On Jun 14, 2:31*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
It's very possible the start relay is bad. Not a likely
problem, as it does run for a few seconds or moments. Sounds
more like the compressor bearings are worn out, and the
internal friction is too great for the motor.

If the problem were dirty condensor, the compressor would be
too hot to touch. You ruled out several of the other
possibilities.

There are hard start kits made for compressors, but might
not be worth the bother. An appliance shop may be able to
fit it with a hard start kit. And, it may keep doing the
same problem.

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Thank you Christopher: Your reply is most appreciated.

Yes the unit does run for about a minute or two; so one thinks "Ah OK,
it's going to work OK" but then it cuts out.
Also it does seem to stop rather abruptly/roughly (the compressor
makes quite a physical kick as it stops!) which might suggest bad
bearings?

Or in other words it's worn out (after all I did get it for nothing
although it did seem to work sometimes for a couple of years!).

Didn't think of a defective starter; cos that looks OK and seems to
test OK? But may have another used starter from an old fridge,
somewhere that can try.

Or maybe can simulate the action of the starter relay.; which I think
is that the relay pulls up by the higher initial current of the
compressor motor at rest, which closes a contact to the starting
winding. Once motor is running the relay presumably drops back opening
the starting contact? Like, on a very small scale the procedure for
manually starting those old style big industrial motors!

Thanks indeed for the suggestions and about possibility of bad
bearings; hadn't thought of that.

My regards; thank you. terry

PS. If successful will post follow up.
..