How do I Maintain this Wire Wheel Motor

[Peter Keen]

Hi,

I picked up this Leland Electric wire wheel motor for $1 at a garage sale. It runs really smoothly and extremely quietly - less noise than a running angle grinder.

It has a couple of holes with little caps on them that seem to have grease or oil around them. I doubt that this was originally intended as a wire wheel, as it has a 1/3 hp motor, which seems like a little bit of overkill. My guess is that someone repurposed this motor at some point.

The wire wheel has no switch on it - turns on and off by plugging and unplugging it. The existing wire is fairly short.

At some point, I think that the fence on the device was adjusted via a lever, that goes around the gear - close up photo is below. The lever is missing - the gear turns.

So, here are my questions:
1) How do I re-wire this thing - should I just splice a new wire on, with a switch in it, or should I take the motor apart and wire a new wire and switch into the inside?
2) How do I maintain this motor? Am I supposed to oil or grease it?
3) Anyone know where I can get a lever that would fit onto this gear?

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r690/pckeen/DSC_0246800x536_zps197275f8.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/pckeen/media/DSC_0246800x536_zps197275f8.jpg.html)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r690/pckeen/DSC_0245536x800_zpsafd68267.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/pckeen/media/DSC_0245536x800_zpsafd68267.jpg.html)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r690/pckeen/DSC_0247800x536_zps608c66db.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/pckeen/media/DSC_0247800x536_zps608c66db.jpg.html)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r690/pckeen/DSC_0248800x536_zps80fb1945.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/pckeen/media/DSC_0248800x536_zps80fb1945.jpg.html)

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, I would at least open up the terminal section to make sure everything is OK.

If the existing flexible cord is OK and has ground condusctor, I would add an external motor rated switch in a box.

The motor will be oil lubricated, add 10 drops of SAE 30 monograde oil every year for infrequent use................Rod.

[Duane Meadows]

1. If you don't know the answer to that one you probably shouldn't.
2. A few drops of a light oil in each oil cap occasionally should suffice.. no grease!
3. Racheting handle are available from many sources including Grizzly.
http://www.grizzly.com/search/search?q=Adjustable%20handle&cachebuster=7748452547110729

[jack forsberg]

Rod right remove the household extension cord wire to the motor. get a proper SO and Plug too. 14 gauge is all you need for that motor. looks like the motor is thermally protected(little red button on top ).You could fit a togle switch in/on the box/motor for control too. Here is a link to a motor rated toggle.

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Sports_Outdoors/Calterm-41730-Motor-Rated-Toggle-Switch/9999224305056

HD most likely have them too for about $12.

the Oil is for the plan bronzes bearings is 20 SAE non detergent and 3inone used to sell it. but other makes can be had. fill the oil cap once a week or longer depending on the ware in the bearings. no damage from over oiling IMO.

270405

[Bill Geibe]

Peter,

You have some good advice above. A separate power switch, preferably a paddle type for safety, would be a great idea.

Regarding what you call a fence, I would call a tool rest. I'd just take it off. I've used wire wheels on grinders for many years and always took off the tool rest and usually the wheel housing, too. It's too easy for whatever object you are wire-wheeling to get caught between the tool rest and the wheel (or housing) and jam things up. Without the tool rest, you occasionally will have the machine catch whatever you are working on and toss it at the floor, but that's about the only disadvantage (other than it's a great way to lose a small part forever (DAMHIKT). Keep the tool rest around in case you ever switch to a grinding wheel, which I'm betting your tool was at one point equipped with. I'd leave your wheel housing on, too, as it has pretty good clearance around the wheel.

Another suggestion: Drill a couple of holes in that shroud above the wheel and mount a piece of 1/8" Lexan as a eye shield. Those wires come off those wheels like little high-speed darts. Even if you are wearing eye protection the darn things will stick in your face.

Incidentally, 1/3 HP isn't too much power for that wire wheel. And as it's a slower speed motor (1725 RPM instead of the 3450 that most grinders spin) it would be a good tool for sharpening chisels and the like if you were to put a grinding wheel back on it.

While you are wiring up that switch, you could add something like this, too! http://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Mounting-Working-Gooseneck-Machine/dp/B0051RKFDE/ref=sr_1_14?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1378614932&sr=1-14&keywords=gooseneck+lamp


Bill