Broken Planer

[Mr Chrysalis]

I have an electric planer. About 10 years old but always worked ok. It is a Wickes Professional, cost about £150. I used it the other day, sparks came out the cover where the brushes are and it stopped. I thought brushes have crumbled. I took it apart, brushes are fine, still got about 20mm length on them. The commutator and armature also look ok. Everything turns freely. The 5 A fuse had blown. I replaced it. It ran for about 2 seconds then blew the fuse again, no sparks though. Everything still turning freely. Any thoughts? I’ve bought another one now from Screwfix, butwould like to fix this if I can

 

[funflair]

Armature short would be my guess.

Martin

 

[tonyidle]

Armature short would be my guess.

Martin

And mine. Worth checking the field windings before replacing it though. Unless you can source a replacement armature it is irreparable.

 

[mitzimad]

i would take the cover of and check the brushes wickes stuff usually comes with spare brushes but like me you have probably lost them my henry hoover was doing the same and it was just the brushes stuck removed and replaced after cleaning and now works fine

 

[jockaneezer]

Could be an armature bearing worn, allowing the armature to bounce around and contact the field windings or brush holders. It needs stripped down to properly check but I imagine, with sparking as described, it'll be goosed.

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[TheBig1]

it's fubar as i suspect a winding has failed giving the spark shower you observed

 

[pappajohn]

My little Aldi compressor did similar before bursting into flames.
Pulled the motor apart and the windings had shorted.
Unrepairable and the rotor is part of the compressor crankshaft so couldn't even swap the motor or salvage the compressor

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Armature short would be my guess.

Martin

Thank you. It looked OK, but I will have a closer look at the gaps on the armature, check for shorts/debris

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

And mine. Worth checking the field windings before replacing it though. Unless you can source a replacement armature it is irreparable.

Thanks I cannot find any spare parts for it - except brushes - and they are ok!

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

i would take the cover of and check the brushes wickes stuff usually comes with spare brushes but like me you have probably lost them my henry hoover was doing the same and it was just the brushes stuck removed and replaced after cleaning and now works fine

Thanks. Brushes are ok. Still about 20mm long. I have removed and replaced them after cleaning, no joy

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Could be an armature bearing worn, allowing the armature to bounce around and contact the field windings or brush holders. It needs stripped down to properly check but I imagine, with sparking as described, it'll be goosed.

Thanks, I’ll check for play in the bearing , but as I cannot find any parts, not much I can do!

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

And mine. Worth checking the field windings before replacing it though. Unless you can source a replacement armature it is irreparable.

Thanks. I can check the field windings with a multimeter, but cannot get spares

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

it's fubar as i suspect a winding has failed giving the spark shower you observed

Probably- thanks. Unfortunately if it is I cannot get spares

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I have already bought a new one, but I’ll try the things you have suggested s it was a better planerbthan the one I replaced it with (Trojan, Screwfix £60) though that has been fine for trimming the doors which I needed it for

 

[tonyidle]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I have already bought a new one, but I’ll try the things you have suggested s it was a better planerbthan the one I replaced it with (Trojan, Screwfix £60) though that has been fine for trimming the doors which I needed it for

As you have a multimeter you can check comm segments to armature shaft - if the armature fails it often connects itself to the metalwork as well. The field can do the same. Before double insulation became a standard for power tools the earth connection used to result in a much more impressive shower of sparks when the armature failed. Ball race bearings for tools (if you ever need them) are standard sizes available from any bearing specialist. Or eBay quite often. There's a number etched on the edge of the outer race for anyone with the eyesight of a teenager.

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[JJ]

A possible solution...

JJ

 

[Silver-Fox]

Take the broken one back for a replacement.
If that’s not acceptable, bin it.

Next time buy a professional one say Makita, Dewalt or similar.

The warehouse stuff tends to be s***
Even some of their “professional” tools are of a lower standard built for diy with different part numbers.

 

[Silver-Fox]

A possible solution...

View attachment 290565


JJ

I always get an electric shock when I plug those in

 

[Lenny HB]

Not on is it, only 10 years old, my Bosch one is at least 30 years old and still going.

 

[34127]

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[Mr Chrysalis]

As you have a multimeter you can check comm segments to armature shaft - if the armature fails it often connects itself to the metalwork as well. The field can do the same. Before double insulation became a standard for power tools the earth connection used to result in a much more impressive shower of sparks when the armature failed. Ball race bearings for tools (if you ever need them) are standard sizes available from any bearing specialist. Or eBay quite often. There's a number etched on the edge of the outer race for anyone with the eyesight of a teenager.

Thank you for the advice

 

[Peppadog]

I supplied a lot of power tools to Wickes in past years (ie. well over 100,000 units). That planer looks like a Draper supplied unit. Made in China to a diy plus / medium duty cycle (so it would take a bit of use and they could call it ‘pro’). If more than brushes / springs, bin it.
Your replacement is diy spec Chinese. Use it till it drops, basically.