2 post lift issues: motor has begun to work intermittently

[Lat42 Motors]

Hey there everyone,
I have an old Benwil TP7 2 Post lift. I bought it used on CL about two years ago, and I installed it myself in my garage.
When I first powered it up, the motor just made a buzzing / humming noise when I threw the switch. I gave the motor a couple whacks with a hammer, and voila! it has been working incident free for the last two years.

...until now. Last week I went to raise a car and got the dreaded buzz. I pulled out a ladder and gave it a couple hammer taps and it began to lift- but slower and more laboriously than normal.

Now it's to the point where I have to hit the motor every time I want it to go. When it does decide to work, it starts out slow and sounds like it's struggling for the first couple seconds, then speeds up and works normally.

I'm looking for possible causes and solutions. I can't tell if it's the motor, or the hydraulic pump that it turns. I know I may have to have someone come repair it, or pull the motor off and take it to a specialist, but I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. Any advice or insight you can provide is much appreciated. Thanks!

I took some videos of the operation and issues if that will help.

 

[pattenp]

Gee, it's a **** shoot trying to respond to this. It can be a bad motor winding, failing pump... who knows???

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Gee, it's a **** shoot trying to respond to this. It can be a bad motor winding, failing pump... who knows???

I thought the same thing so i didnt bother responding. Kinda need more info, pics? to try and help....

 

[Lat42 Motors]

I have a couple pictures from when I first got it:

seems like I have two options: I could replace the whole power unit with a new motor/pump for around $500, or I could pull the motor and pump out and try to find a specialist to look at it.
I'm weighing the advantages/disadvantages, but any input is appreciated

 

[G_P]

First rule of AC motors is to remove them and see if they act up with no load. If the motor still neats to be beaten before it does any work take it apart and clean it.

Sent via carrier pigeon.

 

[KiltLifter]

Bigger Hammer?

(sorry, someone had to say it)

 

[Rentawrench]

Where in Ma are you? Take the info in your first pic and go to Graingers an look up a replacement.

There are motor rebuild shops all across the state, I know on one in Worcester near the Norton plant, one in Holyoke.

Place a price on how much you want to spend to fix it/most rebuild shops may have used motors for sale.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Bigger Hammer?

(sorry, someone had to say it)

 

[Rickcnc]

I have a hoist that looks exactly like this.. Interesting enough When I purchased mine it needed a couple of taps to get the motor running. (was stored outside for a year with a pail over the motor).

the hoist worked great for 5 years (hobby use mainly weekends) then started getting slower making funny noises and finally stopped... Turned out it was the brushes in the motor

 

[Lat42 Motors]

thanks for the input guys, I'm going to try taking the motor off and finding a local shop to look at it. I'm located north of Boston, near Salem MA. I'll dust off the old yellow pages to see who I can find.
Removing the motor looks pretty straight-forward. Rickcnc, do you have any tips from when you removed yours? Thanks again

 

[Rickcnc]

Getting the motor off is a bit of a PITA, mainly because it's so high up. If you have a stable platform it's easier. It's one heavy motor, not sure I would want to carry it down or up a ladder

Before you go to that extent there are covers you can remove to access brushes. Of course I didn't pay much attention to these until I removed the motor.