noisy new electric motor

I have an 1/2HP Brooke Crompton motor on one of my lathes, it's started clonking and generally seems to have lost some power as it has to also turn a Victorian overhead countershaft

I thought I'd try a 3/4HP motor and sent for a Clarke one from PowerTools direct which I wired up today and it makes a horrible distracting racket. either set on the bench or under load.

It's dual capacitor and quite a lot smaller than the old heavy Crompton even though it's a bigger HP and as space at the back of the lathe is limited I was pleased when I first opened the box.

I have four lathes and non of the motors make a noise anything like this, they just hum.

O'k, it's a cheap motor but has anyone else got a Clarke motor and is it particularly noisy?

Not specifically Clarke, but worth checking that the fan / housing are on square / fitted correctly - I've had one generic motor with skewed fan housing contacting edge of fan..

One of our club members bought a Clarke motor for a roundhead student, i think it was about 1HP, the vibration and noise was absolutely horrendous, exactly as you describe. The motor was returned to Machine Mart, the chap behind the counter admitted they were ok for air compressors and the like but no good for machine tools.

We managed to extract the star point from the original motor and fit a cheap inverter, all was peace and tranquillity!

Might be worth sorting out the original Brooke motor, worth a look inside might just be bearings or centrifugal switch/ capacitor.

Dave

it's started clonking and generally seems to have lost some power

Was it something that new bearings would not have sorted?

+1 for sending it back for refund. Then go to an industrial drives firm or a motor rewinder firm for a good quality motor. One working in proper order will just make a low hum. Don't accept it if it doesn't.

Sounds like it's faulty, or maybe something moved in transit.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that all Clarke motors are unacceptable: they'd be out of business if that was true. After making sure nothing simple like a bent impeller is wrong, I'd start by sending it back and asking for a replacement. I'd ask for a refund and go up market only if the replacement was also unsatisfactory.

Two possible explanations for the smaller size of the motor:

• It's rated for a lower duty cycle.
• One way of keeping motors cool is to add bulk, hence continuously rated motors are noticeably bigger than intermittent types. However, old motors can't run as hot as new ones because modern insulation is distinctly more heat resistant than older materials. A very old electric motor would only run safely at up to 80C, but this was soon improved to 120C, later 140C. Many modern motors can cope with 180C, and I've seen one that claimed 220C. The advantage is they can be made smaller. Better insulation is one of many design improvements made to electric motors over the years. A well-made motor today is about 20% better than it's last century equivalent. Nothing wrong with using a slightly inefficient old motor to run a hobby lathe, but a factory full of them are expensive to operate!

Dave

I have also noticed the foot of this motor does not stand flat as in the photo.

I made a video of it running Youtube of motor noisy or what!  ( enable sound in top corner of video)

Edited By vic newey on 13/08/2022 14:11:28

Edited By vic newey on 13/08/2022 14:12:46

Edited By vic newey on 13/08/2022 14:38:17

It looks like it has been dropped at some point. There is possibly some contact between the rotor and the internals of the motor as a result.

Martin C

That's just horrific, they really have sold you a complete lemon. In the video it doesn't appear to be running at full speed, or is that just a trick of the camera?

Clarke motors used to be made in Italy, are they still made there? Yours looks like one of the Italian made motors.

The misaligned feet are impressively bad, I think they are cast integral with the motor body on these motors. I wonder if someone has dropped it, or dropped something on it, they could be bent rather than actually cast and machined as bad as that.

Although I have seen these motors fitted by people to lathes and pillar drills, I do remember many years ago the Machine Mart staff being reluctant to recommend the Clarke motors for fitting to anything other than a compressor, as Dave Wootton as already mentioned.

Edited By Lathejack on 13/08/2022 15:10:18

There is no damage on the cardboard box and the motor was sat in styrene blocks, must have been dropped before it was packed. The box is just a standard box, not one with Clarke or it's contents mentioned so probably packed by PowerTools direct themselves

The motor is going full speed, 1420 rpm. it clashes with the video frame speed  as does old western films when the wheels appear to go backwards.

 It was apparently made in Italy according to their website

Edited By vic newey on 13/08/2022 15:17:19

I bought a Draper branded 320W 150 mm bench grinder a couple of months ago and the noise it makes when running is horrendous. It also vibrates when running, though not excessively and certainly better than the Clarke brand grinder it replaces. I was convinced that something was wrong with it, but before returning it I decided to let it run for 10 minutes or so and see what happened. Nothing happened, it continued to spin merrily and the motor casing became only slightly warm, so I've decided to live with it. Cheap motor in a cheap grinder.

Hi Vic, with bent feet like that, I would be asking for a replacement or a refund before even attaching any electric wires and trying it out.

Regards Nick.

Are you certain that the motor really is a new and unused item? Is the keyed shaft unmarked, or is there any sign of marks from nuts, washers or bolt heads around the feet mounting holes which may suggest it has been mounted and used before, resulting in some damage?

It came in a standard box, but Clarke products usually come in a Clarke marked box, however my nearest Machine Mart store does have a habit of always removing the original Clarke packaging and stacking almost all stock items on show in their store. Not sure if Power Tools Direct do the same.

Over the years I have had my fair shair of various shops trying to sell me what they claimed was new, but was clearly used. Items such as a car battery, caravan battery, mobile phone battery, torque wrench, and classic bike engine parts.

So although it's still fairly unlikely, it might be worth a close look for any signs your motor is not quite as new and unused as it should be. 

But in any case, you are certainly entitled to a replacement or refund for a motor in that state. 

Edited By Lathejack on 13/08/2022 23:07:30

Edited By Lathejack on 13/08/2022 23:12:25

I'm fairly sure the motor was not used before me but can't be certain as there are no marks to indicate otherwise. No evidence in the connection box that it's been wired up etc. I'll see what they say tomorrow re a refund or risk a replacement motor

Just an update on this.

Although the motor was bought from PowerTools Direct they contacted Clarke headquarters who sent a courier to collect it. I didn't get to see Clarkes response after examining the motor but they didn't offer to send a replacement.

Powertools office were excellent all along and have given me a full refund inc shipping. I've now had the old Brook Crompton motor refurbished and it's running o.k.

Glad you've got it sorted. Older motors are often (as in this case) of far better quality than that particular brand of new.

Likely cheaper, too?

Nice result

H

Glad that you are up and running, and happy with the result. Should give you great peace of mind.

Howard