Need help picking a capacitor.

[Dasmith]

I'm working on a motor to a craftsman lathe. I want to replace the capacitor because of the shape its in. It looks like 2 wires going into some rolled up brown paper with the end folded over. There is no printing on the outside of it.
Can anyone give me a educated guess on what capacitance I need from the motor tag??

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[The Cobbler]

if it's still working I would measure it with a multi meter set to capacitance . be sure to discharge & take it completely out of circuit
and you want a 240vac or more.

 

[pattenp]

Is the paper just a protection cardboard sleeve? See if it can be removed to reveal printing on the capacitor.

 

[oldgoaly]

The capacitor should be marked, even the pre-WW2 motors are marked with a paper label. They are like a sardine can. More modern "start" capacitors will be black plastic.

 

[Bert_]

Old start capacitors are often paper and wax, markings are usually no longer visible. If the capacitor is working you could measure it with a capacitance meter. I would GUESS 50-80 MFD.

I wouldn't worry about replacing it. The original could last a long time yet.

 

[Jim greengo]

Do you have a meter to test it with?

 

[Dasmith]

No I don't. I have a multi-meter but I don't see the capacitance symbol on it. I watched some you-tube videos and I guess i did a different meter.

 

[oldgoaly]

a old analog meter on ohms scale, but discharge / short capacitor terminals first. If it slowly charges needle swings it might be ok. Or if it shows an open circuit then you know it's bad for sure.

Since it is a dual voltage going to need one rated for 250v or more. The actual capacitance isn't real important 50-100 micro-farads should make it work. Now it is important that the start / centrifugal switch that breaks the start winding must be working or it will cook the new capacitor or winding.