Help with pillar drill not starting

UKworkshop.co.uk

Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Citracal

Established Member
Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
86
Reaction score
92
Location
Lake District
Hi all hoping someone here can help me out. I bought a Fobco Star pillar drill the other week, initially everything was going great but two nights ago it just cut out while using it, wasn't under any great deal of stress in fact wasn't even in the piece of wood. When I tried to turn it on again the NVR just made a buzz and then cut out, several times since when I tried the NVR makes a buzz as if to start up, the drill makes a half hearted rotation and then cuts out. Does anyone know what this might indicate and how I might go about remedying it? Drill does rotate easily by hand.

PXL_20241015_172857910.jpg
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20241105_202608271.jpg
    PXL_20241105_202608271.jpg
    933.9 KB
  • PXL_20241105_202613175.MP.jpg
    PXL_20241105_202613175.MP.jpg
    3.3 MB
  • PXL_20241105_202622195.jpg
    PXL_20241105_202622195.jpg
    969.7 KB
Does it start if you give it a spin whilst it's buzzing? Suggest you try bypassing the NVR and see if it works fine...if it does (A), the issue is the NVR; if it doesn't (B) it's the motor.
If A, then probably easiest to replace the NVR - it's a £25 type issue.
If B, then check the capacitor (a £10 issue).
My guess is B

Disclaimer: I come here often asking similar questions, so have no knowledge beyond what's been imparted by others! Hopefully someone properly informed will be along shortly. In the meantime, have a bump!
 
Does it start if you give it a spin whilst it's buzzing? Suggest you try bypassing the NVR and see if it works fine...if it does (A), the issue is the NVR; if it doesn't (B) it's the motor.
If A, then probably easiest to replace the NVR - it's a £25 type issue.
If B, then check the capacitor (a £10 issue).
My guess is B

Disclaimer: I come here often asking similar questions, so have no knowledge beyond what's been imparted by others! Hopefully someone properly informed will be along shortly. In the meantime, have a bump!
So, bypassing the switch worked and it looks like I need a new one. I do have a question maybe you can also help me with, I need a new DOL starter (I'd mistakenly called it a NVR), that's an easy enough find, however the drill has a foot pedal to also switch the machine off. I'm just now sure what I search for to ensure the DOL can also be wired to the foot pedal, is it standard that they would have additional terminals for such a thing, or do I need to look for that specifically when I'm buying one???
 
So, bypassing the switch worked and it looks like I need a new one. I do have a question maybe you can also help me with, I need a new DOL starter (I'd mistakenly called it a NVR), that's an easy enough find, however the drill has a foot pedal to also switch the machine off. I'm just now sure what I search for to ensure the DOL can also be wired to the foot pedal, is it standard that they would have additional terminals for such a thing, or do I need to look for that specifically when I'm buying one???
Hi

Glad it's not the motor!
I have a foot switch on my lathe that's just a circuit break (normally closed), so Should be able to wire it in identically to the new switch. I'm no expert on this stuff mind, I just try to narrow down the issue!
 
I use a foot switch to actually operate my pillar drill, it means I have both hands free and because the drill bit is not spinning I can ensure alignment, then just press the pedal which makes things easy for me. Reference your foot switch, this sounds like an E-Stop and that would be wired in series with the existing stop button so that when operated it breaks the circuit to the DOL coil.
 
Hi all and thanks so much for the help, was a big relief when it started spinning again last night.


@Deadeye yes as far as I understand it is just a circuit break, would intend to wire it similarly in the new switch just want to be sure I buy the correct new swith hahaha

@okeydokey I've attached some images of how it was previously wired, it looks like the foot stop was directly wired into separate terminals (sorry don't know the correct jargon for these terms). My intention would be to wire it similarly in the new DOL however I'm just not sure whether all DOLs will also contain those same terminals for the foot stop or whether it is a mod I would have to make myself or whether yeah I need to buy a very specific type of DOL, if that makes sense?

@Spectric an on/off foot pedal is actually an excellent idea, why is that not more common! When you say wired in series do you mean I should be able to just make that modification myself to a DOL that I buy??

For example given this one if the correct spec for the motor would it be possible to also wire the foot break into this or would I need something else?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB1NQ...drugstore&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy

Thanks again everyone for your help, sorry for all the novice questions!
 

Attachments

  • Wires 2.jpg
    Wires 2.jpg
    1.5 MB
  • WIRES.jpg
    WIRES.jpg
    1.6 MB
  • PXL_20241106_205847014.jpg
    PXL_20241106_205847014.jpg
    947.7 KB
  • PXL_20241106_205932165.jpg
    PXL_20241106_205932165.jpg
    1.4 MB
  • PXL_20241106_211040282.jpg
    PXL_20241106_211040282.jpg
    1.3 MB
  • PXL_20241106_211048521.jpg
    PXL_20241106_211048521.jpg
    1.3 MB
  • PXL_20241106_215244061.jpg
    PXL_20241106_215244061.jpg
    1.5 MB
an on/off foot pedal is actually an excellent idea, why is that not more common!
It actually can replace the DOL because by it's very nature it is a NVR, there is no way to leave the machine on. What you must have is a simple isolator which can be a metal clad switch.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top