01/08/2022
Yesterday my table saw motor suddenly locked up! I couldn't even turn the blade by hand. This indicated a mechanical, rather then an electrical problem. I suspected a bearing failure, and removed the motor from the machine for inspection. I quickly found the main motor shaft ball bearing completely shot, and this after only 4 decades of use! Shezz! Facing a complete motor replacement and $200.00 , I decided to replace the bearing which cost only $10.00 at Ace hardware. I dutifully replaced the bearing and blew out all the years accumulated saw dust from the unit. After reinstalling the motor into the table saw, I expected it to start and purr like a kitten; it did not! I tried an old trick of starting a recalcitrant motor by rapping a rope around the pully and quickly pulling it the same way you would start an law mower engine, with the power switch on. It worked, but it would not start on its own! This is a sure sign that the internal start switch isn't working. (some motors have these) Evidently, I blew some dust on the contact points of the switch. This is what you are looking at in the photos. A quick cleaning solved the problem.
Life lesson: As the decades tick by, we may sometimes lose our bearing, our way, and have a hard time getting started again due to brain dust from life's stress. A life partner or close friend may be helpful, to get us spinning and humming again as we should.