GE Motor Problem

Over the past couple weeks my center has been hit with a rash of GE backend motors going down. Its ranging from the motors just flat out getting too hot within a very short amount of time (under 10 minutes on the bench with no load), to motors that decide to just flat out die. I'm wondering if anyone has previously dealt with this sort of situation where multiple motors spread through-out the center decide to start going at about the same time. And if anyone has worked on these motors what if anything can I do to try and prevent this from continuing. I'll add that a week ago I found the cable to one backend motor so overheated that you could no longer bend the wire without hearing the insulation crack apart. I ran a new wire from the control box to the motor and now each day when that lane first comes on it trips the protection circuit on the motor. Once you reset it, the motor runs all day and night.

[felix]

Re: GE Motor Problem

I think you may have found the problem yourself and already. :p Brittle wires will cause this..the last westinghouse I had,. had a bad brittle wire from the sw. to the thermal switch. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] P.S. I Like rashes: Once you cure the first virus...the rest is history! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

[John_Galt]

Re: GE Motor Problem

True!
Old wiring corrodes, even inside the insulation. Corrosion causes resistance, making the motors work harder to maintain proper RPM.
I fixed one motor that I know of by simply replacing all the old nasty wires I could.
C

[partsman]

Re: GE Motor Problem

GE motors always had a problem of running hot. it is not uncommon for all of them to go at the same time. if it is happen to one chances are all the others are the same age and it will happen to them over time. sometimes you can replace the brittle wires by splicing in new ones. if you have not go too ss be switches you should think about it. one reason being switches are hard to come by. the other is back in 1981 i had similar problem. from the heat in the motor the wires dried out. i switched to ss switches and also put time delays on the back end. it helped with the life of the motors tremendously.

[Rizash]

Re: GE Motor Problem

ok, I've heard a lot about solid state switches, but never took time to ask about them... what do they do, and why are they better?

[Tablejam]

Re: GE Motor Problem

basically, a solid state start switch does what the mechanical start switch does except there are no moving parts to break or wear out. somebody else here could probably give a more detailed explanation on them.

[felix]

Re: GE Motor Problem

I Just Can't Believe This; Classic Products Ft. Wayne IN.... Flyer States All Motors $399...I Can't Hardly gett'em rewound for less than $200. At this rate I'll just pitch'em & replace'em...So I ordered 4. Now, let's see what I get. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]
...Never Mind Me! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] Just found out that these motors were sidemount kits. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

[AmfPro]

Re: GE Motor Problem

I worked at a 20 laner for 3 years that had all GE pit motors. Had only 1 centrifugal mechanism go bad for 3 long years. i thought the GE's were the best motors I have ever seen. Simple terminal board and start/run contact switch. Anytime I had motors running hot, I'd check rotor bearings and rotor/stator clearance I personally liked the GE's that had heat vents all around the stator. Them old gals could run for weeks without any trouble at all. Also, typically - hot running motors are symptoms of old brittle wiring that is losing its conductiveness or rotors rubbing the stators because of worn bearings. Most motors run hot normally just under the heat range of the overload /klixon. I'd check the wiring first, then the bearings!! Pro

[Kingram]

Re: GE Motor Problem

Hi MTDEW,

Had the same thing happen to me a few years back. The problem is a loose connection between the plug and receptacle. After your machines have been running 15 or 20 minutes, go behind each machine and feel of the plug; if it is hot, you are cooking. Unplug the motor and check the condition of the small pin in the male recp. (its always the small pin). Some of mine were charred and burnt to the size of a toothpick.

My fix was to replace the small fitting (male and female) with the larger one. All you need is a comb. motor plug and recp. One unit will fix four B.E. motors. It takes a lot of drilling and fitting but it can be done......Does it work? Mine have been running over 15 years with no problems.

It's also a must to change all the cooked wiring and keep the winding as clean as possible.
Hope this helps.

Does Stan the man from Ruston, La, still work there? If so, tell him I said HI. Also ask George if he remembers bowling here in 77 & 78.

Ken