grob electric motor repair

Last week I hooked up the Grob band filer to a VFD only to realize that the electric motor was locked up. The motor is mounted very low in the machine so it appeared that the basement shop had seen some flooding in the past and now things were locked up tight. I put a little penetrating oil on the mounting bolt heads and let it soak for the rest of the week. Yesterday I removed the motor and popped the casing off to find a rusted mess inside. I was able to unfreeze the commutator and then I chucked it in the lathe so I could remove the scale and rust. I was able to clean things up and put it all back together. I hooked up the VFD and the motor worked great. I reassembled and mounted the motor back in the Grob and I now have a functioning Grob filer. I'll have to snap some pics of the piece of steel I filed with it. It's so smooth and even; such a cool piece of equipment.

grob band filing machine

I found some original documentation inside the Grob band filer. I was also able to date the manufacture of the filer to May 6th, 1946. The Grob company was just up the road 25 miles north of Milwaukee in Grafton. I contacted my friend Jean at Grob to get info on the band filer as she had helped me with info on my bandsaw a few years back. Here's what she wrote about the filer:

I found the manufactured date of your filing machine, It was manufactured May 6, 1946. Now for the bad news. There is A VERY limited amount of parts for your machine. I am including a copy of

what file chains we have in inventory. We have some 1/2" heavy duty file chains which are indicated on the sheet by either NA (not available) or yes ( in stock). We no longer have the machines nor material to manufacture them anymore. 

Here's what Jean sent about my bandsaw a few years ago:

Your NS-18 was built Jan. 24 1942 and yes you can still get some parts. Especially the guides, holders & rubber tires. I am attaching along with this e-mail a drawing for your saw. This is all we have available. If you have any further questions please call us at 1-800-225-6481.