10" Radial Arm Saw

[DKAudio]

My friends Dad has a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw that he said I could have for cheap if I can fix it. Everything operates smoothly, turning blade by hand feels nice and easy like it should. However, when you start it up the blade doesn't turn and it buzzes fairly loud. On the end of the motor is a red plastic piece that says brake, I took it out and had the same results. Again, it turns freely by hand.

I assume the motor is an induction (brushless), it seems like maybe a coil is gone so it is fighting itself.

Any ideas? Worth fixing?

[Speedy Petey]

Capacitor?
Centrifugal capacitor switch?

[DKAudio]

You think it is a capacitor start or capacitor run induction motor?

It is probably from the 90's, fairly new.

[HayZee518]

I had a guy bring me a power head for a craftsman radial arm saw to try to repair. It had two brushes which were of proper length. It doesn't use a capacitor start but has a start winding. I meggered out the windings and the start winding was shorted to ground. I called several motor specialists in my local area and the cost of a rewind would be MORE than the value of the saw as a whole. I just junked it. IMO it isn't worth it.

[DKAudio]

hmm, didn't think they would use a cap. So it does use brushes? I didn't see where you could take them out, at any rate if it is fighting itself like that it is probably something serious and not worth the time, agree? Thank you

[HayZee518]

the armature was shorted. when you started it up, it would spark like all hell hum and heat up very quickly. several of the armature windings were burnt right off the commutator. the brushes are underneath the powerhead cover on either side of the head.