powermatic s shredder problems appreciate some help here

[Freeotatv]

hi guys,

the powermatic s shredder has worked faithfully for many years.

today, plugged in shredder.

power light at first did not turn on, when engaging the switch.

seated plug, tried switch again and then...

the power light went on, the shredder started truning but made a few clunking sounds.

stopped the forward button and tried again.. more clunking sounds..

stopped the forward button, tried again and then a louder clunking sound and then the shredder stopped turning.

when engaging the forward button, the light still turns on, and i can hear the motor hum, but the blue light blinks and the cutting blades are not turning..

any ideas here??

also looking at the screws.. the screws on the side (black side panels, look like they are a torx bit?

any help here with which torx bit to use..

appreciate any help here.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Tough call without tearing it apart but if I had to guess I'd say your bearings are fried. But then again one of your windings could be bad on your motor. You won't know until you tear it apart and can actually look at the innards.

 

[Freeotatv]

thanks man..

the side panels.. required a torx bit??

 

[deluxestogie]

Torx size chart:

What is a Torx Screw - Insight Security

Find out more about Torx screws, Pin Torx, Security Torx and Torx Plus and take a look at standard Torx dimensions.

www.insight-security.com

Bob

 

[stdly]

You can get a set of screwdriver bits that have popular torx bits included for less than $10.
Maybe even at a dollar store.

 

[Freeotatv]

Someone couldve just said they are allen key screws...lol
.so i tore the shredder down...

Think i found the issue

Pics are of bith sides of the gears..

One side looks off center.

How do i get the gold colored gear plate off?

I removed all 4 screws off the gear plate but the gold plate wont budge.

Based on the pics of the gears...any ideas on what the problem is?

 

[Freeotatv]

Btw ..the pics with the off center gear..

All 4 screws were present..the picture was after i removed 2 of the 4 screws which fasten the gold colored gear plate

 

[deluxestogie]

If you do a search on the forum for "powermatic shredder" as a thread title, there are a bunch of discussions.

Bob

 

[GWLee]

hi guys,

the powermatic s shredder has worked faithfully for many years.

today, plugged in shredder.

power light at first did not turn on, when engaging the switch.

seated plug, tried switch again and then...

the power light went on, the shredder started truning but made a few clunking sounds.

stopped the forward button and tried again.. more clunking sounds..

stopped the forward button, tried again and then a louder clunking sound and then the shredder stopped turning.

when engaging the forward button, the light still turns on, and i can hear the motor hum, but the blue light blinks and the cutting blades are not turning..

any ideas here??

also looking at the screws.. the screws on the side (black side panels, look like they are a torx bit?

any help here with which torx bit to use..

appreciate any help here.

Yeah mine does what you are explaining every so often. I have taken it apart (sides off, you can't get to the main gears) and cleaned the blades with wire brushes and vodka, then lightly oiled the exposed portions on the side with vegetable oil and have turned it on every side to ensure I blow down and wire brush all the surfaces. The bearings are sealed so there is no way to lubricate them. Whenever the "clunking" gets really heavy and loud and movement is seized, I'll try running it in both directions as well, only just hitting the direction button just for a second or two just to work the gears around. I've had mine for about a year and have shredded a couple hundred pounds so far. I know I will get the clunking noise every so often, but after it first happened, and I did my intense cleaning, it does not happen so much. I do admit I panicked the first time it happened, but after attacking the problem, I have been able to adjust operations.

It is a very robust machine, but don't leave it in the run position too long with the blades/gears bound up or you could burn up the small motor.

Cheers.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

It looks like you would have to gently ply the plate off while at the same time sliding it downward to clear the metal lip. You also might need a small gear/bearing puller to pull off the bearing. The bearing size will be written on the side of the bearing. If you can, try to get the number off the bearing now. That way you can go ahead an order a new one as soon as possible.

 

[Freeotatv]

thanks to all, with Bob's suggestion, i dove back into the older powermatic s shredder thread.

as usual, brownthumb's post about the bearing failing, is what is going on.

i pulled the gear plate off and saw some pieces loose, one of the bearings fell apart (hence the clunking noise).

the bearing on the first gear, which runs off the motor spindle is intact but stuck.

jitterbugdude, thanks for the suggestion about the bearing puller.. i had quite a time last night trying to pull the bearing off the 1st gear, which i miserably failed at, lol.

ill take a look at the bearing stamp and order a gear puller and see if this is repairable.

the 2nd gear which runs off the first gear is offset and jammed pretty tight..

another mess to figure out... oh well..

 

[deluxestogie]

It kind of makes you long for the days when a failed tool simply required chipping another one from a fresh flake of rock.

Bob

 

[Freeotatv]

exactly, which is why there are mechanical washers and dryers in the house, lol...
less moving parts to break and fix.

 

[Chicken]

I turned mine into a manual shredder,, by stripping it and having a handle welded on ,

 

[deluxestogie]

Good to see you, @Chicken.

Bob

 

[Chicken]

You too my friend

 

[GWLee]

thanks to all, with Bob's suggestion, i dove back into the older powermatic s shredder thread.

as usual, brownthumb's post about the bearing failing, is what is going on.

i pulled the gear plate off and saw some pieces loose, one of the bearings fell apart (hence the clunking noise).

the bearing on the first gear, which runs off the motor spindle is intact but stuck.

jitterbugdude, thanks for the suggestion about the bearing puller.. i had quite a time last night trying to pull the bearing off the 1st gear, which i miserably failed at, lol.

ill take a look at the bearing stamp and order a gear puller and see if this is repairable.

the 2nd gear which runs off the first gear is offset and jammed pretty tight..

another mess to figure out... oh well..

Yeah, back in my young man days when I was a junior Electrician's Mate Petty Officer. I pulled so many bearings rebuilding motors and such I can't count them. I also had an electric shop with all the proper pullers, presses and space to work on that. Nowadays, if I can't fix it with a good wire brushing and a few shots of oil, I replace the whole thing. Recon I've got my money's worth out of this one, so I'm not going thru the headaches of any extensive teardown. Of course, I would be saying the exact opposite if I was an EM3 or EM2 now though lol, cause money is tight for those junior enlisted folks.

Good luck with your teardown and rebuild.

Cheers

 

[Freeotatv]

thanks @GWLee

i am going to have figure out a small gear puller tool for this one..any suggestions on a alternate tool i can use, which i may have in my tool cabinet for pulling a small bearing and gear off??

the teardown on the shredder is really simple.. just some allen keys screws and phillips head screws ..and i tore down both side, including the power switch side.

the power switch side has cable harnesses to disconnect.. so simple teardown on that side as well..

figuring out a small gear puller though.. im open to suggestions here.. ??

 

[stdly]

thanks @GWLee

i am going to have figure out a small gear puller tool for this one..any suggestions on a alternate tool i can use, which i may have in my tool cabinet for pulling a small bearing and gear off??

the teardown on the shredder is really simple.. just some allen keys screws and phillips head screws ..and i tore down both side, including the power switch side.

the power switch side has cable harnesses to disconnect.. so simple teardown on that side as well..

figuring out a small gear puller though.. im open to suggestions here.. ??

I drew this up in my cad program don't know the sizes you need but this is the idea it can ber used for pulleys gears and bearings.

 

[GWLee]

thanks @GWLee

i am going to have figure out a small gear puller tool for this one..any suggestions on a alternate tool i can use, which i may have in my tool cabinet for pulling a small bearing and gear off??

the teardown on the shredder is really simple.. just some allen keys screws and phillips head screws ..and i tore down both side, including the power switch side.

the power switch side has cable harnesses to disconnect.. so simple teardown on that side as well..

figuring out a small gear puller though.. im open to suggestions here.. ??

A long time ago, on a small motor I have used a pair of needle nose with the shaft sitting in the wire cutting slot on the backside of the bearing and used a good sized screwdriver to leverage the bearing up. It was a tight fit and I had to use gentle prying, but since I didn't have a clam shell puller that size, I had to improvise. I've had my shredder torn down before to the level you noted, but didn't proceed with pulling the plates any further. Problem with the shredder is the clearance is next to none, so not sure if what I did on the small motor would work or not. I looked on Amazon for small bearing pullers and I have always used clam shell as they support the bearing better than the prong types, but when you're backed into a corner, any vessel that does the job is good.

Check on Amazon for:
Search for Pinion Gear Pullers
DAYUAN 14pcs 5 ton Capacity Bearing Separator Puller Set 2" and 3" Splitters Remove Bearings Kit
Two Jaw Pilot Bearing Gear Puller, Bearing Gear Remover Tool Carbon Steel Adjustable Pump Pulley Remover Hand Tool Removal Kit Straight Type(4inch)

Prices are really good for the light work needed of them.

Hope this may help.

Cheers