Wild_Bill wrote:
You've certainly got your money's worth out of the compressor in the
time you've owned it.
not quite yet...

The cost of the thermal protector is small
compared to a new motor, or new compressor.
well, yeah, bill, but I'm still shopping. the deal is, though: in the
entire 34 or 35 years i've owned it, I don't recall *EVER* pressing the
thermal reset button. and now, all of a sudden, right after I finish the
days spraying, whamo! it kraps out. compressor was indoors, in the
shade, same ventilation as usual, same cords and breaker, ambient air
temp same as usual, everything 'as usual' (except the "failed open" that
is).

I have the thermal protector 'jumped' now, I soldered a heavy wire
across the klixon termnals (though couldn't say for sure why I didn't
just REMOVE the thing entirely, and REPLACE it with the wire)

iggy suggested opening the TP up, noticed online good blowup drawings of
ones JUST like mine, by klixon, with a thin bimetallic disc inside, and,
apparently, a -tiny- epoxied center stud piercing the disc. also some
tiny contacts (which I like to clean and sand, on contactors and stuff).
I assume the tiny dark-red epoxied center stud is for the 'initial
factory adjustment', so, not having the right stuff to 'readjust' it
during a reassembly, I opted not to dismantle it (though still might).
seems to be running and starting OK, with the jumper wire "for the
moment anyway". I'm rewiring it today, the SO cords from motor to
pressure switch, and pressure switch to plug. also putting heavier gauge
from cord outlet end to the wall breaker (cord from wall was always 'a
bit warm' when I coiled it up at end of day).

thanks again and giant salute to royj our "capacitor size and source
suggestor and thermal suggestor fault KING", and to *all* you other
guys, and to you too stormin' - I'm still shopping for a better price on
the 'correct' klixon-thing for my application, but I might YET take you
up on the frige-overload protector thing :-)

The TP is what saves the motor when it gets hot, or the motor is heating
due to the voltage drop from an inadequate extension cord, or too heavy
of a load.
If your motor hadn't had the TP, it might've just burned the windings
the last time you used the compressor.

Fuses and circuit breakers aren't sensitive to the temperature of the
motor, so they can't replace the TP.
The cost of a new TP is the best insurance you can buy to protect the
motor from damage due to overheating in the future.

With a new capacitor and TP, and a little cleaning of the internal parts
and some oil for the bearings,
yeah. bearings sounded "a bit dry" when I first plugged it back in, with
the belt OFF, especially when it coasted to a stop...saw the numbers on
the side of the bearings, and ALSO "could have" measured them w/my dial
caliper, but *didn't* for unknown reasons...

so just call me the "open your compressor motor's endbell cover every
other day for some damn reason or another" guy

thanks again to ALL :-)
you're not likely to have any other
problems with that motor for quite a while.

now if I can figure out a way to get grease into sealed both sides motor
bearings withOUT ruining their seals...