"We've got a Piper down!!!"

[Growley]

Well, right in the middle of a furious attempt to get some pipes ready for the Kansas City show, my lathe, which is under 2 years old, died on me. This particular model has a emergency "stop" button (red) and an "Power" button (green). I'm NO electrician, but it seems the fault is with the on witch.

If the emergency button is pressed, the sequence for restarting this machine is to:

Turn the Red button until it pops back out,
Press the green Power button,
and then turn the black F/R lever either right or left depending on which way you want the chuck to spin.

If I follow this sequence she's a no go, but if I push and hold in the green on button while toggling the F/R button, it will run, but only as long as I'm pressing the green button. As soon as I let the green power button go, the machine shuts off. I can't call Jet because they're not open on the weekends, so I thought I'd hit up all you guys, who are much smarter than I, to see if you had any thoughts.

I know the obvious thing is to tape the green button. But do you think I'm missing something that may be more of a permanent fix?

[SchmidtN]

Sounds like your green button's become a normally open momentary switch, so the circuit's only complete while you hold it down. It should be a latching switch. I don't know nothing about that particular switch but I do know switches are rated with how many times they can be toggled before failure. Actually, it's a pretty neat little bit of math to figure that out.

Anywho, that's my guess... you'll need a new switch. I don't know about big motors, but little robot motors that are controlled by a mechanical switch need a capacitor between them because spinning the motor makes it's own energy and the switch's open can get a spark between them, which is rough on the switch.

Anywho, there's a lot that could be going on there.

[MonsieurLabo]

Yep, sounds like your normally open auxiliary. Works with the contactor.

[billiard]

On cell phone sorry short.

Try this order:
Release red button
Put in f or r
Push green button

I do like above and never touch f\r switch when running. On my 920 these magnetic switches.

[Growley]

On cell phone sorry short.

Try this order:
Release red button
Put in f or r
Push green button

I do like above and never touch f\r switch when running. On my 920 these magnetic switches.

Man, I was really hoping that would work. I just went out and tried that. It only works if I hold the power button. As soon as I let go, it shuts back off.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[andrew]

You've got a magnetic switch that's probably toast. You could go down to home depot and buy a $7 switch to get you through till a new one comes, but you would have to wire it yourself. Don't do that unless you are.comfortable doing wiring. My motor switch died, I had to bypass it with a truly redneck setup (safe, but redness).

[BigCasino]

I don't know how to fix your problem, but if it doesnt hurt to run the lathe in this fashion, DUCT TAPE!

[Growley]

I don't know how to fix your problem, but if it doesn't hurt to run the lathe in this fashion, DUCT TAPE!

I think this is going to have to be my solution for a while. I've got a call into the distributor. I'm not sure what the warranty is on it, but I'm not too hopeful that anything good will come of that call.

[e Markle]

Just had this happen on my newer model Jet. Exact same thing - it would run if I pressed the button in. They just replaced mine at no cost, but it was still under warranty. I believe it's a 2 year warranty.

I'll reply to their email to me, cc you, and ask for that part number. Maybe they can just throw it together real fast for you.

[e Markle]

By the way, be sure you unplug your unit when dealing with this. I'm a confirmed moron, and I shocked myself pretty bad on this little project.

[Growley]

By the way, be sure you unplug your unit when dealing with this. I'm a confirmed moron, and I shocked myself pretty bad on this little project.

Yeah, that would be me too. I'm pretty sure I'd remember to unplug it before replacing the switch, but I've already had it all opened up and fiddling with it while it was still plugged in, poking at it with screwdrivers and such...

Thanks for the email!

Brian.

[andrew]

By the way, be sure you unplug your unit when dealing with this. I'm a confirmed moron, and I shocked myself pretty bad on this little project.

Yeah, that would be me too. I'm pretty sure I'd remember to unplug it before replacing the switch, but I've already had it all opened up and fiddling with it while it was still plugged in, poking at it with screwdrivers and such...

Thanks for the email!

Brian.

Believe it or not, they make a suit for guys like you. It's all foam and rubber, so unless you stick your face on the exposed contact you'll be fine... fiddle away

[Sasquatch]

By the way, be sure you unplug your unit when dealing with this. I'm a confirmed moron, and I shocked myself pretty bad on this little project.

That confirms it.

[Growley]

UPDATE TO MY UPDATE: This did not fix my problem. It only gave me a shiny new switch. Keep reading through the thread for the actual fix.

UPDATE

Thanks to Ernie and his stellar help, I've got a new switch on it's way, and still under my 2 year warranty. So, in an effort to pay it forward to someone else who may run into this problem, here's some information that will help:

Jet Lathe Power Button Part Number - BD920N-E22 (Specific model this applies to is, Jet Lathe BD-920N / 321376)
Jet Lathe Power Button List Price $58.00
Jet Technical Support Number - 800-274-6846

Thanks Ernie.

For now, I've got the button taped down, and it works fine.

[e Markle]

To all you Naysayers,
I'd like to direct your attention to the above post. See? I *can* be helpful.

Now I'm going to return to my epic battle with Sasquatch. I have to dodge a lot of incoming pipes from the Great Icy North.

[Charl]

[Sasquatch]

You've got a magnetic switch that's probably toast. You could go down to home depot and buy a $7 switch to get you through till a new one comes, but you would have to wire it yourself. Don't do that unless you are.comfortable doing wiring. My motor switch died, I had to bypass it with a truly redneck setup (safe, but redness).

This.

[Growley]

UPDATE #2.

I'm putting these updates in place in case others run in to the same problem. The pretty new green switch didn't fix the problem. I called Marry again (who is very helpful) and she came to the conclusion that if it wasn't the power switch, it must be the next switch in line. I'll have a name for it and a part number shortly, as well as a price, and I will post those when I receive them.

[caskwith]

hopefully you didn't chuck the old switch as you now have a spare for when it does break

[Growley]

hopefully you didn't chuck the old switch as you now have a spare for when it does break

Exactly! I kept it.