I have just replaced the carbon brushes in a Black and Decker GX300 lawnmower - no problem with that, and the machine is running fine.
However, while replacing the brushes I noticed that the blade was sharp and as new on the cutting edge, but showed signs of wear and tear on the back edge.
A quick check showed that the motor is running in the wrong direction.
Apart from the blade cutting with the blunt back edge, the air scoop disc that creates the hover effect is also running backwards.
I inherited this hover mower from my mother - it's over 30 years old - and it has given very reliable service throughout, although she did pay to have a new motor fitted around 20 years ago.
What I suspect may have happened is that whoever fitted the motor muddle up the Live and Neutral connections when reconnecting the motor.
Both terminals are exactly the same, and the wires are long enough to reach either terminal.
I have stopped short of switching the wires around just in case I'm wrong and it causes damage to the motor.
But I can't think why else the motor would be spinning in the wrong direction.
The only other possible explanation I can think of is that B&D made a motor that would fit but ran in the opposite direction to the original - seem very unlikely to me though.
Many thanks for any help with this issue.
I really don't want to replace this mower, as it's been a fantastic workhorse and is a credit to B&D - if only they'd marked the Live terminal during the design stage!
ATB
Peter
However, while replacing the brushes I noticed that the blade was sharp and as new on the cutting edge, but showed signs of wear and tear on the back edge.
A quick check showed that the motor is running in the wrong direction.
Apart from the blade cutting with the blunt back edge, the air scoop disc that creates the hover effect is also running backwards.
I inherited this hover mower from my mother - it's over 30 years old - and it has given very reliable service throughout, although she did pay to have a new motor fitted around 20 years ago.
What I suspect may have happened is that whoever fitted the motor muddle up the Live and Neutral connections when reconnecting the motor.
Both terminals are exactly the same, and the wires are long enough to reach either terminal.
I have stopped short of switching the wires around just in case I'm wrong and it causes damage to the motor.
But I can't think why else the motor would be spinning in the wrong direction.
The only other possible explanation I can think of is that B&D made a motor that would fit but ran in the opposite direction to the original - seem very unlikely to me though.
Many thanks for any help with this issue.
I really don't want to replace this mower, as it's been a fantastic workhorse and is a credit to B&D - if only they'd marked the Live terminal during the design stage!
ATB
Peter
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