Asbestos in English Electric ML7 Motor?

Hello All,

I have just acquired my very first metalworking lathe and I am delighted, excited and itching to get started using it. It is, of course, a Myford ML7 and whilst it isn't in bad condition I always like to get to know a new machine by stripping it down, cleaning, lubricating and reassembling it.

When I came to remove the motor I noticed a brown, fibrous material which had collected by one of the cooling vents. I am very concerned that it may be asbestos.

I was wondering if anyone knows if asbestos was used in this particular model of motor.

The motor in question is an English Electric and the lathe dates from 1965, I believe. I can't see a model number on the motor but hopefully the attached photos will help.

Thank you in advance,

Paul.

I have never seen asbestos used in a motor, it is a loose fibrous material and is too soft to be used as a wire insulation unless there is room for a 1/2" diameter of it, perhaps in pre-1880 power equipment? Glass fibre was and is used extensively as wire insulation, very thin wall and very stiff, as used on your wire leadouts?.

You don't say exactly where your brown fibres were found, they look like some loose fill insulation. Or swarf from some paxolin/ebonite? Just mop them up with a wet rag and dispose of the lot.

Frank

I'm inclined to agree with Frank, I have never heard of anything other that the obvious wiring insulation being used in a motor of any age, usually the problem is to get sufficient cooling to prevent overheating when it is run continuosly.

Much more likely to be the residue of turnings from previous use. Clean up and enjoy the new toy!

Regards Brian

I agree with the comments above but better be safe then sorry and have some protection when you clean the motor. Niko.

There was actually plenty of Asbestos in the English Electric "Crompton" Steam Generators - boilers to you and me, I know, we had two of them. But not in their motors, unless the lathe came from an Asbestos factory what you have there is, technically, Navel Fluff.

graham.

Many thanks to everyone for your helpful replies. I found further traces of the 'naval fluff' in other parts of the lathe as I have been cleaning it up today. I still haven't identified exactly what it is yet so I wore a mask whilst cleaning the motor. I am guessing that as I found it elsewhere it is likely that it is from a material that has been turned on the lathe and not actually from within the motor.

It's amazing what little nuggets of information stick with you over the years. I remember at school in the late 70s we had a lecture on the dangers of asbestos and where it was usually found. In particular I remembered them telling us that there were many uses of asbestos in the electrical industry so when I saw the suspect brown fibres I put two and two together and .... you know.

Anyway, I got the lathe reassembled this evening and did my first ever bit of metal turning. The results weren't great but I'm looking forward to learning a new craft.

Paul.

A few years ago I converted my Bridgeport milling machine to single phase, the label on the original motor stated that it was asbestos insulated for safety!

Personally, in the interests of safety, I wouldn't mess around trying to utilise an old motor on any machine. Chances are, the insulation (whatever it is) is breaking down and you usually have no idea of the motor's history. Much safer and less time consuming to replace it with a new one.

If it's a first lathe there will be some start-up costs for refurbishment, tooling etc and a new motor with reliable electrics is not the worst place to to put some of those costs.

Sorry bandersnatch, but the quality of the old motors far and away exceeds that of the new ones, and even if there is an insulation fault, I would rather have a rewound old motor any day. To the OP, There is a test you can apply to the fibers found in the motor, simply see if they burn, if they do, they are not asbestos. The asbestos in common use in electrical equipment is generally woven white or slightly greyish white fibres. It is quite safe as long as it is not friable or dusty, it is the airborne dust from asbestos that is dangerous when breathed in. It is very rare to find asbestos in a motor wound after about 1920 unless it was for a special purpose.

..... *If* you have it rewound (not cheap) and checked out with a megger. I stand by what I said - I'd rather put that money into a new motor. There are plenty of good ones to be had. And not all old ones were good even at the start of their lives let alone after 70 years.

To each his own though.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 20/08/2014 22:54:56