Monkey wards radial arm saw

[KF5LCH]

Guys, I have an old Monkey wards RAS I got years ago. I tracked it down on OWWM & they say it was built for Wards by Portable Power Tool / Atlas in 1968. It's a well built machine, very smooth, & in great shape.

Not my pic, but mine looks identical to this one except the logo. Mine has the older logo. http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=8282

Problem is, the motor seems weak to me. Like it isin't running at full speed. You can tell by listening that it should have more balls. It runs smooth as silk, just weak.

You guys think it might need new brushes? They're getting pretty short. Where the hell do you get new brushes at?

 

[djjsr]

Check your local hardware store, the brushes may be a common size. I recently replaced brushes in my old MW 4" circular saw and found them locally. I just had to cut them shorter.

 

[Skysurfer]

Have you tried using a commutator stone? Might not need brushes, just a good cleaning.

 

[KF5LCH]

Thanks guys, i'll check into it. I haven't pulled it apart because it's sealed up like a bank vault. I doubt there's anything difficult about taking it down to the motor, just a little time consuming.

I'll pull the brushes & see if the local electric house has any.

It's a great old saw. Hope to keep it for a long time.

 

[toytech40]

Nice looking saw, I have one just like it that was my Dad's, don't use it much but not getting rid of it either, yea I know taking up space for sentimental reasons. Anyway I had a motor problem with it about 13 years ago and found an old man locally that rebuilt electric motors as a hobby/supplement retirement thing(he did factory maintainence back in the day and did alot of motor repair in house). He rebuilt it and even had to locate a new armature for it and has run great ever since. So parts are still available for them if needed

Funny side note to this saw, when my dad went to purchase it he was talking with the salesman at the store about it and he told my dad if he wanted a real good deal on to meet him at the bar after work and they could hash out a great deal on it. Salesman plan was to buy my dad a few drinks and get him to agree to buy it for a higher then retail price. Only problem was the salesman got to the bar a while before my dad and was bragging about what he was going to do and had a few celebratory drinks before my dad got there and was very comfortable and agreed to a price far less then the retail at the time. Filled out and signed the sales voucher and my dad was there first thing the next morning to pay far and get his new saw. The clerk looked at the voucher called the manager who looked at it and said it was all liget and to ring up the sale, then told my dad he had got a great deal.

 

[KF5LCH]

toytech, great old story. Funny how stuff like this happens!

We had a local guy the was a wizard at rebuilding alternators, generators, starters & motors. The IRS shut him down last year. What a shame. I wanted to take it to him & tell him to make it new, but he's closed up for good.

Im gonna tear it apart & restore it this winter. It'll be agood winter project for me.