VPI HW-16 Replacement Turntable Motor

[baneste]

Hi all,

After 30 years of service, I believe the turntable motor on my VPI HW-16 (upgraded with the 16.5 kit) has given up. I have an inquiry pending with VPI about the availability of a replacement. If they don't have one, does anyone know of a drop-in replacement?

The Dayton Model 52JE29 Gear Motor 18 RPM 1/300 hp 115V looked promising but thought I'd ask here first. FWIW, I saw the thread about installing a reversing motor like the HW-17 has, but that involves modifications to the cabinet that are probably beyond my abilities with the tools available.

Many thanks.

 

[Lcoblentz]

Go over to vpiindustries.com and get the contact info for Marc Boyle. He will fix you up. You may have to check out the forums there.

 

[baneste]

Many thanks. Marc advises the motor is still available and can be ordered from any authorized VPI dealer. I'm calling the nearest one as soon as they are open for business. Pretty amazing. Hats off to VPI.

 

[WaynerN]

I think VPI gets its motors from Hurst. It's a gear reduction motor in your RMC at any rate.

 

[E-Stat]

Many thanks. Marc advises the motor is still available and can be ordered from any authorized VPI dealer. I'm calling the nearest one as soon as they are open for business. Pretty amazing. Hats off to VPI.

I have an HW-16 purchased more than thirty years ago.

Over the years, I've upgraded the platter, brush and replaced a couple vacuum suction tubes. They can maintain them forever.

 

[Pio1980]

I have an HW-16 purchased more than thirty years ago.

Over the years, I've upgraded the platter, brush and replaced a couple vacuum suction tubes. They can maintain them forever.

Not quite, parts are becoming nla on older models.

 

[E-Stat]

Not quite, parts are becoming nla on older models.

What were you unable to find?

 

[Pio1980]

Afaik, they used remaining surplus HW-19 spindle bearings and platters for a special edition a few years ago, and I recall dust covers and hinges have been unavailable for years. Haven't yet checked on suspension components and other bits, but am getting by.
Just got a used HW-19-3 spindle bearing needing tlc from a fellow AKer and had it professionally refurbed.
I'm glad HW used off the shelf Hurst motors, but can't get the cushion mounts.

 

[E-Stat]

Afaik, they used remaining surplus HW-19 spindle bearings and platters for a special edition a few years ago

Ah. My comments about "maintaining them forever" was restricted to the HW-16 since the newest models don't differ that greatly from the earliest versions like mine.

 

[Pio1980]

Ah. My comments about "maintaining them forever" was restricted to the HW-16 since the newest models don't differ that greatly from the earliest versions like mine.

Thnx for clarifying. If only the other lines, but still good design and execution.

 

[pfcs49]

If you believe the motor is shot, then try disassembling it and see if the armature shaft isn't seizing in the bushings.
I had that problem and disassembling it and cleaning up the shaft and bushings, re-lubing all fixed it years ago.
These are pretty simple devices that don't need to "wear out"!

 

[baneste]

Here's the 'rest of the story."
1. I was able get a replacement motor through my local VPI dealer. Cost was $150.
2. While I'm not 100% sure, the motor sure looks a lot like the 18 RPM Dayton AC motor at https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-AC-Gearmotor-115-Nameplate-3M099.
3. I have no electronics repair abilities at all and the motor replacement was simple.
4. Here's the embarrassing part ... it wasn't the motor. It was the $5 toggle switch. Two silver linings for this "cloud." a. The new turntable motor is *much* quieter than the original. b. I now have a "spare" motor if I ever need one.

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Nice that it was an even cheaper item. Also nice that you have a spare motor. And that you got a quieter motor and therefore, an upgrade. Switches can and do sometimes go bad. Best of all, you got it running. And you updated us with the status. Enjoy AK, and thy vinyl!

 

[baneste]

Nice that it was an even cheaper item. Also nice that you have a spare motor. And that you got a quieter motor and therefore, an upgrade. Switches can and do sometimes go bad. Best of all, you got it running. And you updated us with the status. Enjoy AK, and thy vinyl!

Thank you, Kent. It's great to have the HW-16 back in service.

Thanks to Wayne N for the information concerning the source of the motor. FWIW. the original motor is stamped, "OEM, Inc." with U.S. patent number 3866986. Original Equipment Motors, Inc. holds the patent. See http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=3866986.PN.&OS=PN/3866986&RS=PN/3866986. The new motor did not have the same markings.

While I had the HW-16 apart, I decided to add an exhaust fan to help keep the new motor cool. Used a hole saw to cut a 2.5" hole behind and below the turntable motor. I then mounted a 92mm DC fan on the outside of the cabinet to draw air from the slot in the cabinet bottom and through the compartments for the turntable and vacuum motors. I would have preferred to mount the fan internally, but 92mm was too wide for the space available. An 80mm fan would have fit, but I decided to go with what I had on hand.

DC power for the fan comes from a small transformer intended for running LED lights. It is wired to the turntable toggle switch and runs anytime the turntable motor is running. I was concerned that opening the cabinet would up the noise level, but notice no significant difference in noise level. The best space available for mounting the transformer was at the front of the cabinet, which required rearrangement of the factory wiring scheme.

Can't really point to any evidence that the fan makes things cooler or that making things cooler really makes a difference. But it does give me a little peace of mind.

 

[nerdorama]

Here's the 'rest of the story."
1. I was able get a replacement motor through my local VPI dealer. Cost was $150.
2. While I'm not 100% sure, the motor sure looks a lot like the 18 RPM Dayton AC motor at https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-AC-Gearmotor-115-Nameplate-3M099.
3. I have no electronics repair abilities at all and the motor replacement was simple.
4. Here's the embarrassing part ... it wasn't the motor. It was the $5 toggle switch. Two silver linings for this "cloud." a. The new turntable motor is *much* quieter than the original. b. I now have a "spare" motor if I ever need one.

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

Regarding item 2, the Dayton motor. I just received one today. It is a near match as follows and it is installed and working.
a. Had to use a 5/16" bit to ream the flange for the platter to make it fit the Dayton output shaft but it didn't take much. Seemed like the flange was drilled just a tish too small. It was very tight on the original motor as well. I had to pry it off with a fairly large screwdriver.
b. The Dayton has a larger body and 1/4" flat lugs for electrical connection which almost hit one of the interior plywood partitions so I had to sold on the wires. Not enough room for push on lugs on the wire side.
c. The Dayton output shaft is about 1/4" longer but having it flush with the platter flange puts you in the right height ballpark.
Otherwise seems to work fine and was only $54 delivered from the auction site vendor Zoro. Here are a couple of pictures.

Hope this might help someone in future. I replaced it because the gears were slipping in the gearbox. The vacuum wand could stall the platter. I could make it slip a tooth or a few manually.
John

 

[nerdorama]

I found that I had the spindle motor reversed in the deck. Turned around the motor and plate. Still fits but is a snug fit. Works fine.

This is the motor I used but bought it on eBay.
https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-AC-Gearmotor-115-Nameplate-3M099

 

[Brent71]

. wrong thread