Has anyone replaced the brushes in an Elektra Beckum PK200?

[davegl]

I've had my PK200 for about 5 years and its started to lose power/speed occasionally -its either the constant speed electronics failing or more likely the need for new brushes.

The manual doesn't say if these can be replaced, and looking on the motor (from underneath the frame) there doesn't appear to be any obvious screw caps to give access.

Has anyone changed these, and if so how and where did you get the spares? I've done some searching on the web but haven't found a tools spares supplier that lists them so maybe it can't be done.

If it can't , has anyone replaced the motor with an induction one?

 

[seaangler]

try record power , they own electra beckum now

 

[davegl]

I used the contact link on the metabo web page and got an email response next day with the part number and the UK metabo spares supplier.

part number is 1388190392

Metabo email said to order from Jaymac on 01332 755799 - the phone is actually answered as 'Toolshop' so I expect that spares for other makes can be ordered as well. Cost of the brush set was £7.21 incl P&P. I'll post again with my experience of fitting it when it arrives.

Edited 7 March - it turned out that the part number was for just one brush! Who buys just one??? Jaymac thought is was for a pair as well and EB came good and shipped a second FOC.
After all that, i replaced them last night and the problem is still there. The old brushes were hardly worn.

To replace the brushes, remove the blade and the blade guard and wind the saw fully in. Tilt the motor to 45% and then remove the motor cover (4 x torx20) then the brushes (torx15). The new brushes may need to be eased out as the housing seems to be a tapered fit to keep them safe - use a thin rod to push from the back.


I've emailed EB to see if the problem is a common one with a fix (i suspect its the variable speed controller)

 

[Joey07]

did you get to the bottom of this Davgl ? Im in the same situation and wondering which part to replace.

 

[davegl]

No, never got a reply back from EB - but the problem has not reoccurred except for once a week ago , and then only briefly. I had hoped that it was the new brushes settling in but suspect not

I was reading on the UKWorkshop forum a few days ago and someone suggested (for another make) that it may be the startup capacitor - seeing as the EB is a brush motor I'm not sure if it has one (not been inside it since Feb). I still think it is the variable speed controller, but it's not got to the point where it fails enough to find out.

If you have better luck let me know as no doubt some time in the future it will fail

 

[OPJ]

Hi there,

Apologies for dragging this old thread up from three-years ago but, if possible, I'd like to davegl if he's got any further with this? I couldn't see an option to PM him (perhaps that's because I've just signed up?).

I've just bought one of these says second-hand (£52!) although, the seller did state that there was 'something' wrong with the motor.

I haven't yet had a chance to do much with it and, after a brief inspection, the brushes look fine (loads of carbon left). What I've found that if I press the green button, the blade rotates about a quarter turn - but I have to hold it down for a couple of seconds if I want it to reach full speed (haven't yet tried cutting anything). Sounds very nice for a brush motor, though!

I appreciate that this particular model appears to have a 'history' of motor issues. It also looks as though Metabo are discontinuing it now (couldn't see it on their website).

Thanks for your time,

Olly.

 

[davegl]

Hi Olly,
I never did work out what the problem was, and it still does it very occasionally (i.e every few months when the mote speed will dip and come back).

Not the same symptoms as yours, which to me sound like the start up capacitor or too much friction in the bearings?

I've still got the saw and even after reading reviews of other makes on UKW I still haven't changed, as it does all I need and very accurately and can on occasion be taken to site.

Dave (aka oddsocks elsewhere)

 

[OPJ]

Hi Dave and thanks for your reply (I had a feeling it might be you! )

It's been running much better today. I'm still not sure whether it's up to full speed or, even, what full speed is on this machine but, it now starts and runs after pressing the green button.

If you wouldn't mind having a look and listen whenever you've got a few minutes spare, I did film a brief video of the saw cutting various scraps of MDF, pine and oak:

Does it sound anything like your saw or, how these saws are supposed to sound?

Also, have you every had to realign the saw blade to the mitre slot? Mine's out and I can't see an easier way to correct this, without having to work underneath the table...

Thanks,

Olly.

 

[davegl]

Olly, the saw sounds ok and starts and stops much as mine does, but I see you haven't got any dust extraction so if I were you I'd take the insert off (as if changing the blade) to get to the blade and remove the side cover on the blade - without extraction bits of wood will get trapped and bind on the blade. Or find a pipe that will fit over the extraction port (from the back of the saw table) and hook up a vac.

It also looks as if your blade is getting blunt. From memory the original blade is 215mm but I always use the 40 tooth 210mm from Freud (I see ebay have them for £22.45). These cut really well and last - I did have the original EB blade resharpened and it still wasn't as good as a used freud.

Re the mitre slot adjustment from memory that is only by underneath, but I have the sliding rail so automatically compensate for it.

Dave

 

[OPJ]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the reassurance. I'm beginning to think I was perhaps expecting a little too much from an 1,800w saw with a 1,000w output.

The blade isn't the original. It's actually a 40t Trend blade. It feels sharp (I managed to cut myself on it! ) but it certainly isn't ideal for ripping solid wood. As I said though; I will be buying a couple of new blades for it ASAP (I've read mixed views on the quality of Trend blades...).

I've got the extraction sorted now, using scraps of 40mm pipe that I wasn't going to use on my router table, two-years ago... (Much cheaper than buying the £40 set!). Only reason it was disconnected in this video was so that you can hear the saw better (it's nice to see that it does work, though! ).

This Trend blade is 200mm in diameter, and it looks as though there's no adjustment to bring the riving knife in closer so, you're left with a whopping great gap of almost 15mm! The seller has the knife and guard removed, when I picked it up! I think we have to stick with 210mm blades on this model, for optimum safety and all that - unless I'm missing something?

Thanks again.

 

[davegl]

you can adjust the riving knife in height (it can be set lower that the top of the blade if using for trenching etc) but i don't think there is much front/back movement - I've only ever used 210mm blades so not tried.

A cheap source of blades quite often is Aldi - the have in the past sold a double pack of 210mm TCT (one rip one crosscut) for about £10 (useful for initial conversion). I did have a trend blade once and to be honest the aldi ones seemed better.

not many places do 210mm, hence my using freud for quality and aldi for cheapness.