My WISE not too long ago gave error code #3, so I contacted Robin at WD to rearrange a repair… after which the satan on my shoulder prompt I strive it myself. I’ve by no means seen a WISE dismembered to this extent, so I assumed I would share it within the hopes of demystifying our little magic bins.
(Machine is an ex-demo whose guarantee ended with the final stegosaurus, so there may be completely no hazard; if yours remains to be below guarantee do not open it!)
Error 3 apparently has to do with not finishing the self-test, and two issues can occur:
a) the limiting magnets don’t seize the tip(s) of the cycle, and/or
b) The self-test instances out as a result of the motor is just too sluggish.
Listed here are the magnets in query – they connect with the “push” and “pull” terminals on the motherboard:
They work correctly. Then b): motor too sluggish. To be honest, it has been slowing down for months, and it might have simply dropped under the self-test timeout threshold.
The primary and best take a look at is for the ability brick. Ought to throw out 15V DC, and my multimeter reads 15.19V. The ability provide is ok, so the motor sees the required voltage (12 V, oddly sufficient – why a 15 V provide? Possibly the motor is being overclocked). The subsequent step is to lubricate all transferring components in case the engine is slowed down by friction. That is the place issues get bloody.
Subframe and connections eliminated, then the non-motor finish finish cap and the worm drive and set off head come out:
There was fairly a little bit of dust within the grooves of the worm drive, so I took the spark off and blasted it with some acetone, together with the within of the set off. A fast dusting of WD40 on each, and now actually the worm gear fall by the set off below gravity and just about with out resistance. That leaves the engine and gearbox… sigh:
That is what it regarded like after cleansing; the gears had been all caked with previous grease and there have been plenty of metallic chips within the housing. Eliminated all of the gears from their pins and cleaned all the things, adopted by some black PTFE dry lubricant. Slightly WD40 within the engine too.
(In case you, like me, are tempted to interchange the motor with a sooner one, listed here are the main points:
It is 77mm lengthy, 37mm in diameter, and the finding gap spacing is one inch. It spins at 4500rpm for the gear, so a 5000rpm motor – if yow will discover one with that worm spline – will provide you with a ten% velocity improve.)
Okay, all the things that may be cleaned and lubricated has been cleaned and lubricated, so let’s put the suction cup again collectively and pray… plug it in, flip it on… and the set off flies backwards sooner than once I received it. The issue should have been the clogged gearbox.
This resolution value me zero kilos and maybe an hour; I’ve completely no thought if the WISE could be repaired by a vendor right here, however I guess the payment is extreme even when they may. (And if they can not, it goes again to the US – extra time and more cash.)