Obsolete Gear Motors

The gear motor is one of the backbones of industrial manufacturing. It has revolutionized the way we make many products in an industrial environment. Gear motors convert small amounts of power into geared-down motion for a variety of engineering reasons including torque and power. An obsolete gear motor, even in fractional horsepower, can cripple a manufacturing process.

When they operate properly, they provide us with reliable accuracy. When they fail, they can leave us hanging. However, obsolete gear motors open up a new page in the book of down-time.

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Gear Motor Troubleshooting

Fortunately, gear motor problems can be fairly simple to diagnose, sometimes the bigger issue is finding a suitable replacement for an obsolete gear motor in an environment of ever-changing technology and design.

For ease of use, accessibility, and available industrial gear motors, we've been referring individuals to eBay. It almost seems too easy but we've found many parts available that we thought we'd never find. Even after checking with larger parts houses, we still come back and check here regularly. It is not unusual to find obsolete Reeves gear motors, Falk gear motors, Eaton gear motors, or obsolete Dodge gear motors listed daily.

These obsolete items can be a tough find due to the endless combination of gear ratios and motor specs. These parts are those that were posted as a result of hard times at other companies and in many cases are NOS (new old stock).

Machine downtime due to an obsolete gear motor is a reality for many. There are options, however, nothing is ever easy. Here is a systematic approach, a simple yet effective method in dealing with a failed component that has likely been phased out by the manufacturer and no longer readily available.

1. Identify your problem... Making a positive identification of the failed component is the crucial first step. Troubleshooting is not a synonym for guess-work. It is a scientific method of determining a problem. There should be no doubt as to the source of the problem. This is determined through testing and not guessing.

2. Check the shelf... That's right, all too many times has a spare component or unit been passed over and found a day late. It sounds simple, but it is always the next step. Don't go looking for something that doesn't need to be found.

3. Check with the manufacturer... A website visit, email, or quick phone call to inquire about a a drop-in replacement is common sense. This step will deliver the bad news if obsolescence is indeed the case.

4. Check eBay... Believe it or not, this has become somewhat of a flea market for old industrial parts. By many, it is still considered to be a website for collectibles and the like, but a quick search can actually reveal a different side to the 'bay. Many private sellers post industrial components as a buy it now type listing, therefore bypassing the auction format all together.

Take a moment and browse the eBay listings since they are always changing...

5. No positive results? explore other options... If your particular gear motor is ultimately deemed obsolete and unavailable, you'll need to take the next path of least resistance. This may be upgrade or update your equipment with newer components. The good news is that your machinery or industrial equipment will most likely not need complete re-engineering or a top-to-bottom overhaul to accomodate new components. Adjustments to your system are possible when there is no other choice.

Search for Used Gear Motor

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