Laguna Lathe Problemo

[Michael Lyle]

Lately my Laguna Lathe 2hp 18-36 purchased in January of 2019 will not start.

It is plugged in. The stop switch is in the start position blue lite is on.

I have not noticed it not starting first start of the day, but only after using it for awhile.
I will be turning and shut it off for some reason or other and "no start" when turning it back on . Sometimes i give the piece I am turning a turn by hand d and away it goes, but not always.

I have not checked the code on the Inverter, I should probably do that today.

Anyone had or having this issue .......... thoughts on this please.

thanks

Michael Lyle

 

[Curt Fuller]

My first suggestion would be to blow any dust out of the start button. That fixes most "won't start" issues. After that I can't offer much.

 

[GRJensen]

Sounds like a start capacitor problem.

 

[Michael Lyle]

I will def blow the heck outta the start button!

Sounds like a start capacitor problem.

so is the capactor in the inverter?

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I'd go with the dust in the starter button, capacitor is not a intermittent problem, if it's broke/dead it stays that way, I doubt it is that.

Problems like that I have had with electrical where they use the spade connections and they will sometimes get hot because of the loose connection.

Just fixed a microwave that suddenly quit, loose spade that had heated and then came apart, have had this on a toaster oven where the oven stopped going warmer, as the thermostad got the heat from the loose spade connection.

With my Delta Midi it was dust and I took it apart and thoroughly blasted all the dust out and it has worked just fine for years after that.

 

[GRJensen]

I will def blow the heck outta the start button!

so is the capactor in the inverter?

Start capacitors, in my experience, are mounted in a metal shell on the outside of the motor.

 

[GRJensen]

If you can start the motor by turning the switch on and spinning the spindle, then the problem is most likely with the start capacitor.

I don't have a Laguna lathe, but I had a Laguna dust collector that exhibited similar behavior. A local motor shop replaced the start capacitor for about $75, and that solved the problem.

 

[Tim Hunter]

If it driven with an inverter, then there is no start capacitor. It’s a poly-phase motor.

Tim

 

[Dan Stromberg]

Search on YouTube for Laguna Lathe Relay replacement -- I had a similar issue as you, and this was the fix for me. Apparently it's a fairly common thing.

 

[Doug Rasmussen]

If blowing dust out of a switch doesn't solve the problem sometimes a squirt of electrical contact cleaner will solve the problem. This could also solve the relay problem mentioned here too, if the relay can be opened to expose the contacts.

I've even used contact cleaner in wall plug receptacles. It's just handy stuff to have around.

 

[Richard Coers]

Sounds like a start capacitor problem.

Not possible with a VFD and 3 phase motor. Another thing to check is the potentiometer. Often they use really cheap units and the wiper inside arcs and fails.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Get a cheap test meter and check between the switch contacts. You'll probably find that one of the switches, the potentiometer, or the relay is not making full contact. It would also be worth checking all the contacts on your VFD and motor.

 

[Norm Marentette]

Had the exact same thing happen to me today! Laguna 1836. Took the air hose to the back of the switch and bam! It worked! Thanks all.

 

[Patton Buchan]

I once had this problem with this exact lathe model. Push the reset button on the back side of the control box. Hopefully it will work for you.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Another thing to do as general maintenance is to blow the dust out of the headstock area and keep the spindle speed pickup area wiped clean of dust. This won't prevent it from running but will make it act weird sometimes or it won't read the correct rpm. I had to do this every couple weeks on my 15/24. I'm sure this applies to any brand lathe.