clutch motors

[brae]

Does anyone know if a 2/5 high power Consew clutch motor needs to be greased or oiled? Just by estimate, this motor could be 30-40 yrs. old.  I don't ever remember seeing or hearing anyone mention oiling or grease for the motor. Recently the machine sounds different & is not sewing correctly. I'd appreciate any help as I sure don't want to ruin the motor. Thank you 

[sinneD]

Do you mean the motor or the clutch mechanism? There a bunch of threads here on oiling motors that helped me out. Try searching for it.

Do you have oil ports on the motor? Here is a vidoe and pic of one.  Oil Port on clutch motor housing

 This video helped me out too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ0W90XfP6Y

 

[Constabulary]

the reason likely is that clutch motors are way outdated nowadays. On my side of the pond you sometimes find 750w Servo motors for about 70€ (not kidding) but that of course is super cheap. Anyway you find proper servo motors for 120 - 150 € or $ so for me I see no reason not to replace a clutch motor that needs service or maybe bearings with a energy saving servo motor. But that's just me. If you want to invest work time and maybe money into an old clutch motor go a head. I would not do that.

Just my 2 cents.

[CowboyBob]

16 hours ago, brae said:

Does anyone know if a 2/5 high power Consew clutch motor needs to be greased or oiled? Just by estimate, this motor could be 30-40 yrs. old.  I don't ever remember seeing or hearing anyone mention oiling or grease for the motor. Recently the machine sounds different & is not sewing correctly. I'd appreciate any help as I sure don't want to ruin the motor. Thank you 

This motor has sealed bearings,there (might) be an oil hole in the center of the casting to the left of the pulley to lube the bearing for the clutch.

[Cumberland Highpower]

I think they're mostly sealed bearing units?  There is a sleeve that moves in the housing that could use a little oil, it slides back and forth when you engage it. try lubing that.

CM's are tough and can last just about forever.  I have one on a Randall that was made in 1984 and I use it every day nearly.  I've adjusted the Cluch/Brake a couple times since I've owned it over the last 20 years.    You can buy the friction plates and bearings for some of the better ones, but buying a used CM is often cheaper.

They're not obsolete at all and are still made.  There are just better and worse uses for them these days.  Servos are great when you want a positioner and on leather stitchers for beginners (and non beginners)  I find CM's on heavy sewing machines that are run full throttle for long durations is best. 

I highly doubt you'll get any Chinese Servo to last 40 years though, more like 5 if you use it allot.  Maybe an Efka or Mitsubishi can make it to 50yrs?

I can tell you one thing that's a negative about Servos, you can't tell from the sound if they're on.  I recently put a needle through the tip of my finger when inserting a bobbin on a Seiko.  Lucky for myself the needle didn't shatter....If it had been a CM I'd have known it was on.

 

[Wyowally]

Probably no help, but here goes:  My first tabled, clutch motor machine was a Necchi BV. These had the head imported, then installed with a US made induction motor in a table. The old induction clutch motor had lubrication holes - but the motor was installed with the holes on the bottom! The old bushings were shot, I machined and installed oilite bushings. Not silent, but pretty quiet, and I can manipulate the clutch for slow sewing.

[Cumberland Highpower]

20 hours ago, Wyowally said:

Probably no help, but here goes:  My first tabled, clutch motor machine was a Necchi BV. These had the head imported, then installed with a US made induction motor in a table. The old induction clutch motor had lubrication holes - but the motor was installed with the holes on the bottom! The old bushings were shot, I machined and installed oilite bushings. Not silent, but pretty quiet, and I can manipulate the clutch for slow sewing.

When I was a boy my mother went through allot of home sewing machines.  One day my dad bought a Necchi BU in a cabinet from a hoarder for $20.   She still has the Necchi and I think it was the best home use machine ever made.  

Edited Tuesday at 02:40 PM by Cumberland Highpower