(ET) And *another* magnet drops.....

[Christopher Zach <cz bunsen crystel com>]

After mowing for a bit I noticed the central motor was not running right 
and overheated. Lifted the deck to check it, felt a small clunk as I 
moved the blades clockwise then counterclockwise.

Means one thing: Magnet dropped. Large diameter motors just. do. this.

Popped off the lid to check: Yep one magnet is loose. I'm sure when I 
drop the blade and armature this morning I'll find that the magnet has 
what I think was double-sided tape holding it to the wall and that tape 
has disintegrated.

Fortunately repair is easy:
1) Mark the top of the magnet BEFORE removal. You can't install it 
rotated and expect it to work.
2) Remove magnet, clean off the tape with the wire brush on your grinder
3) Clean off the rust and junk from inside the motor housing with your 
small wire wheel on a drill.
4) Clean everything so no dirt.
5) Find your magnet gauges. For me it's two custom cut plywood bits to 
gauge the sides to the good magnet and a third that goes across the 
magnets to provide pressure.
6) Test fit the magnet to verify gauges and pressure against motor wall
6) Mix up a hunk of JB Weld.
7) Apply to back of magnet
8) Using gauges put the magnet in and make sure it's oriented with your 
Top marking on the top....
9) Tap in the center gauge
10) Wait 8 hours
11) Re-assemble

I wish there were a way to get all of my magnets to drop but that's life 
with an Elec-trak. By the way if you have motors with broken or dropped 
magnets don't chuck them, I will buy them as spares.

Off we go.