Jeff Tsai on tue 26 mar 02
Hi,
I'm having some trouble with my little Brent B. I know these things aren't
supposed to be able to handle a lot of weight, but I've noticed quite a bit
of buzzing from the wheel even when I put a five pound ball of clay on it as
opposed to when I spin the wheel without anything on it. That's just one
little problem, and isn't my big annoyance.
The bigger problem is that the wheel jumps. it will suddenly lurch quickly
and then return to the slower speed. This only happens when I'm working in
the middle to slow-speeds of the wheel. I tried adjusting the slow and fast
adjustments in the pedal, but it doesn't make a difference in the lurching.
Any help would be appreciated and any replies off list are fine.
To let you know, I know next to nothing about wheels and this is my first,
second-hand wheel.
-jeff
Tony Ferguson on tue 26 mar 02
Jeff,
It sounds like a lose belt? Try tightening the adjustment screw (I think
there is one on model B's as well). I would also call BRENT and ask them for
tech help.
Thank you!
Tony Ferguson
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku
www.aquariusartgallery.com
Web Site, Marketing & Photographic Services for Artists
Workshops available
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Tsai"
To:
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 10:26 PM
Subject: brent wheel problems
> Hi,
>
> I'm having some trouble with my little Brent B. I know these things aren't
> supposed to be able to handle a lot of weight, but I've noticed quite a
bit
> of buzzing from the wheel even when I put a five pound ball of clay on it
as
> opposed to when I spin the wheel without anything on it. That's just one
> little problem, and isn't my big annoyance.
>
> The bigger problem is that the wheel jumps. it will suddenly lurch quickly
> and then return to the slower speed. This only happens when I'm working in
> the middle to slow-speeds of the wheel. I tried adjusting the slow and
fast
> adjustments in the pedal, but it doesn't make a difference in the
lurching.
> Any help would be appreciated and any replies off list are fine.
>
> To let you know, I know next to nothing about wheels and this is my first,
> second-hand wheel.
>
> -jeff
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Michael Wendt on tue 26 mar 02
Jeff,
We also had a similar problem with a Brent B and took the belt guard and
belt off to find the top bearing on the motor was going out. If this is your
problem, the wheel head turns smoothly with no belt attached, but even
without a load, the motor sometimes lugs and sticks. Also, when you spin the
motor by hand in the freespool direction, it may show some roughness and
ours even had a small amount of side play.
Good Luck with your hunt,
Regards,
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
1-208-746-3724
wendtpottery.com
Jim V Brooks on tue 26 mar 02
Jeff. look in the Brent ads in your magazines.. and call the 800 service
number.. Or i think you can get it online also..... Also, i think there is
only one guy to answer the service line..so the line will be busy..and you
must keep trying.. maybe for days.. BUT!!!!!!!!!!!! when you get him.. he
will/can tell you about your problem..and what it will take to correct it..
I have called this line several times thru the years.. and ALWAYS.... after i
finally connected.. got answers and help.. Jim in Denton.....
David Hendley on mon 19 jan 04
----- Original Message -----
> My Brent B is beginning to make some grinding-gravel-y noises. It
> doesn't effect the operation of the wheel, but I would want to fix
> anything that is in the beginning of becoming a problem.
>
This sounds like a classic case of worn-out bearings, either wheelhead
bearings but probably motor bearings.
Take the belt off and spin the wheelhead and then the motor, to see
where the noise is coming from.
If it's the wheelhead, replacing those bearings is pretty straight forward.
Replacing the motor bearings is a little more involved, but doable.
In either case, you will need to invest in some hex (Allen head) wrenches
and a gear puller.
Here, below, is a copy of a message I sent to Clayart in 2000, that details
how to replace motor bearings.
If you don't want to do it yourself, of course, you can take your motor
to an electric motor repair shop.
Good luck,
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
I bought my Pacifica GT 800 22 years ago (pre-Laguna)
because it was the quietest wheel I had ever seen.
Well, it's been getting louder and louder. Ridiculously loud.
I finally did something about it last week. First I took
off the drive belt, to see if the noise was coming from
the motor or the wheelhead. A quick spin of the wheelhead
and acceleration of the footpedal revealed that the motor
was making a chirping/grinding noise.
The next step was to remove the motor, and have a look.
There's really not much to a DC motor. I decided it had
to be bad bearings causing the noise, so I removed them
and carried them to the bearing store, to buy some
replacements. $30 and 2 hours later the old GT sounded
like it was 1980 again.
April 28, 2000. The day the music died.
If your DC motor is making noise don't be afraid to take
it apart and replace the bearings. It's really no big deal.
Here are some instructions:
First, remove the brushes. These are the black carbon-looking
things with springs that rub against the communicator
on the motor armature (not really 'brushes' at all). There will be
2 caps, with screwdriver slots, opposite each other, on the
motor housing. Just un-screw them and remove the brushes.
Remove the fan cover. 4 screws. Straightforward.
Remove the fan blade from the motor shaft. Mine had
a tab that you pressed while you pulled it off the shaft,
some might use a hex-head set screw.
Remove the belt pulley. This will have a set screw, and you
need the proper size hex wrench. You will probably
also need a gear puller. DO NOT bang on the shaft with
a hammer; go to the hardware store or auto supply store
and buy a gear puller. Notice that the shaft has a flat place.
Remember exactly where the pulley was on the shaft, so
you can re-install it later.
Remove the nuts from the long bolts that hold the motor
together. You will see them when you remove the cooling
fan blade. You might also have to remove a little plate
where the wiring enters the motor.
Take the motor apart. It will be in 4 pieces: the top, the
bottom, the main body, and the armature.
You might need your gear puller again to pull off the top
and/or the bottom.
Remove the bearings. They will be on the armature shaft,
one towards each end. Again, use the gear puller, if
necessary. There may be some washers on the shaft;
remember where they go.
To install the new bearings, you might need a short piece
of pipe. Put the bearing on the shaft, put the pipe on
the bearing, and give the pipe a few taps with a hammer.
The pipe will move the bearing without hitting the shaft.
Brushes wear as they are used. If your motor still makes
some noise when you test it with the new bearings, it could
be coming from the brushes. Try switching them and/or
rotating them 180 degrees. As the brushes wear, they
conform to how they are installed and should quiet down
even if you don't experiment with changing them around.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
Jeanette Harris on mon 19 jan 04
My Brent B is beginning to make some grinding-gravel-y noises. It
doesn't effect the operation of the wheel, but I would want to fix
anything that is in the beginning of becoming a problem.
I removed the pans and have a contraption that holds a big car-wash
sponge up against the rim of the batt so that water doesn't splash;
just trickles down into a small container that I empty into a larger
pan. There is hardly any water on the table under the wheel.
Can this noise be the bearing? If so, how expensive is it to replace
one? I checked the archives and found some mention of wheel heads
and bearings, but not a lot to go on.
Should I try to oil the base of the wheelhead? Is this wasted effort?
Carolynn Palmer on tue 20 jan 04
In a message dated 19/1/04 8:00:26 PM, monkeymind@COMCAST.NET writes:
<< My Brent B is beginning to make some grinding-gravel-y noises. It
doesn't effect the operation of the wheel, but I would want to fix
anything that is in the beginning of becoming a problem. >>
When this type of noise started in my Brent, shortly after, the belt broke.
We replaced it with one purchased from Graingers. Has worked fine for 10 years.
-Carolynn Palmer
Somerset Center, Michigan
| |
|
