Stuck on slow

[Ozzie]

Hey guys,
Discovered you guys while googling my drama, great forum spent hours here getting lost.
I am in Australia not that should make my sander any different, but I have been renovating a boston whaler and while sanding down some gel coat, the sander (ETS 150/3 EQ) just dropped speed rapidly.  Now it was pretty hot but now it has sat around overnight and still it is like it is on the lowest speed. I striped down everything I could and blew out the dust but got stuck on removing the extractor fan which seems to pressed on.
Anyone know how to remove the fan so I can strip the unit down further to blow out dust or is there some sort of reset for what I am guessing is a reaction to the thermal overload protection.

Cheers in advance
Chris

 

[Kev]

[welcome] Chris,

Apart from blowing the heck out of it with a compressor I can only suggest sending it in for service.

Have you been using a DC with it?

I've never had that "slow down" problem. Sounds like you could have cooked something.

Kev

 

[Mitchwood]

I have experienced this slow down with both my RO150 and my LS130, it seems to be a problem with one of the pins that the plugin goes into. I carry a spare plug for the machine's and when this has occurred have changed them. This solved the slow down problem on my machines. On inspecting the old plug removed from the machine one of the pins is a much narrower diameter, it would appear that some arcing had taken place and eroded the pin.
The very first time this happened to me I sent my LS130 in for service, the machine was cleaned, new socket/plug fitted  and it was returned. Both machines are well out of warranty now, RO 150 was purchased 2006 and the LS130 was purchased 2007. To date I have only changed the plugs once myself so the RO150 is on its second plug and the LS130 on its third.
The pins are quite delicate, I have also had a pin break off on my TS55.

 

[Ozzie]

Thanks a lot for the replies fellas.

Kev, I probably should take it in for a service, and blowing it out with the compressor was my initial thought until I got to removing the exhaust fan. When I do turn it on, I can smell hot ( not burning) MDF dust from previous jobs, which makes me think there may be a build up on the motor itself that I can't get too. By the way what is a a DC? It is a 240v unit if that refers to a step down transformer?

Mitchwood, I didn't consider that, there was a point when it wouldn't turn on for a few moments but well after it cooled. I will inspect the pins on the plug that is on the unit and maybe try to swap it with another tool assuming all the plugs are the same?
That would be pretty simple if this was the case.

Cheers guys

 

[Mitchwood]

Unfortunately the plugs are different for different machine, plug is the same but length of wires and internal connection can be different.Plugs are not very expensive. I have a spare for every machine I own, a replacement is ordered when used.

 

[Birdhunter]

DC probably refers to a dust collector.

 

[Ozzie]

DC probably refers to a dust collector.

yep that would make sense

The sander is in for a service, I will keep you all posted in case it happens to someone else. Had a goods look at the pug and pins, there appeared to be no obvious damage but the tech guy and myself agreed it could be a sort of bad connection, I guess we will see.