Strange gearmotor problem
 

Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i

Strange gearmotor problem
 

On Feb 24, 1:23 pm, Ignoramus9972
wrote:
Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i

Externally mounted capacitor.
Maybe you can find a wiring diagram, if it has a nameplate.
How is it wired? Terminals, and or wires?
Dave

Strange gearmotor problem
 

"Ignoramus9972" (clip) if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Will it start in either direction when helped with pliers? If the poor
starting is caused by gummy bearings it will not run backwards. If the
problem is in the capacitor (bad or missing) you will be able to start it in
either direction. This could also indicate a stuck start/run switch.

Strange gearmotor problem
 

As someone else mentioned: will it start in either direction? If so, bad
switch or bad starter winding. If there are only 2 wires and no cap,
suspect a stuck centrifugal starting switch. Pull off the wiring end,
jab at the switch.



Ignoramus9972 wrote:
Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i

Strange gearmotor problem
 

THanks, gentlemen. There are three wires, red, white and green, which
I assumed was the ground. Now I think that it is a cap start and re
quires an external capacitor.

i

[BBOn 2008-02-24, RoyJ wrote:
As someone else mentioned: will it start in either direction? If so, bad
switch or bad starter winding. If there are only 2 wires and no cap,
suspect a stuck centrifugal starting switch. Pull off the wiring end,
jab at the switch.



Ignoramus9972 wrote:
Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i

Strange gearmotor problem
 

Pure induction motor. No starting cap - has a clutch within.
Might have a dirty switch so the start winding doesn't kick in.
Maybe the bearings are firm but the mechanical advantage is enough
to power it on.

Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/


Ignoramus9972 wrote:
Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i

Strange gearmotor problem
 

THanks, gentlemen. There are three wires, red, white and green, which
I assumed was the ground. Now I think that it is a cap start and re
quires an external capacitor.

i

[BBOn 2008-02-24, RoyJ wrote:
As someone else mentioned: will it start in either direction? If so, bad
switch or bad starter winding. If there are only 2 wires and no cap,
suspect a stuck centrifugal starting switch. Pull off the wiring end,
jab at the switch.



Ignoramus9972 wrote:
Went to an estate sale of an incredible packrat. Saw some really
amazing crap like a lot of flat belt drive (like in old factories)
mills, grinders etc. All in bad shape from years of neglect and
sitting in an unheated barn.

I picked up a gearmotor, with a GE motor, 115v, weight maybe 10 lbs.

It would not start when connected to 115v. It hums and does not start
spinning. However, if I give the output low speed shaft a turn with
pliers, it starts spinning and keeps spinning.

The motor does not have a visible hump for a capacitor.

So, my thinking goes, either there is a cap inside the motor that is
bad, or , perhaps, the motor is of the kind that does not require a
capacitor and has only minimum torque at stall, and somehow there is
some stuckage in the motor bearings or gears. Possibly the weather is
cold and the gear lubricant is too thick.

any ideas, thanks, i

i
I'd take off the end plate of the motor and you'll probably find a
centrifugal starting switch in there.... clean it up and it'll
probably be fine.....
Ken.

Strange gearmotor problem
 

Ken Sterling (Ken Sterling) wrote in message
...
THanks, gentlemen. There are three wires,
red, white and green, which
I assumed was the ground. Now I think that it
is a cap start and re
quires an external capacitor.


Yup. I acquired a few little gearmotors a few
years ago that were door closers from a
jail. Had an external cap that was held to the
gearmotor by what looked like a big
rubber band. Absolutely no mounting bracket,
mounting holes, nothing but a 2" wide
band that looked like something sliced from a
motorcycle innertube.