Trouble shooting a Delta 46-460

[Brian Kent]

Stopped suddenly. I let it cool. No cigar. Also no running lathe.

I checked the connections. No loose plugs. Vacuumed the switch area. Took the top off of the switch area and vacuumed again. No luck yet.

I had stalled the engine while drilling out a cup. In the past, I waited a couple of minutes and pushed in the breaker behind the switch. No effect.

Ideas?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Brian, have you checked to make sure there is power getting to the lathe? Meaning - you didn't pop the breaker? If you have power there, then I would still suspect the switch is the problem. Possibly toggle the switch a few times. Do you have a multimeter to check for power at the switch?

[Brian Kent]

Yes on the power to the lathe. I switched plugs to one powering a lamp to make sure.

I toggled.

Yes I have a multimeter. I assume the next step is taking the big cover off.

Here is the parts page:
http://servicenet.deltamachinery.com/Products/Detail/46-460X

Under #204 - the switch "No longer available Contact Service Center".

[Steve Schlumpf]

If it was my lathe, I would remove power, then take off the cover that houses the power on/off switch. I would want access to the wires/connections going to the switch. Again - with the lathe unplugged - I would take a resistance reading across the power switch. With the switch in the Off position - you should read infinite. When the switch is moved to the On position, it should be a short. Chances are that the switch is dirty and you will read a very high resistance across the contacts.

[charlie knighton]

Brian, my first lathe was that delta, design problem with switch, i had electrician change out switch, he used a light switch, never had another problem with it, if you use the delta parts expect to have to replace the switch again

[John Keeton]

There is a switch issue with the 46-460, and on the one I had, I had to blow out the dust and clean the switch a few times as it wouldn't turn on. Others have had to replace the switch, but in the 1.5 years I had the Delta, I did not have to do that.

[Brian Kent]

I called Delta service and they said I could take it to a service center and get it repaired under warrantee. Since free is the amount of spare cash I have at the moment, I'll try that next. If it happens again I'll think about Charlie's suggestion of a light switch installed by an electrician.

[charlie knighton]

Brian, they like to keep it for at least a week to replace that switch, electician goes out to his truck, gets part, takes maybe 5 minutes to replace

[Tim Leiter]

If you have an air compressor you should try blowing into the switch. You will get a lot more air/dust movement with a compressor than you would with a vacuum. JMO.......Tim.

[Josh Bowman]

Brian, is a service center close?? If not open that panel and give us peek. I bet that switch is your problem and most are very simple low voltage systems. As said by Steve take the power off. BTW I searched around and the power switch does come up as a problem a lot. One interesting post here on SMC found that the cord got pulled and disconnected itself in the housing.

[Brian Kent]

I turned it in to the service center but I may not leave it there. They said they can't get to it for 3 weeks and it takes an average of 4 weeks to get parts from Delta.

I do not have a compressed air system so I just blew it with the vacuum. No effect there. No loose wires that I could see.

Can anyone loan me a Oneway or Robust while it's gone?

And I would appreciate a couple of sympathy groans too.

[Doug Herzberg]

[QUOTE=Brian Kent;2118567Can anyone loan me a Oneway or Robust while it's gone?

And I would appreciate a couple of sympathy groans too.[/QUOTE]

I still have that Craftsman tube lathe in the barn. I'm planning to fly to LAX in August - I could put it in my second free bag if you haven't got your Delta back. That's one way to get a robust turning experience.

I do sympathize. I've had to wait for parts for my Kia (Grizzly), but not that long.

[Jerry Marcantel]

Brian, since you don't have a compressor, and the vac pressure didn't work, get yourself a soda straw from your local Big Gulp store. Use that to try to blow out dust. You'd be surprised how much pressure you can generate.
Those rocker switches are no good, specially in the horizontal position like you're showing. Dust gets in between the contacts preventing contact. Do what Charlie said. ......... Jerry (in Tucson)

[robert baccus]

Bummer yeah. Do you have a Spring pole handy??

[Harry Robinette]

Brian
I sent the pm cause I hadn't see this thread. But I've got an extra Jet 1014, now all we would need is a matter transmitter to get it to you and you'd be all set.

[Rick Vincent]

I have put 3 swithes in my delta . I went to Grangers and bought them that will fit but they will burn out too...

[Paul Williams]

Looks like there is a ready market when one of us Delta owners finds a sealed switch that fits in the hole and has the right connections.

[Brian Kent]

I agree Paul. Since others have hd problems with reverse and speed control, the whole switch box could use improvement. Since the on/off switch is no longer available on the Delta parts page, I am hoping that a new part is in the works.

[Thom Sturgill]

If I understand correctly, when Delta split off from the conglomerate, B&D was supposed to provide support for a time. This allowed them to get rid of parts by using them up and saved the new Delta from the cost of having to stock them until they got a cash flow going.

So where are we now in that process? Is B&D still providing support and just running out of the most common part? If this is the case, then I suggest that you are on your own to fix it if you do not want to wait.

[Noel Poore]

I have the same lathe, but have not had this problem yet. I have had the same problem on my Bosch router, though. On the router, it was easy enough to take the switch apart, clean the sawdust out and put it back together again. I used a small flat bladed screwdriver to pry the cover off the switch. Sure enough, there was a lot of dust inside which was preventing good contact. I would look at the switch on the lathe, and if it seems like it will come apart fairly easily, I would try it. There usually isn't a spring inside these switches, but it is a good idea to cup your hand around the switch as you open it to save crawling around on the floor looking for an unknown number of flying components :)

Noel

[Brian Kent]

doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo - doo - doo - doo - doo - doodoodoodoodoo…
doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo… doo - doo - doo - doo. doo. doo - bombom.

That's me singing the Jeopardy time-filler theme while waiting a month for Delta to send a new switch to the factory authorized service center.
Now sing with me:

doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo - doo - doo - doo - doo - doodoodoodoodoo…
doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo… doo - doo - doo - doo. doo. doo - bombom.

[Glen Blanchard]

That's me singing the Jeopardy time-filler theme while waiting a month for Delta to send a new switch to the factory authorized service center.
Now sing with me:

Brian - Isn't there a way to temporarily rig up another switch until you get the replacement from Delta? This would allow you to use the lathe during the wait.

[Brian Kent]

There would be if the lathe was at home. It is at the factory authorized service center. They are the ones who ordered the part.

doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo - doo - doo - doo - doo - doodoodoodoodoo…
doo - doo - doo - doodoo - doo - doo - doo…
doo… doo - doo - doo - doo. doo. doo - bombom.

[Paul Saffold]

Sounds like it's time for some flat work while you are waiting. I know that is a 4 letter word to some of the turners.:eek: