motor upgrade for grzzly lathe

I see an 8690, which is pretty light duty.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that any lathe shipping with motor already installed has a proprietary mount. It's pretty close in there, if the parts diagram is any indication. That's why they use a "universal" motor, versus a 3-phase induction type.

I've got an old Delta that has the same swing, weighs five times what that one does, and it sometimes seems overloaded with what I put on it. Not sure I'd be comfortable with anything on that lathe that would come close to taxing a 1/3 HP.

Only if they have the same frame size. I don't know if AC and DC motors share frame sizes. If the DC motor isn't too long for the space available, the worst case is drilling/tapping new mounting holes (or a new motor mount), plus new pulley, plus new belt.

Hi William, I would suggest not putting any money into this machine. The motor is a universal ac type which is smaller than most routers. I would doubt if the bearings and castings would support a motor any larger than what it has. If your serious about woodturning a new lathe is in order. Even a small machine like the Jet mini would be a large improvment over this machine.

Bob, Naugatuck Ct.

thanks everyone.

I talked to the sales support people that had a motor I was eyeing but they said that it would not work for what I wanted to do. Its nice when they are honest. Sounds like the grizzley will end up being posted for sale in Denver when I get ready for the expense of a newer lathe.

For now I'm going to invest running some dedicated power to the shop area in my garage then I'm going to watch the ads and wait for spring because my garage is not heated and winter is coming to Denver.

The power situation is noticeable in the garage. The other day I paused while turning a piece I could swear I noticed the lathe slow down as if someone turned something big on like a hair dryer or vacume in one of the bedrooms also on the line to the garage.

Besides I've got some furniture to build and many other projects to complete before christmas. I'm eyeing the Leigh FMT and I think pentupspenditus is going to push me over the edge and make the purchase. I wish I had the room for a good tablesaw for cutting tenons for joinery projects but the choice is either have a lathe or a tablesaw and I'd much rather have the lathe.

william kossack wrote:

Sounds like you need a dedicated service panel with separate circuits for your garage/work area. Dips and sags aren't good for electrical motors and can be as damaging or potentially more so than spikes and surges.