Hegner speed issue

[rash_powder]

Lately I have been noticing my Hegner 22VS speed slowing and acting erratically at times.  Whenever it would act up, just the tiniest adjustment to the speed control or releasing the foot switch and restarting and the problem would clear up for a while.  I have had the foot switch apart and noted no carbon fouling or anything to indicate a switch failure, I blew it out and reassembled.  The power switch functions as it should so not there.  The next most likely was the control board.  $200+ for that!!  Yikes!!  

Amongst all the components on the control board is the potentiometer used for adjusting the speed control.  The pot is a wear item.  Inside of it is either a wound wire + a moving contact or a film + a moving contact.  The resistance between either of the outside terminals and the center terminal should adjust smoothly from ~ 0 ohms to 100K ohms that this pot is rated for.  Mine was jumping all over the place when adjusting it and didn't really hold steady either.  Pot is bad.  

Here is the part list I came up with to replace the pot and three associated resistors I figure I will likely destroy during unsoldering.  Shipped from Digikey to the door for under $15.

1	‎1993-1229-ND‎ ‎PC16SH-07CP04-104A2020-TA‎ POT 100K OHM LINEAR Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	2.75000	$5.50
2	‎S39KCACT-ND‎ ‎RNMF14FTC39K0‎ RES 39K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20
3	‎294KXBK-ND‎ ‎MFR-25FBF52-294K‎ RES 294K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20
4	‎280KXBK-ND‎ ‎MFR-25FBF52-280K‎ RES 280K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20

 

My saw is a 1996 and I got it at a pawn shop.  I have no idea of its life prior to me getting it other than it looked like it was stored in a shed and had some water spilled/dripped on the table.  Other owners of this vintage may be seeing this or a similar problem.  If you can solder and run a voltmeter, wire cutter, and dremel you can do this repair.  If soldering is out of your ability but you know someone, beg.  Its way cheaper than a new board.  

Hope this can be of help to someone some day.  

[OCtoolguy]

4 minutes ago, rash_powder said:

Lately I have been noticing my Hegner 22VS speed slowing and acting erratically at times.  Whenever it would act up, just the tiniest adjustment to the speed control or releasing the foot switch and restarting and the problem would clear up for a while.  I have had the foot switch apart and noted no carbon fouling or anything to indicate a switch failure, I blew it out and reassembled.  The power switch functions as it should so not there.  The next most likely was the control board.  $200+ for that!!  Yikes!!  

Amongst all the components on the control board is the potentiometer used for adjusting the speed control.  The pot is a wear item.  Inside of it is either a wound wire + a moving contact or a film + a moving contact.  The resistance between either of the outside terminals and the center terminal should adjust smoothly from ~ 0 ohms to 100K ohms that this pot is rated for.  Mine was jumping all over the place when adjusting it and didn't really hold steady either.  Pot is bad.  

Here is the part list I came up with to replace the pot and three associated resistors I figure I will likely destroy during unsoldering.  Shipped from Digikey to the door for under $15.

1	‎1993-1229-ND‎ ‎PC16SH-07CP04-104A2020-TA‎ POT 100K OHM LINEAR Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	2.75000	$5.50
2	‎S39KCACT-ND‎ ‎RNMF14FTC39K0‎ RES 39K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20
3	‎294KXBK-ND‎ ‎MFR-25FBF52-294K‎ RES 294K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20
4	‎280KXBK-ND‎ ‎MFR-25FBF52-280K‎ RES 280K OHM 1/4W 1% AXIAL Shipped By Digi-Key Electronics	2	Immediate	0.10000	$0.20

 

My saw is a 1996 and I got it at a pawn shop.  I have no idea of its life prior to me getting it other than it looked like it was stored in a shed and had some water spilled/dripped on the table.  Other owners of this vintage may be seeing this or a similar problem.  If you can solder and run a voltmeter, wire cutter, and dremel you can do this repair.  If soldering is out of your ability but you know someone, beg.  Its way cheaper than a new board.  

Hope this can be of help to someone some day.  

Thanks for your input here. I had a Hegner and was never happy with the way it ran. It did have the "soft start" that everybody talks about. My issue was that it would seem to "hunt" for the speed that I had the dial set at. I didn't have the electronic ability that you obviously have so I sold it. I'm still waiting for the right Hegner to come along and I will buy it. Now, I think I might know enough to repair that issue if it ever popped up. Thanks and good luck on your repair. Keep us all updated on how it goes.

 

 

[rash_powder]

Soft start?  What might that be?  I haven't ever seen anything written on it.  

At lower speeds mine seems to 'hunt', I would say more of a repetitive surging that slowly dies off.  I'm hoping the pot fixes that.  If not, I'm thinking the start/run capacitor but I'm not really sure that would be it either.  Definitely cheaper than a new motor though.  

I will see if the manual says anything on a soft start, but, since I got my saw at a pawn shop, i don't have the original manual but rather one I downloaded.

 

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, rash_powder said:

Soft start?  What might that be?  I haven't ever seen anything written on it.  

At lower speeds mine seems to 'hunt', I would say more of a repetitive surging that slowly dies off.  I'm hoping the pot fixes that.  If not, I'm thinking the start/run capacitor but I'm not really sure that would be it either.  Definitely cheaper than a new motor though.  

I will see if the manual says anything on a soft start, but, since I got my saw at a pawn shop, i don't have the original manual but rather one I downloaded.

 

The "soft start" refers to a slight hesitation when you first hit the "go" switch. Whether a foot peddle or just the on/off switch, the saw doesn't run immediately. It has a slight hesitation. I could live with that but once it started and came up to the set speed, my saw would not run at that speed. It sort of hunted around that speed. I couldn't get used to it. 

[nrscroller]

HI

I have a 1995 18vs Hegner and never have had any problems like that thankfully. Good luck

Bill

[Rockytime]

I have two Hegners, a 14" and an 18". I've bookmarked your info. Thanks.

[rash_powder]

Mine must not have the soft start feature.  That or I don’t notice it.  I’m dead certain the moment I step on the pearl it starts.  I should start a project to see.  But I will need some wood and I haven’t a good resale blade for the band saw and the local stores don’t stock sizes bigger than about 6” in 1/4” or 1/2” thick.  Ugh!  My parts need to show up!!

[OCtoolguy]

19 hours ago, rash_powder said:

Mine must not have the soft start feature.  That or I don’t notice it.  I’m dead certain the moment I step on the pearl it starts.  I should start a project to see.  But I will need some wood and I haven’t a good resale blade for the band saw and the local stores don’t stock sizes bigger than about 6” in 1/4” or 1/2” thick.  Ugh!  My parts need to show up!!

You don't need a project. Just take notice of when you step on the peddle, does it start immediately or is there that half second pause?

 

[Trka2002]

I’m starting to have a similar problem with my hagner. Did you ever find a solution? Any help would appreciated. Thanks

[rash_powder]

@Trka2002; I'd actually forgotten about this work!!

Yes, my saw is running better now, so I would say that the replacement parts helped.  I do recall there was something a bit different with the potentiometer I got, I think it actually has an 'off' position that the old did not.  I've not had any problems with it though.  

You'll need a soldering iron, some solder, and a bit of soldering skills to do this.  If this is outside your comfort zone, you may want to find someone who can solder.

[Scrappile]

Glad this got brought to the front again.  I saved the first post to a text document for future.  I am not an electronics expert but I would dry this repair before I laid out the money to for a new controller. 

And @OCtoolguy, I remember your input from way back when about the soft start on the Hegner.  Just curious, where you using a foot peddle at the time or were you using the on/off switch on the saw?  I would be curious it the foot pedal could have had something to do with it. 

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Glad this got brought to the front again.  I saved the first post to a text document for future.  I am not an electronics expert but I would dry this repair before I laid out the money to for a new controller. 

And @OCtoolguy, I remember your input from way back when about the soft start on the Hegner.  Just curious, where you using a foot peddle at the time or were you using the on/off switch on the saw?  I would be curious it the foot pedal could have had something to do with it. 

Paul, this goes back to my first Hegner. I sold it because of that problem. I never did figure out what the problem was. I was using a foot pedal so that is entirely possible. Not sure. I have since purchased another used Hegner and it has no problems like that and I'm using the same foot pedal. The pedal I use is a Wen that is very similar to the one that comes with a new saw from Hegner. A lot cheaper though. The saw I have now responds almost instantly when I step on the switch. A very tiny slow start. 

 

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, rash_powder said:

@Trka2002; I'd actually forgotten about this work!!

Yes, my saw is running better now, so I would say that the replacement parts helped.  I do recall there was something a bit different with the potentiometer I got, I think it actually has an 'off' position that the old did not.  I've not had any problems with it though.  

You'll need a soldering iron, some solder, and a bit of soldering skills to do this.  If this is outside your comfort zone, you may want to find someone who can solder.

I'd be interested in knowing what the numbers on your replacement potentiometer might be. I'm sure that a person could purchase one from an electronics store for far less that what Hegner gets. As long as the ohm ratings is the same or close and it's made for the correct voltage, I'm sure it would work. For some reason, they seem to think that everything on their saws is made of 24 karat gold.

 

[Scrappile]

Are there any electronic stores anymore, since Radio Shack went out of business? Guess on have to relay on online.

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Scrappile said:

Are there any electronic stores anymore, since Radio Shack went out of business? Guess on have to relay on online.

We have a couple of good ones locally.

 

[kmmcrafts]

I had done the same thing, I had the potentiometer go bad on my Hawk Ultra, actually it didn't go bad.. I broke it trying to take it apart and didn't see the very tiny set screw that held the dial knob on.. I figured I'd have broke the knob before the metal stem but the stem broke first.. Boy was that thing stuck I thought.. until I finally spotted the tiny set screw that was even hard to see with my glasses on, LOL

Anyway, Bushton wanted like $350 for a whole new control box and wanted me to send my motor in so they could match it up etc. so it'd be plug and play when I get it back. Found a new potentiometer on eBay for $4 with free shipping and soldered the wires.. wrong the first time.. good thing though.. if you place the wires in the wrong spot it just works backwards, LOL so instead of max speed it was the slowest speed and slow was fast... I eventually placed the wires in the correct position in case I ever sell the saw it'd be correct.. 

$4 sure beats $350+ whatever shipping would cost me to ship it to Bushton for repair and all the wait ( down time ).. 

[rash_powder]

On 9/18/2023 at 1:33 PM, OCtoolguy said:

I'd be interested in knowing what the numbers on your replacement potentiometer might be. I'm sure that a person could purchase one from an electronics store for far less that what Hegner gets. As long as the ohm ratings is the same or close and it's made for the correct voltage, I'm sure it would work. For some reason, they seem to think that everything on their saws is made of 24 karat gold.

 

My first post has the part numbers from Digikey.  They are an International vendor, and localish to me, so shipping is quite quick.  I'm sure if you are in the US it would only be a couple days in the mail.  

Its going back a bit in my memory, but from the list I see I replaced a few resistors too.  I think I recall that they were in the way of removing the pot which is why they were replaced.  

 

[James E. Welch]

On 12/9/2019 at 11:53 AM, OCtoolguy said:

The "soft start" refers to a slight hesitation when you first hit the "go" switch. Whether a foot peddle or just the on/off switch, the saw doesn't run immediately. It has a slight hesitation. I could live with that but once it started and came up to the set speed, my saw would not run at that speed. It sort of hunted around that speed. I couldn't get used to it. 

My brand new one did this soft start thing, ran fine once it kicked on though. It ended up being an issue with the switch. They sent me another one and it has never done it again. Fingers crossed. 

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, James E. Welch said:

My brand new one did this soft start thing, ran fine once it kicked on though. It ended up being an issue with the switch. They sent me another one and it has never done it again. Fingers crossed. 

They are all supposed to have a "soft start". Mine had it but it seemed to always be searching for the right speed. The one I have now soft starts and goes right to the speed I have the dial st for and stays at that speed. I'm much happier with this saw than the first one.