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Motor question

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Motor question

Postby RogerS » 24 May 2017, 19:24

I went to use our old Flymo mower. Trying to start it, it buzzed for a bit and so I shook it about and it begrudgingly started up. Hardly cut the grass...if anything, just flattened it.

Long story short....it was rotating in the wrong direction? If I spin it in the right direction then it will start up.

Didn't think they could go in reverse.
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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 24 May 2017, 22:37

Strange!

My flymo is very old model back from the days when they were blue and white and uses an Electrolux made DC motor. I've never seen a flymo without some sort of brush motor as they need a higher speed than induction motors can deliver (max is nominal 3000 rpm on 50Hz mains) and it is only induction motors that can go in reverse under fault conditions.

I presume that you have not been tinkering inside and managed to reverse the field windings?

Off the wall thought.... Are you sure it is running backwards or have you just put the blade on wrongly.
i.e. will it hover but won't cut or is it actually sucking itself down onto the grass which will make it very difficult to move at all??

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby RogerS » 25 May 2017, 05:01

9fingers wrote:Strange!

My flymo is very old model back from the days when they were blue and white and uses an Electrolux made DC motor. I've never seen a flymo without some sort of brush motor as they need a higher speed than induction motors can deliver (max is nominal 3000 rpm on 50Hz mains) and it is only induction motors that can go in reverse under fault conditions.

I presume that you have not been tinkering inside and managed to reverse the field windings?

Off the wall thought.... Are you sure it is running backwards or have you just put the blade on wrongly.
i.e. will it hover but won't cut or is it actually sucking itself down onto the grass which will make it very difficult to move at all??

Bob


LOL...not fiddled with it at all, Guv. Honest. It's not a hover version but a wheeled one..maybe not a Flymo...must check.
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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 03 Jun 2017, 10:01

Did you solve this mystery Roger?
Just been cutting my grass and recalled your question.

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby RogerS » 03 Jun 2017, 10:37

9fingers wrote:Did you solve this mystery Roger?
Just been cutting my grass and recalled your question.

Bob


No. afraid not. All I know is that when I try to start it, it buzzes. I can then manually spin it in either direction and it will then carry on rotating in that direction.
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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 03 Jun 2017, 10:47

RogerS wrote:
9fingers wrote:Did you solve this mystery Roger?
Just been cutting my grass and recalled your question.

Bob


No. afraid not. All I know is that when I try to start it, it buzzes. I can then manually spin it in either direction and it will then carry on rotating in that direction.



OK easy then. Should just need a new capacitor. A generic one will be fine no need to mortgage for a mower manufacturer model. Few quid from ebay

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby Rod » 03 Jun 2017, 10:55

Mower failure must be catching.
I've got a petrol Mountfield but after my first surgery 3yrs ago I bought a much lighter Bosch Rotak electric.
Anyway with only a few square feet to finish, it died on me yesterday.
Searching online it could be the on/off switch or motor and as the switch is £6 from eSpares I'll try that first.

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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 03 Jun 2017, 11:06

Just as a test, bypass the switch and then plug in to a switched socket.

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 03 Jun 2017, 11:10

My old flymo soldiers on year after year.
No idea how old it is but I used to borrow it from father in law when I had my first house in 1977 and far from new then. Eventually when he could no longer cut his grass himself, he gave it to me on the basis that I cut his grass in exchange.

Good solid machine still going after a few trivial repairs.

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby Rod » 03 Jun 2017, 15:13

Nothing like a good old un - my Mountfield with a Briggs & Stratton motor is about 40yrs old.

Thanks for the tip Bob.

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Re: Motor question

Postby RogerS » 03 Jun 2017, 18:47

Rod wrote:Nothing like a good old un - my Mountfield with a Briggs & Stratton motor is about 40yrs old.

Thanks for the tip Bob.

Rod



But don't buy a new Mountfield since they've been 'Chinese-d' and quality has gone way way down the pan.
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Re: Motor question

Postby Rod » 09 Jun 2017, 11:56

Well the fault turned out to be the "Deadman's device" which operates the switch. Will have to suss out a way of making it work or safely bypassing it.

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Re: Motor question

Postby Phil » 09 Jun 2017, 12:06

On my last mower that I used, the switch and dead man portion packed up.

Replacemant cost couple hundred ZAR.

So I fitted a small white box with an on-off switch, cost ZAR25. When we moved gave the mower to eldest son, be interresting to see if he modifies it at all.



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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 09 Jun 2017, 12:46

Rod wrote:Well the fault turned out to be the "Deadman's device" which operates the switch. Will have to suss out a way of making it work or safely bypassing it.

Rod


I've lost count of the number of times that the safety devices fitted to machines turns out to be a source of unreliability. Door switches on bandsaws have got to be the most troublesome in my experience.
To be honest anyone who opens the door of a running bandsaw either knows what they are doing or deserves all they get but it seems that nanny knows best.

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby Andyp » 09 Jun 2017, 13:29

I am a bandsaw novice but I have wondered how to bypass the door switch on my Inca. It is not a door in fact but a panel which makes removal quite tiresome. How are you supposed to check that the blade is tracking correctly on the wheels if you cannot see the thing running at speed?
I do not think therefore I do not am.

cheers
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Re: Motor question

Postby 9fingers » 09 Jun 2017, 13:41

Andyp wrote:I am a bandsaw novice but I have wondered how to bypass the door switch on my Inca. It is not a door in fact but a panel which makes removal quite tiresome. How are you supposed to check that the blade is tracking correctly on the wheels if you cannot see the thing running at speed?

Exactly very frustrating. In fact on mine the tracking control is behind the door. Someone had retro fitted an idiot switch which needless to say is no longer there.
Ok in the case of a panel it can be a little more dangerous as you will possibly need all the fixings removed and to hold the weight of the panel to peek inside. Maybe fitting some hinges or a handle so you can stand behind the panel like a shield would be advisable. The switch is almost certainly a normally closed contact pair can be bridged with a link of insulated wire to kid the circuit that the door is closed.

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
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Re: Motor question

Postby Rod » 21 Jun 2017, 22:23

Temporary fix to my grass cutting problem - a couple of choc ice sticks

Image

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Re: Motor question

Postby Phil » 22 Jun 2017, 09:09

Rod wrote:Temporary fix to my grass cutting problem - a couple of choc ice sticks

Image

Rod



I like your style! :lol:

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