Projector Motor problem

[Thomas Dafnides]

I bought a parts machine... to my surprise the Yashica silent projector seemed to be in excellent condition , appearance wise. When I turned it on. it just hummed... nothing turned. Disconnected power source, I then disconnected the main drive belt to the fan......the fan is connected directly with a shaft to the drive motor (like most 8mm projectors) ...when turning the fan blades by hand, there is great resistance/friction from the motor (on working projectors, this turns very freely with little friction). It would only turn , slowly . I lubricated the shaft connecting the fan blade to the motor as well as the shaft end on the opposite side of the motor. This provided little improvement. Can the internal discs of the motor that rotate in the cylinder and the protuding heads in the motor that contact the main shaft be lubricated? With what type of lubricant? Is there any other reason the motor will not turn , freely?

[Steve Klare]

Hi Tom,

It sounds to me like the motor bearings are stiff. The contact points between the rotating parts of the motor and the stationary parts are the bearings and the brushes (only for a DC motor), and when the brushes wear out, they shouldn't make the motor stiff.

Often there will be lubrication points on a motor: I would think something like 3-in-1 oill would do the job if there is. It's possible that he bearings are seized up and lubrication will not bring them back.

[Ed Gordon]

There are several videos on youtube on how to repair electric motors. Try searching for "how to fix a seized electric motor"

[Thomas Dafnides]

Thank you for your responses. I now think I know what happened. When I first received the projector...there was a metal rattling sound in the interior....when I opened the back ..a long heavy screw fell out.... this screw fit no where in the projector...a couple of fan blades were bent horribly...the belt looks new. I now think someone used the screw to help guide in a new belt replacement, the screw fell down into the blades...he forgot about it. Closed and started the projector and the screw jammed and seized the motor. Now considering the castatrophic accident....is the motor repairable without dismantling and replacing parts?

[Shane C. Collins]

Your best bet might be to find a cheap donor machine with a working motor. Then you could take the old one out, and replace with the new one, just a thought!