5 Signs Your Industrial Drive Needs Repair (And When Not to Wait)

drive repair

Industrial drives are built to last, but no drive runs forever. Over time, even the most reliable VFDs, servo drives, and spindle drives show signs of stress. If you catch them early, a quality repair can restore performance at a fraction of replacement cost. Here are five key signs your drive needs repair—and why it pays not to wait.

1. Frequent Fault Codes or Shutdowns

If your drive is tripping unexpectedly or showing frequent fault codes like “Overvoltage,” “Overcurrent,” or “Heatsink Overtemp,” it’s signaling distress.

Don’t ignore it. These are often early warnings of component degradation like failing capacitors or shorted transistors.

What to do: Have it bench-tested before it fails completely. Delta Automation can test, diagnose, and repair most brands in-house.

2. Visible Damage or Burn Marks

Any sign of scorching, bulging capacitors, or burned connectors means the drive has suffered electrical stress.

What to do: Disconnect power and send it in immediately. Continuing to operate a damaged drive risks a catastrophic short and production downtime.

3. Unusual Noises or Heat

If your drive is running hotter than usual or emitting electrical buzzing, fan noise, or a burning smell—it’s likely pushing its limits.

What to do: Have the fan, IGBT, and power components inspected. Ignoring thermal stress shortens drive life dramatically.

4. Erratic Performance or Speed Fluctuations

Inconsistent output, fluctuating motor speed, or poor torque regulation often point to aging control circuits or failing power stages.

What to do: Log the issue and remove the drive from service before it damages connected motors or equipment.

5. You’re Using a Legacy Model with No Spare

Even if it’s “working fine,” running a 10+ year-old obsolete drive without a spare is a production risk. If failure strikes, it could take weeks to find a replacement.

What to do: Send it in for evaluation and preventive service. Delta Automation specializes in legacy drive repair—and we stock parts others don’t.

Why Choose Delta Automation for Drive Repair?

  • ✅ Fast turnaround
  • ✅ Free evaluations
  • ✅ Full load testing
  • ✅ Expert support on VFDs, servos, and spindle drives
  • ✅ Local, reliable, and responsive service

Key Takeaway

Don’t wait for a total failure. If your drive is tripping, overheating, or behaving unpredictably, it’s telling you something. A timely repair could save you thousands in downtime and replacement costs.

Need Your Drive Repaired?

We service all major brands, including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, ABB, Yaskawa, and Mitsubishi.

📞 Call us or submit a repair request at sales@deltaautomation.com.
🛠️ We'll get your drive tested, quoted, and back in service—fast.

Back to blog