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Delta midi motor on the fritz— any ideas???

Heather Marusiak

Heather Marusiak

Joined
Jan 11, 2021
Messages
23
Likes
513
Location
Manhattan, KS
I have a Delta 46-460 with a Type 1 motor. Today, without me touching the speed, it just started to lose power, then speed up, then lose power, then speed up, then lose power, and then speed up, etc. What might be causing this, and what part(s) should I inspect first? Really hoping I don’t have to spring for a new motor…
 
I don't have any additional troubleshooting suggestions. Please let us know what you tried, what worked, and what didn't so that we can learn from your misfortune. I hope you resolve this promptly to your satisfaction.
 
If all else fails, take your motor to an electric motor repair shop. They can trouble shoot and repair or sell you a replacement motor. A quick Google search of repair shops in Manhattan, Kansas lists four or five.
 
Dwight R Rutherford said:
If all else fails, take your motor to an electric motor repair shop. They can trouble shoot and repair or sell you a replacement motor. A quick Google search of repair shops in Manhattan, Kansas lists four or five.
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High likelihood it's the controller and not the motor. These lathes have a LONG history of controller issues, like day 1 kind of history. Amazon refused to sell version 1 lathes after having so many shipping and controller issues. They only started reselling them after they redesigned the switch design on version 2.
 
Richard Coers said:
High likelihood it's the controller and not the motor. These lathes have a LONG history of controller issues, like day 1 kind of history. Amazon refused to sell version 1 lathes after having so many shipping and controller issues. They only started reselling them after they redesigned the switch design on version 2.
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I am going to second this one. I have the same design brushed motor from a NOVA in my 1015 mini and based on 1: the reviews and 2: the construction; I would be strongly inclined to (unplug the unit) and check all the connections to the switches and the potentiometer. Unless it clearly sounds like the motor is still driving while it decelerates, I would assume it's coasting because a terminal along the path to the motor is arcing or the internals of the switch(s) are under sprung.
 
Hello everyone! Thank you for all the input, I found the problem, and thankfully it was an easy fix. Some of the components on the pulley adjustment rod had vibrated loose, causing the pulley to slip a bit a bit. Everything is is now right and tight. Everything seemed to look okay in the motor, though it did need a healthy dose of compressed air to clean it out. Thanks again!
 
Richard Coers said:
First I would check that neither of the pulleys have lost a woodruff key and are spinning on the shaft. Then I'd check if the belt is glazed or cracked. If all that is correct, I'd put a big bet on the potentiometer.
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Some components on the pulley adjustment rod had vibrated loose, and everything seems right now that everything has tightened :) Thanks!
 
With this lathe make sure you have the belt in the lowest drive position for maximum torque if roughing a bowl. Was told by Delta about ten years ago that was the number one cause of controller failure. Over stressing components.
 
I bought that Delta lathe in Feb. 2010 and have used it a lot, had it act up a couple years ago, blowing it out did help for a while, than again same thing and blowing did not do it, took the whole control unit off and was ready to change whatever was needed, but before doing that I did extra blowing form the back and underside, what is not possible with the control unit on the lathe, checkout it and yes it was working, it is still working like new, I like that little lathe as it works just fine every time I use it.
 
I have purchased 9 of the Delta 46-460s. 2 for myself, 4 for my club and 3 for other club members 5 of these were the 1st series and 4 are the second series all when they first came out. All of these lathes have run and are still running like the day they arrived. One of the club lathes was brought to my shop yesterday as we are having a hands on session with Michael Kehs next week with 9 students.
 
Bill Blasic said:
I have purchased 9 of the Delta 46-460s. 2 for myself, 4 for my club and 3 for other club members 5 of these were the 1st series and 4 are the second series all when they first came out. All of these lathes have run and are still running like the day they arrived. One of the club lathes was brought to my shop yesterday as we are having a hands on session with Michael Kehs next week with 9 students.
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I’ve found this lathe to be pretty reliable and it has done everything I as a newer turner have asked of it. My club has a couple as well. Thankfully the motor was not the issue!
 
From my understanding, the ones with big electronic trouble are the ones turning bigger bowls with aggressive cuts. The board components don't like the heat from heavy loading.
 
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