Motor Problems with Mercury Mini Lathe

Hello Alan,

Being DC motors, these are brush motors. It could be your brushes are worn or broken. If you've used it heavy that would be a posibility. You may have to pull the motor to chuck the brushes. So far I've had no problem with mine, but every brush motor has a limited life for the brushes.

For your second question, it would probably be difficult to put a larger motor on the Mercury, not impossible, just difficult. I perfonally would stick with the motor designed for the machine.

Fred Holder

Check out

and click on the flashing "sale"graphic in the middle of the page. They have a 1hp DCmotor with variable speed controller box for $49.00 + $8.00 shipping. They showit hooked up to a Mrecury, too. I may be orderingone of these systems soon. Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Peter, do you think one of these variable motors would work on a Jet mini lathe? Glenn Hodges Nashville, GA

I have a Jet mini and looked at the link. If the motor doesn't fit where the Jet has it, you could mount it the way it is shown in the picture. It would take some modifications, but I don't think anything major. Remove the side door and mount the Jet and motor to a board or metal plate. Martin

I don't see why not. I have a Merc, which is what I'm getting the motor for, but I also intend to purchase a few Jet Mini's for portable teaching equipment. The VS motors would be also be going on the Jets. Since I'm planning on building a riser box to house the motor, I will need to find a source for longer belts (link belts are not an option).

BTW, I e-mailed Vega to ask them if these motors are reversible. They are not.

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

Peter Teubel Milford, MA

If you find a source for longer belts, be sure to publish it here, won't you?

Peter Teubel Milford, MA