FPZ Vacuum motor

[dubliner]

Well, after many attempts and wrong parts I finally got the 15hp vac & 3 phase RPC to work. Well the bad news is I was surfacing a sheet of trupan , had turned off the vacuum but in its spin down I heard a klunk and the unit is locked tight. THe cooling fins on the body are quite warm and the fan at the back will not move at all, so I assume the motor or the turbine siezed tight. It sat for many years so I guess the grease/oil degraded to being useless. Is it scrap metal? I need a drink!! Contactor opened on the blower but breaker did not trip on the RPC and it continued to run. One disheartened Dubliner here.

[curtiss]

Hard to tell where the lock up may be. I would guess something in the vacuum pump side for a "clunk"...

How many hours had you run it ?? ...age and condition of the bearings ?

Can you pull the pump off without too much difficulty and run the motor alone ?

[Brady Watson]

Effpizeta (FPZ) Regens have VERY close blade to housing tolerances. I'm going to guess that the turbine blades touched down in the housing because a small piece of debris got lodged between the parts when it heated up.

Unless the intake & exhaust were completely capped off/sealed when it was stored, there is a good chance that debris got in there. Hopefully you shut things off quick...and saved the motor.

Your probably running a K08 -> http://fpz.thomasnet.com/item/usa-standards-2/-726-cfm-maximum-vacuum-to-11-1-in-hg-ms-06-series/item-1509

-B

[dubliner]

Curtis & Brady - I think it was stored well, so I'm guessing it may be the motor bearings, I have no idea of the bearing condition but it was stored for 3 or 4 plus years. The whole rig, RPCm DC & Pump made so much noise I couldnt tell much as I had ear protection on. I had run it for probably an hour during testing/hook up and had finished surfacing a 4x8 sheet and had turned the vac off but the clunk came during spin down. BTW - that looks like the one Brady - not sure how to separate the motor from the vane housing though, any ideas? TIA NEV

[Brady Watson]

Nev,
Before you take it apart, you might want to take it to an electric motor repair guy (someone who works on industrial motors) - and see if it is an electrical issue 1st. He would also be the guy who could replace bearings if need be.

-B

[dubliner]

Funny you should say that Brady, I spoke to one today, and he works on Regens, by my description and the age, he surmised the main bearing siezed and is confident he can fix it. So thanks for your tips and stopping me throwing it in the dumpster with frustration - Happy Christmas to your & the missus - Nev

[dubliner]

Update - $1192 , repaired & balanced - thats my Xmas present I guess.