Makita 2040 motor problems

I was thinking about trying to use a induction motor – but the thought of trying to figure out how step up the rpms from 3450 to whatever the planer needs to spin at is intimidating.
- ChrisBarrett

That’s an easy one… the listed cutter head speed is 6500 rpm, so you would just need to provide a 1:2 pulley ratio. It doesn’t need to be exact, and actually won’t ever be, since the ‘3450’ is really just a guess by the mfg and represents more of an ‘average’ speed, not absolute.

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

okay, that’s cool at least. The question would be how or do I convert the existing pulley and 12mm shaft to like a pillow block with pulleys on both ends or connect a pulley directly to the induction motor and change the belt length?

The only spare induction motor I have is a 1/2 hp craftsman that came with a lathe, probably not powerful enough. If the armature fix doesn’t work, then I’ll look at picking up a new (to me at least) induction motor and figure out how to get it to drive the belt.

small update: I cancelled the order for the armature – i don’t think it actually existed. I just ordered a 3hp motor from amazon, long with pillow block bearings, a 12mm shaft and some v belt pulleys. I’m going to try to piece together a new transmission for the planer.

link for the factory belt: https://beltpalace.com/450j9.html

Okay, couple weeks later and I finished replacing the factory motor!

Parts list:
https://www.grainger.com/product/CONGRESS-3-8-in-Fixed-Bore-Standard-54XN20 – pulley – $20 shipped
https://www.grainger.com/product/CONGRESS-5-8-in-Fixed-Bore-Standard-54XN11 – pulley – $24 shippped
https://www.mcmaster.com/1482K19/ – 12mm shaft – $17.33 shipped
https://www.globalindustrial.com/product/itemKey/30914887 Wiring box for motor – $46.31 shipped
https://www.autozone.com/ignition-tune-up-and-routine-maintenance/v-belt-by-size/armormark-35in-fractional-horsepower-wrapped-v-belt/250054_0_0 – v-belt – $10
Flat stock steel bar – $13
random 3/8” bolts/nuts – $10

The rest is amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BP7WFA – switch box – $8.55
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JGZJNTB/ – 3hp 220v motor – $200
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YXNP7SP/ – 12mm pillow block bearings – $23.47
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005W17FRS/ machine on/off switch – $21.34
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FKBQXA – hinges – $6.73

TOTAL: $400.73

Tools bought:
grease gun – $18.99
grease – $5.50
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082D6HRKD/ – 12mm drill bit – $12.29
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002EVFJE – 13/32” drill bit – $8.70
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UUGS7A/ – 12mm die – 11.77

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGd4Ld8RlCQ

Video of it running, yes I tightened the loose bolt :)

Picture with the switch installed

So basic run through:

1. Removed old motor
2. Drilled factory grooved pulley out to 13/32 and tapped it to 12mm
3. Drilled small v-groove pulley to 12mm
4. made L shaped brackets out of flat 3/16” steel to mount pillow bearings to, drilled holes in appropriate places
5. matched holes in bracket and drilled holes and tapped them in cast iron planer base
6. drilled holes and tapped for tensioning bolts
7. mounted pillow bearings and pulleys on shaft, tightened everything and tried to get it all aligned
8. Cut hole through wood base for belt
9. added wiring box to motor, wired up cord
10. mounted motor with hinge lined up to upper pulley
11. cut hole in base to pass cord up through the factory wiring location
12. putzed around forever getting switch wired up and fit into a too small box
13. Profit!

The new motor is vastly quieter than the factory motor, like probably 3x quieter. Also quite a bit more powerful, I was able to take some pretty heavy cuts that would have stalled the old motor.

Wow! I imagine that thing is a beast now with a 3hp motor – be careful it doesn’t tear itself apart!

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Looks mighty involved Chris! Did the original motor have a belt and pulley that turned the cutter head? I am trying to understand why you could not just swap out the motors and had to use the pillow blocks and shaft?

-- G Heard

The original motor was tiny, so spacing under the planer base itself was going to be difficult with a normal sized induction motor.

Also those metal brackets I made are barely sufficient, it really needs some cnc’d aluminum or something.

I always thought the weakness of that planer was the 110/120 volt motor. Also, brushes imply a universal motor, which is typically not as robust as an induction motor.

-- I admit to being an adrenaline junky; fortunately, I'm very easily frightened

OK thx. So how many pulleys and belts are there in all now? Do you have picture showing that part of the set up. I ham looking at buying a used one and from sound of things the motor needs to be replaced all though the demo boards he ran through the planer look good. I am waiting to see what kind of price I am given as that may kill the deal anyway.

-- G Heard