I have a motor on a stand that I mount wire wheels, nylon abrasive brush wheels, Scotch Brite wheels, etc. The motor is not totally enclosed so it draws abrasive dust and metal dust through it. I have been using the motor for over 20 years and I do blow it out from time to time. It has never given me any problems until yesterday. I was using it and I heard a popping noise and copious amounts of smoke started to pour out one end of the motor. I took it apart to investigate and it was pretty dusty inside but I could not find any obvious culprit for the smoke or the popping noise. There was one fine wire that was pulled a little away from the the rest of the motor windings and this wire looked a little cooked. So I painted the windings at that end of the motor with red Dykem, several coats, tucked the wire back up against the windings, painted a little more Dykem on, let the stuff dry, and reassembled the motor. It now runs fine again, doesn't get hot even after running for a 1 hour test, and doesn't smell of burned insulation. I checked the windings for continuity to ground and there is none. So I think I only let a little bit of the magic smoke out. Nevertheless I will continue to live dangerously and use this motor with wire wheels and so on. Eric
- posted
11 years ago