Old electric motor help

[poorboy87]

I recently got an old Quincy compressor. It's been siting outside for many years uncovered. The compressor and motor both spun freely. I'd like to see if the motor will run. Is this a wise idea or should I take the motor in and have it tested first?

My thinking is plug it in but I'm unsure. What would you guys do?


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[KRB52]

If you really want to go the "plug it in and try it" route, you may be better plugging it into a receptacle with a switch. That way, you aren't holding the plug when the electricity hits and things get "interesting." A better bet would be to use your variable meter to test it first. A little duller but much safer.

 

[poorboy87]

That was the plan. I was going to put it on its own circuit and flip the breaker.

How would I test it with a meter? Variable meter being multimeter?


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[jabberwoki]

If it spins over by hand I would pull it apart and have a look inside first maybe clean it up first.

 

[EdT]

I bought a compressor at an auction once and it had been sitting indoors for a while. Brought it home and fired it up and, after it was running, stepped a way for a couple of minutes. When I returned the motor was very unhappy and smoking heavily. I dissected it and found that there was a mud dauber "nest" in the works of the centrifugal switch which prevented it from opening. So, if it's been sitting for a while outdoors, it is probably worth opening it up and seeing what's inside before you fry it. Less costly than replacing the motor.

 

[poorboy87]

Good thinking. I'll pull it off there tomarrow.

How would I test it with a meter


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[Techie1961]

You didn't mention whether it is 3P or single. If it is 3P, put a meter across all three leads and watch for differences. Then check them to the housing of the motor. It is a little trickier with single phase but can be done. If this checks out and the bearings seem fine, put power to it.

 

[poorboy87]

I'm not sure how to tell. I do know it can be run on 110 or 220.
Here are some pictures

Bad tag picture

Started running a temporary wire to it

Wired in
The feed wire from the pressure switch to the motor looked melted but the coating on it still looked ok. I'm not sure if it was just gooey from old tape or what.

Motor was built 1946-1948 if it's the same vintage as the compressor.

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[MFolks]

A company I worked for in California, had a need for a 50 HZ power supply, as some of the units they made were going to be sold to foreign countries. A bakery was going out of business, and sold the Motor and Generator set that produced the 50 HZ.

After having an electrician wire it up, the moment of "Truth" came, the heavy duty switch was thrown, a big contactor was energized, and the motor & generator stated to turn. Unbeknown to the purchasers, the unit had not been run in some time, and rodents had been inside. I understand the mouse and rat turds came out of the motor and generator, like fired from a shotgun. After letting the system run for a while, all the loose turds final worked their way out.

 

[Alan Douglas]

You might make an ohmmeter test from all the windings to the frame, to be sure that rust hasn't worked its way through the insulation. Even better, with a "megger" or megohmmeter, the same test done at 500VDC.

 

[JoeFin]

You would probably find an "Electrical Contact Cleaner" at Home Dippo that can be sprayed into a running, electrically energized motor without igniting or causing shorts

 

[RECox286]

Not to be a "nay-sayer," but if it were mine, I would find

a motor shop that would look it over first, then let them

"bump" it. Compressor motors can be expensive, so why

are you willing to take a chance, especially since you are

here asking a lot of questions, which to me means you are

not sure what you should do with a motor that has been

sitting outside for any length of time.

Respectfully

Uncle Bob

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I could go into the details of "ohming it out", but from the looks of it I think you may be better off letting a motor shop check it for you...

Tommy

 

[G_P]

Take it apart and clean it out. If the scaly rust on the outside is any indication, the inside of that motor is equally as rusted and probably full of cobwebs and bug nests.

Also check the tank before you even think of pressurizing it. If the motor is that rusty the tank is probably beyond saving.

 

[poorboy87]

I plan on taking it to my local motor shop. I may attempt to partially disassemble it for them to save some labor.

I'm currently searching for a tank. I've only sourced one so far. A new one is $700 plus freight charges. I haven't searched real hard yet. I'm going to make sure the motor and compressor are good first.


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[G_P]

For a tank, I would just find a cheap broken compressor on Craigslist. The oilless types seem to have a relatively high failure rate and typically die while the tank is still in great shape.

 

[poorboy87]

Good thinking. Thanks!
Grainger tanks are pricy.


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[James-W]

Not to be a "nay-sayer," but if it were mine, I would find

a motor shop that would look it over first, then let them

"bump" it. Compressor motors can be expensive, so why

are you willing to take a chance, especially since you are

here asking a lot of questions, which to me means you are

not sure what you should do with a motor that has been

sitting outside for any length of time.


Respectfully

Uncle Bob

I would agree with that. Electric motors sitting outside is not a good thing and there MAY be some serious problems with it. I would say that it is best to take it to a motor shop and have it checked out by someone who knows exactly what to look for. Anyway, my thinking is that by not getting it checked out first you may potentially ruin a motor that would otherwise work just fine if it had a few things done to it.