous post. I would have bet good money on the switch or speed control switch. And FWIW, you should have bought 2 or 3 switches. They Ace oned go out pretty quickly and sometimes they don't have the switch with the "lugs" in stock. I also keep an extra speed control switch in the cabinet.

Aren't you glad you check the $5 problem before replacing the lathe:)
 
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PenMan1 said:
Didn't see your previous post. I would have bet good money on the switch or speed control switch. And FWIW, you should have bought 2 or 3 switches. They Ace oned go out pretty quickly and sometimes they don't have the switch with the "lugs" in stock. I also keep an extra speed control switch in the cabinet.

Aren't you glad you check the $5 problem before replacing the lathe:)[/quote]

Nah, I love throwing money away! Actually the lathe itself works great but I was prepared to buy a new variable speed control kit however. PSI has them on sale now for $99 and I think I saw free shipping mentioned. Seems like that's what I paid for mine several years ago, maybe they are always on sale! :smile:
Click to expand...
 
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George:
I just gave my little 1014 VSI a much needed promotion to dedicated drilling station, this weekend. I lost count on the Jet at 5,000 pens (nearly 2 years ago).

The "local hardware store" switches don't seem to last as long as the "regulation" Jet switch. THE ONLY things I've done to this little lathe is replace a few belts, switches and pots. I did replace the head bearing (only to find it was the live center making all the racket).

I hope the new Delta can perform as well as "my little Jet workhorse". If not, "Benny the Jet" will stand ready and eager at the other end of the work bench.

NOW, if I could only find a TRUCK that could perform like the Jet.......
 
PenMan1 said:
........NOW, if I could only find a TRUCK that could perform like the Jet...... .
Click to expand...

That's easy......... buy a GM with the Duramax diesel! :biggrin: I have a 2006 dually crewcab that has towed a 19,000 lb fifth wheel all over the country twice and has NEVER been in the shop for anything but routine maintenance. THis is the longest I have ever kept a vehicle in my life, usually I trade every two years or less.

Maybe I shouldn't have said that, now we'll probably hear from one of the Ford weenies or one of the guys who can't afford anything but a Dodge!:eek:
 
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