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Grinder bit the dust

David Wyke

David Wyke

Joined
Nov 22, 2023
Messages
759
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5,412
Location
Morganton, NC
I went out to turn a couple of green bowls so I could get back on a few I still needed to finish turn. I flipped the switch on my grinder to touch up a bowl gouge and about two seconds in it stopped. I checked a few things out, light on it worked but no power to the motor. Check some wires, pulled the switch off and couldn’t see anything obvious.
It is a Delta 8” variable speed that I’ve had for several years. I didn’t have time to do a lot of trouble shooting and the Rikon low speed was on sale for $127.00. So I turned the two green bowls and headed to Klingspor and bought it.
I had to plane a hard maple board to get the height correct and just about completed the setup yesterday. I had to stop to go pick up my granddaughter from Prek but will finish today.
I think the Delta is a switch problem and will check it out as soon as I get caught up on turnings. I need two grinders so hopefully this will be a easy fix.
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The Rikon grinders do go on sale from time to time. I have 2 of the 1 hp models. They have enough power to run metal wheels. The 1/2 hp model just seemed too whimpy to me. They do run on for a while after you switch them off. The lights that come on them are worthless!

robo hippy
 
Easy to check the switch. Take off that panel, and put a jumper around the switch. If it ran a couple of seconds, it’s likely to be the potentiometer. You can get a generic pot on Amazon for just a few bucks. Maybe you can take that new one back, or spend that little bit of money and have a second grinder.
 
robo hippy said:
The Rikon grinders do go on sale from time to time. I have 2 of the 1 hp models. They have enough power to run metal wheels. The 1/2 hp model just seemed too whimpy to me. They do run on for a while after you switch them off. The lights that come on them are worthless!

robo hippy
Click to expand...
Well this one is the 1/2 hp model but I did sharpen a couple of 5/8 gouges yesterday and it seem to do fine. If I have issues I’ll sell a couple more bowls and buy the 1 hp model. Guess I should have researched it a little more.
 
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Alan Weinberg said:
I had same issue with my cheap Harbor Freight grinder—it died—and bought the 1 hp Rikon. I’m very happy. Needed 1 hp to turn that heavy D-way wheel. Good luck.
Click to expand...
This one is 1/2 hp but seemed to turn the wheel fine and I sharpened a couple of gouges with it. May need to switch to the 1 hp if I start having issues.
 
Richard Coers said:
Easy to check the switch. Take off that panel, and put a jumper around the switch. If it ran a couple of seconds, it’s likely to be the potentiometer. You can get a generic pot on Amazon for just a few bucks. Maybe you can take that new one back, or spend that little bit of money and have a second grinder.
Click to expand...
Plan to jump the switch in a couple weeks to see if that’s the issue.
 
David Wyke said:
Well this one is the 1/2 hp model but I did sharpen a couple of 5/8 gouges yesterday and it seem to do fine. If I have issues I’ll sell a couple more bowls and buy the 1 hp model. Guess I should have researched it a little more.
Click to expand...
I have a old Baldor 8" slow speed grinder which has a 1 phase 1/2 HP induction motor with start winding and centrifugal switch that disconnects the start winding when the motor reaches run speed. The Baldor never slows down no matter how hard you try to grin on it, but it has 3/4" shafts so rather then buy specially made CBN wheels I bought the Rikon 1/2 HP grinder, which also has enough power for the task. The only problem with the Rikon is it does not have start windings and therefore takes forever to reach speed.
 
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