"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sep 8, 8:33 pm, David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 9/8/2009 5:21 PM Martin spake thus:

So what is it ... I'll guess some kind of current limiter to protect
the motor if the thing becomes jammed.

Nope. Small apacitors are typically used on cheapo DC motors like that
to reduce RF noise, as a courtesy to those who might experience
interference. They just filter out (shunt) high-frequency AC.

If it's shorted, just snip it out.

--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

No,

I know what you're talking about, and those are in parallel with the
brushes and/or connecting the brushes to the case.
(and this actually has one of those too, right at the motor, which I
neglected to mention)

This thing looks just like one of them (small disk cap) but its in
SERIES with the motor and the rheostat.

Also, the non-blown-up one has one too, and it also reads as a 1 or so
ohm resistor.

How about it being a plain old thermistor ? Some control boards for drinks
machines that I repair, have a disc thermistor in series with the supply to
the drink whipper motors. When the whip units get clogged, and the motors
struggle, the excess current heats the thermistor, whose value then rapidly
rises, limiting the excess current to a value that won't burn out the motor.
Heat it with the tip of a soldering iron, whilst having your ohm meter
across it. If it reads 1 ohm at room temperature, however, I think it's
fairly unlikely that is your problem

Arfa