开云体育

  1. DaltonLathes
  2. Topics

Motor question

 

My lot 5 came with a late 60s/early 70s GE 1/2hp 1725 rpm motor.? Think it's probably well suited functionally but I'd like something a little older in keeping with the style of this old girl.

I have an older Delco motor.? Plate's a bit illegible but it draws 5.8a@110vac so I'm guessing 1/4 or 1/3hp.? Can't read the RPMs.? It's probably from the 1930s or 40s so would fit the style of the lathe much better.? I need to redo the whole drive system so I can get appropriate pulleys to gear the RPMs down to the level the Dalton requires (500-1000rpm IIRC)

But, while I want to do a decent job bringing her back to life, I'm not interested in a pure showpiece.? I want to eventually use this lathe (as a hobbyist, nothing production) so utility is more important than looks and I can keep my eyes open for an old motor that's more powerful than the Delco if that's the right direction to go.? I have a Chinese mini lathe for smaller parts so I plan on the Dalton for the larger (for me) stuff that won't fit the mini.

Is the Delco a good choice, or should I stick with the 1/2hp GE and keep my eyes open for something old with a little more HP?
 

开云体育

It may be a bit late to reply but I had the same issue regarding motor size.? I'm not an expert by any means but I'll share my opinion for what it's worth.

I own two lathes, a Clausing 12x36 model 111 late 1940's lathe and a Dalton B-4.? When I purchased the Clausing it came with a 3 phase 1hp motor and two broken bull gears.? When I restored the lathe I looked at the original literature which called for a 1/3hp motor.? That's what I put on it and it works just fine.? Now, if a 12x36 lathe called for 1/3 hp then a Dalton which is much smaller should be fine with 1/4. In fact that's what I put on my Dalton and so far I am well satisfied.? Perhaps you can't take as meaty a cut but you won't break anything either.? You said the motor you have draws 5.8 amps.? I believe a 1/2 hp motor draws about 4.2 amps so that motor may be bigger than you think it is.

As far as a period correct engine goes there is something to consider.? I bought an old 1930's cylinder honing machine at an antique shop just to get the motor.? It was a 'Sunlite' 1/4 hp motor and after a bit of cleanup it ran just fine.? However, this motor did not offer access to the start winding.? The start and run windings were tied together deep inside the housing.? This means it would be difficult to make it reversible.? I don't know when single phase motors began using start windings that could be easily reversed to change motor rotation but you would want a motor that could be easily reversed, especially if you want to cut threads and don't have a thread dial.

Peter



On 12/3/2021 11:39 AM, chrisser via groups.io wrote:

My lot 5 came with a late 60s/early 70s GE 1/2hp 1725 rpm motor.? Think it's probably well suited functionally but I'd like something a little older in keeping with the style of this old girl.

I have an older Delco motor.? Plate's a bit illegible but it draws 5.8a@110vac so I'm guessing 1/4 or 1/3hp.? Can't read the RPMs.? It's probably from the 1930s or 40s so would fit the style of the lathe much better.? I need to redo the whole drive system so I can get appropriate pulleys to gear the RPMs down to the level the Dalton requires (500-1000rpm IIRC)

But, while I want to do a decent job bringing her back to life, I'm not interested in a pure showpiece.? I want to eventually use this lathe (as a hobbyist, nothing production) so utility is more important than looks and I can keep my eyes open for an old motor that's more powerful than the Delco if that's the right direction to go.? I have a Chinese mini lathe for smaller parts so I plan on the Dalton for the larger (for me) stuff that won't fit the mini.

Is the Delco a good choice, or should I stick with the 1/2hp GE and keep my eyes open for something old with a little more HP?


 

Thanks for the info, Peter.

Overpowering is a good consideration.? Would rather take longer on a job than break parts which can't be replaced.

So on the flipside, what would be the lowest HP motor to consider to make the machine reasonably usable might be a better question.
 

开云体育

I think some years ago Dennis recommended either 1/3 hp or 1/2 hp for these lathes. ?1 hp will work, but certainly will overpower the machine. ?You do have some protection from breakage, as an overpowered lathe will slip the belts before it breaks.?

Also south bend recommended nothing over 1/2hp for their 9” models. Which is more or less equivalent to the Dalton. My Dalton did not have ?a back gear assembly. So a SB back gear/motor mount was an ideal replacement for me and the 1/2 hp my best choice. ?

My Lot 4 was equipped with a 1Hp motor when I bought it. The prior owner was something of a sledge hammer ?mechanic and proclaimed Bigger is better, when I asked him about it.

The other consideration is cost versus efficiency. ??

1/2 hp provides plenty ?of power to cut metals throughout the Dalton’s speed and depth range, but at 1/2 the price of larger motors.?

I bought my replacement 1/2 hp motor from Grizzly tools. They shipped it to me in 2 days. And guarantee exchange or refund if it doesn’t fit. Their customer service is very responsive.

Glenn?




On Dec 15, 2021, at 7:29 AM, chrisser via <chris.kucia@...> wrote:

Thanks for the info, Peter.

Overpowering is a good consideration.? Would rather take longer on a job than break parts which can't be replaced.

So on the flipside, what would be the lowest HP motor to consider to make the machine reasonably usable might be a better question.

1 - 4 of 4