You do know that the guy that emailed the clerk is the same who 2 weeks ago came to a DIY forum to argue the code was faulty for allowing 15 amp switch and recept on a general circuit.
That's just the start of the gems in this thread.
The op was really right to ask for electrician help or he worded the question wrong. Should have asked for 3 engineers didn't know wtf they doing.
Even the op understands its not going down on thermal. If they now say it goes on a 20 it still sposed to have a 12 feed wire and a 14 whip. The problem here is too much start current, changing out the wire is not going to help and only hurt. Its going to allow more inrush. There is no danger of overheating this with a wire dedicated to it.
Same is some other motor cases for example, unless there is some compelling reason due to distance the installer follows the instruction in regards to wire size on an AC for example.
If it trips now thru a 14 cord changing it to a 12 will let it trip that much faster, this is really my point in the whole thing,,, basically some genius rushing off to tell some clerk they don't know squat and they do not fully undertand the problem anyway. Thats my point, its not about a **** hoist aint got a decent manual but tell me how to give advice and don't even know how toi size a cord whip on a motor,,, says it all.