How to get weights off the   electric motor shaft - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 09:26:13 am
content: I need to get off these weights of two electic motors, they are from some old joystick (vibrations).Pics in attachments.I apologise for bad english.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 09:57:11 am
content: That looks like the top of the shaft has been peined, so you'll need to grind or cut away the end of the shaft to remove the weights. So careful use with an old wood chisel may allow them to be reassembled.

author: sunnyhighway
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 10:54:37 am
content: Quote from: KJDS on June 25, 2014, 09:57:11 amIf that would would be the case, the shaft should be thicker below the weights to keep them in place. Which it is not.

author: sunnyhighway
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 10:57:21 am
content: The weights seem to bee press-fit to the shaft.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 10:58:29 am
content: Could you grip the weights in the vice and then punch out the shaft with a hammer and a punch tool.Even better if you can get a tiny metal rod plus the weights into the vice horizontally.Then just doing up the vice will push the rod in and the motor shaft out. But you will have issues getting the motor side of the weights to contact the vice due to them not overhanging the motor case.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 11:06:15 am
content: I've had success with a pair of pliers and just levering them off, you could also use a drill press to drill the end of the shaft in case it's been welded or something, but it's doubtful.edit: yup, looks like the tip has been flattened a bit, drill that off, then pry them off. You could also cut towards the shaft from the middle, then bend them back to release them.

author: ecat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 11:29:14 am
content: Assuming you do not want to keep the weights:The easy way is to use a dremel cut off wheel, hold it close to the shaft and at 90 degrees to the flat side of the weights.Slightly more work is to do the above with a hack saw.More work again would be to use a small file.Try to hold the weights in a vice to minimise any damage to the motor. You probably do not need to cut all around the shaft, just one side will do, and you don't need to cut all the way through each weight, just enough to weaken the metal.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 11:44:14 am
content: How about a gear puller something like this one. RC heli or car shops will have them. A tool built for the job at handYou will need a slightly larger version than the one pictured here.

author: Richard Head
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 11:48:47 am
content: The weights have been crimped onto the shaft. You can see the crimp lines on the weights right next to the shaft.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:25:10 pm
content: Agreed! I didn't look at the picture in full size. If you use a dremel cut off disc and grind right down those crimp lines but don't hit the shaft it should pull right off.

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 12:28:48 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on June 25, 2014, 12:25:10 pmi would just grind a little bit long those lines - to weaken the material, but not to damage the shaft. then just separate the weight plates with a small chisel and tear them off one by one with pliers.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 03:52:32 pm
content: If doing any cutting or grinding on this assembly, take care to mask the shaft oilite bearing and any holes in the motor casing. Permanent magnet motors and ferrous metal 'dust' generally do not mix well

author: rob77
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 04:01:42 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on June 25, 2014, 03:52:32 pmthat's a very good point !but if shit happened already, then a piece of masking tape (it's not too sticky) will help you to dig out the metal chips from gaps(it's a common practice to use masking tape to clean air-gaps in magnetic setups).

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2014, 07:04:01 pm
content: Grind the stamped sheets off if you do not want to use them again, or get a small gear puller like Robrenz suggests if you want to put it back together again with any hope of it working again. Likely to be rather terminal to the motor the first few times until you get it right.