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Sewing Machine Motor -- runs for while, then gets dirty, then stops

I am trying to get an old sewing machine going. The brand is Elna. It initially did not run. I took it apart, cleaned everything, oiled all the bearings, cleaned the motor. Tested it -- all fine.

Then I put it all back together. Did some test runs. I noticed that the motor was getting slower and slower, and after a few minutes eventually stopped.

I took it out again. I noticed a black band of something developed on the commutator. I cleaned it up, -- the motor started running again.

But, again, in a few minutes, the commutator (the brass ring on the motor) is black again, and it stops.

It appears that the motor is still alive, and runs -- when clean.

But something keeps depositing black on the commutator, ruining the whole project for me. This symptom occurs even when I run the motor with the belts disconnected (minimal load).

Would anyone have any suggestions, as to what possibly can be wrong with this motor?

Thank you,

-- Nick Monyatovsky

Reply to
Nick Monyatovsky
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Is it possible that the brushes are oil soaked or have something in them that is depositing on the commutator?

Did you replace the brushes when you rebuilt/refurbished the motor? John in SC

Reply to
John Heacock

Also, try joining wefixit:

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is an Yahoo group dedicated to getting older sewing machines working. You'll see me there at times.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Are the brushes the two parts that touch the commutator at the top and the bottom? I did not remove them. I am afraid I will not be able to replace them. The machine is quite old. The chances of finding the replacements are practically nil. Do people usually replace them when they clean the machine? Would brushes for any other brand fit Elna?

As far as soaking... When cleaning the machine, I used WD40. I was careful not to get any on the motor ... But, applied from a spray can, it could have certainly gotten there. Is this stuff going to dry up? Should I just wait a few days? Or should I try to clean the motor using some other substance? Car Engine Degreaser? Alcohol?

Reply to
Nick Monyatovsky

WD 40 is a huge mistake in a sewing machine., it gums up very easy. Yes I would suspect at first the motor brushes. You do not give a model, it will be the type number on the machine, 72, 62, 68, 57 etc. I can help with the brushes if they are available email me private.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

Nick Monyatovsky wrote: > I took it out again. I noticed a black band of something developed on

Hi Nick,

This suggests one of two things to me

a) You need new brushes (or the brushes are dirty and / or very worn) b) you have some serious arcing going on in there.....

If it's (b), you're going to have to track down the fault and repair it, or give in and buy a new motor. Please be very careful not to electocute yourself.

If it's (a) you should have an easy fix. Take the brushes out - watch out for the little springs that hold them (they fly everywhere!), give them a clean and try again. See if the brushes are worn, look at the shape of them - new brushes should be perfect rectangular cuboids. Older brushes tend to have angled heads or even with a curve in the top to match the commutator - it depends on the angle they touch the motor. One little trick is to put them back in the other way up so the unused end is touching the commutator and see if this helps- this doesn't always work though.

You can buy new brushes - I suspect they come in standard shapes and sizes.

I note you sayyou are trunning the motor at slow speed - this is hard work for the system. Try running it at high speed for a few mins - it will either kill the motor for good, or it might help clean the dirt off.

HTH

Sarah

Reply to
Sarah Dale

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