making sander, need wiring help...

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i have an electric motor off of an old electric lawn mower and i am making a sander with it like the one pictured below to save the $130.  i was using the switch off the lawn mower, but when i took it apart to try to mount it to the sander, it broke apart and now i cant figure out how to wire it.  it has four wires; white, blue, red and black.  if  i connect the white and black wires, it works, but i am concerned about the blue and red wires doing nothing.  i would assume that they are there for a reason, but i dont know.  can anyone help out??
Reply:Did the mower have a "deadman" lever on it? (The kind of lever that stops the motor if you let go of the handle?)My guess is that those two mystery wires were likely connected to that deadman lever.  The lever is simply a relay circuit that uses a small voltage to control a larger voltage.  Another thought is that only one of those mystery wires was part of the relay and one was connected to ground.  In any event, because sanders build up static electricity, I'd recommend grounding the metal case.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:all the wires were connected to the same little switch box.  there was not a deadman lever on it.  i was thinking maybe it was a progressive speed.  maybe each wire makes it turn a different speed.  the further you squeeze the handle, it would switch to the next faster wire, maybe.  i dont know, i haven't hooked the others up yet to see.  the case will be grounded.  hope i dont electrocute myself.
Reply:Squeeze the handle? What you’re saying is that the dead man circuit is built into the switch. Take your hand off the switch and it cuts power to the motor and at the same time causes the motor to instantly stop.
Reply:I've never seen a progressive speed mower. Usually the blades just go fast. On a self propelled unit you have a speed adjustment possibly for forward motion. All the units I have seen with this however are done with a transmission and gas motor..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:the handle, is just like a switch to turn the mower on.  squeeze it and the blade turns, let go and it stops.  i guess its like a dead man circuit, in the fact that if you let go it stops, but not what i would consider a traditional dead man circuit on a normal mower.i got it completely built with a stand and everything, but all i have left is to wire it.  do ya'll think it will be ok to just leave the two remaining wires loose and just use the white and black ones??i'll get pics up soon.
Reply:Have you tried to google your mower model to see if you can find a wiring diagram?
Reply:FYI- Springer45 completed his sander the same day he posted this.  He chose to post the completed sander in a separate thread that can be found HERE: http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=36976Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by springer 45all the wires were connected to the same little switch box.  there was not a deadman lever on it.  i was thinking maybe it was a progressive speed.  maybe each wire makes it turn a different speed.  the further you squeeze the handle, it would switch to the next faster wire, maybe.  i dont know, i haven't hooked the others up yet to see.  the case will be grounded.  hope i dont electrocute myself.