Loren Benedict Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 I have a RBI scroll saw that quit. I thought it might be the control box but after several tries to have it fixed not back yet. The motor runs but the magnet is broken and I can't find another one. I got a foot control and that only works full speed. The saw is old but very little use and I would like to fix it. Can anyone give advise please. I am told this is no longer made and no parts any more. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Loren Benedict said: I have a RBI scroll saw that quit. I thought it might be the control box but after several tries to have it fixed not back yet. The motor runs but the magnet is broken and I can't find another one. I got a foot control and that only works full speed. The saw is old but very little use and I would like to fix it. Can anyone give advise please. I am told this is no longer made and no parts any more. When you say the magnet is broken, how in the world could that have happened. Maybe the winds got burnt up. Did you try to take the foot switch out of the loop and try operating saw without it.? Edited January 31 by JTTHECLOCKMAN OCtoolguy 1 Quote
kmmcrafts Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 Welcome to the village.. Some of the early Hawks did have a motor that was known to be problematic but I'm not sure what motor or years those motors were used.. It had something to do with the speed controller and making the motor run hot and eventually burning it up I think.. hopefully this is not the case for your saw. Have you tried contacting Bushton Manufacturing who now is the company for Hawk saws? They used to sell a replacement motor and controller box kit to get these old saws back in working order.. though not the cheapest repair but if the saw is good then way cheaper than a new saw.. I believe last I heard it cost around $350 for new motor and control box.. think it might of had a new/upgraded bearing plate at the end of the motor too.. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted January 31 Author Report Posted January 31 1 hour ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said: When you say the magnet is broken, how in the world could that have happened. Maybe the winds got burnt up. Did you try to take the foot switch out of the loop and try operating saw without it.? OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted January 31 Author Report Posted January 31 I had a repair shop try to fix it and they thought they should pry it off to take a look, broken and I can't find a new one. The motor runs but will not work with the foot switch and the foot switch is all good for other things. It seems this motor just does not work variable speed and I don't know what motor to get for the correct size to fit. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Jim McDonald Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 Is it a magnet or a coil wrapped with wire? Excuse the question, but I have never been in that particular control box. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted January 31 Author Report Posted January 31 It's a magnet on the motor shaft that reads the RPM. Thank you for your reply, I can use all the suggestion I can get. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted January 31 Author Report Posted January 31 31 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said: Welcome to the village.. Some of the early Hawks did have a motor that was known to be problematic but I'm not sure what motor or years those motors were used.. It had something to do with the speed controller and making the motor run hot and eventually burning it up I think.. hopefully this is not the case for your saw. Have you tried contacting Bushton Manufacturing who now is the company for Hawk saws? They used to sell a replacement motor and controller box kit to get these old saws back in working order.. though not the cheapest repair but if the saw is good then way cheaper than a new saw.. I believe last I heard it cost around $350 for new motor and control box.. think it might of had a new/upgraded bearing plate at the end of the motor too.. I did ask them but they were very short and said no parts to fix it. Maybe someone will have a old one and sell me the motor with control box. My saw was in storage for many years so low time, like new. I do hope to fix it. Thanks for your help kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 2 Quote
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted January 31 Report Posted January 31 I am not going to much help. The motor should have a name plate that should help you track down a replacement. They probably are a Fasco motor but maybe a Dayton motor . When you say the motor does not respond to VS and runs at top speed only to me signals control board. If a motor is going to be bad it will be bad at all speeds. Now this magnet working in conjunction with speed controller is new to me. Is the motor AC or DC motor? What year is the saw? Try to get all the info off the name plate even if you think it is not important. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted February 1 Author Report Posted February 1 17 hours ago, kmmcrafts said: Welcome to the village.. Some of the early Hawks did have a motor that was known to be problematic but I'm not sure what motor or years those motors were used.. It had something to do with the speed controller and making the motor run hot and eventually burning it up I think.. hopefully this is not the case for your saw. Have you tried contacting Bushton Manufacturing who now is the company for Hawk saws? They used to sell a replacement motor and controller box kit to get these old saws back in working order.. though not the cheapest repair but if the saw is good then way cheaper than a new saw.. I believe last I heard it cost around $350 for new motor and control box.. think it might of had a new/upgraded bearing plate at the end of the motor too.. 15 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said: I am not going to much help. The motor should have a name plate that should help you track down a replacement. They probably are a Fasco motor but maybe a Dayton motor . When you say the motor does not respond to VS and runs at top speed only to me signals control board. If a motor is going to be bad it will be bad at all speeds. Now this magnet working in conjunction with speed controller is new to me. Is the motor AC or DC motor? What year is the saw? Try to get all the info off the name plate even if you think it is not important. Thank you for your reply. I have removed the control box from the motor and plugged into the foot control direct, it only runs full speed and the foot control is not the issue. I guess some motors will not be controlled with VS. It is a Fasco motor and it is discontinued. If anyone could recommend a motor the same size that will work with VS I would really appreciate the information. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 1 Report Posted February 1 Is the motor AC or DC? I believe the replacement that Kevin is talking about is an AC motor. Go to a more reputable motor store and they should be able to help you. Take the nameplate stuff with you or take the entire motor. Explain to them what you want to do. Either replace the part or the motor.. The one thing you have to decide is this worth fixing. You can always keep an eye out for a used one for around same price or even a better one. While you are at the motor place ask them if it is possible to put a VS router controller on that motor and disconnect the control board. If it is an AC motor you should be able to. The speed controller are inexpensive and with the condition of the motor now it will be worth a try. They should be able to tell you all this. A motor is a motor. RBI concerns about their controller matched to the motor. Good luck. kmmcrafts and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted February 1 Report Posted February 1 I have no personal experience with Bushton but it sounds like you talked to the wrong person or didn't explain your situation clearly. I'd give it another try. If you are truly sold on the idea of resurrecting your old saw, explain that to them and I'm sure they can supply you with a motor. When they said it was discontinued, the conversation should have then gone on to how you can get your saw running again. Tell them that you have been told that there is a replacement motor available and that is what you want. Don't take no for an answer. Get to the right person for help. I can't/won't believe that they don't want your money. There is profit to be had and they should want it. It really does sound to me as though you either got the wrong person on the phone or didn't make yourself clear as to what you wanted. Give it another try. If it still ends the same way, there are tons of used Hawks for sale and probably for less that the repair is going to cost you. I bought a like-new 2008 226 Ultra with less than 20 hours on it for $250. It was truly like new so I know they are out there. What is your location? That makes a difference. I'm in So Cal and there are lots of great used saws near me within a couple of hours at most. Best of luck, and be sure to show off what you make once you get up and running. And keep us informed as to how you remedy your situation. We all hate stories that have no ending. BadBob and kmmcrafts 2 Quote
Loren Benedict Posted February 6 Author Report Posted February 6 Ray, You have great advise and I will try to ask them again. I do want to make the saw work again as I found joy in working it. I have sent this to Buffalo NY as they advertised they could fix, they did nothing and sent it back. It is a AC motor but it does not work with my foot controller, I think I can find a replace motor and it will work. Where could I find the used saws online? Maybe I can buy one and have it shipped to me. Thank you for helping me. OCtoolguy 1 Quote
kmmcrafts Posted February 6 Report Posted February 6 9 minutes ago, Loren Benedict said: Ray, You have great advise and I will try to ask them again. I do want to make the saw work again as I found joy in working it. I have sent this to Buffalo NY as they advertised they could fix, they did nothing and sent it back. It is a AC motor but it does not work with my foot controller, I think I can find a replace motor and it will work. Where could I find the used saws online? Maybe I can buy one and have it shipped to me. Thank you for helping me. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to look for saws and parts.. Craigslist is okay but now days about everyone post for sale on the Facebook Marketplace.. Where you located? I'm always "looking" on the Facebook Marketplace as that's about all I have Facebook for is the ads, LOL OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Solution OCtoolguy Posted February 7 Solution Report Posted February 7 Yes, knowing your location will help. As I said, I'm in So Cal and there are tons of used saws of all brands. We have members on this forum from all corners of the world so finding you a used saw should pose no problem. Info is what we need. kmmcrafts 1 Quote
Roberta Moreton Posted February 15 Report Posted February 15 On 2/6/2025 at 3:37 PM, Loren Benedict said: Ray, You have great advise and I will try to ask them again. I do want to make the saw work again as I found joy in working it. I have sent this to Buffalo NY as they advertised they could fix, they did nothing and sent it back. It is a AC motor but it does not work with my foot controller, I think I can find a replace motor and it will work. Where could I find the used saws online? Maybe I can buy one and have it shipped to me. Thank you for helping me. It does not work with your foot control. Does that mean that it does work if you take your foot control out of the loop? OCtoolguy 1 Quote
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