Atlas 618 Lathe Progress - Part I: Drum Switch Repair

The first item to check off on the to-do list for my new miniature Atlas lathe was to fix the motor / switch issue so I didn't have to give it a kick start to get it going. First thing I did was pull the motor off the mounting board and tear into it, which in hindsight was the wrong thing to start on. I'd figured the motor was the most likely culprit, and it was either the start winding was toast or the centrifugal switch was not working. Nope. The motor was fine, albeit a little grimy inside. Next step was to pull the Furnas Electric Co. drum switch apart. Hopefully I'd find a clue to the problem at hand.

Hmm, something seems to be amiss here:

If it's not readily apparent, one of the six contacts is broken off. Like completely. The piece wasn't inside the switch so someone else had obviously been inside this switch to throw away the errant piece.

The next step was to figure out how to repair the switch. I didn't want to just go buy a new drum switch. Where's the fun in that, plus new switches have got no character. What to do. I needed a thick sheet of copper if I were to try and make a replacement. Hmm... I wandered around the basement for a while looking for a suitable specimen. Aha! Copper tubing, of course. I cut a strip of copper about an inch and a quarter in length from a surplus chunk. That should do the trick.

Partially finished.

Done! I used a wide blunt cold chisel and formed the V shape in between slightly open vise jaws. And the best part is, it works. The photo also gives a better view of a real terminal.

Apparently 1-1/4" wasn't quite long enough to make complete contact though, so I made another one 1/4" longer.

Only time will tell if this repair holds up, but it is only a 1/4-hp motor and won't get much use so I think it will last.