Vintage GE 1/2hp Motor

[JZiggy]

I picked up a nifty old General Electric Utility Motor. I'm curious if anyone has seen this one before or knows the approximate date of mfg.

It has one 5/8" output shaft, 1800 rpm. The motor is ball bearing (same 6203's as a Block grinder).

Also, I'm interested in replacing the capacitor as a matter of procedure, even though it seems to be working. I have seen block grinders and other small motors use a 210-260 mF cap -- do you think this would be appropriate here? I can't make heads or tails of the markings on the cap.

 

[Roberts210]

I would take the capacitor to a good electrical supply place and ask them to match it. The place I go to can test them, and also come up with accurate matches.

 

[Davefr]

I'd try 120 uF to start with. (same as similar spec'd motors)

But first, try and measure the old one as long as it works.

 

[spongerich]

I'd guess that she's from the 50's or 60's, mostly based on the modern font on the label, but that's really just a SWAG.

 

[tym]

I would take the capacitor to a good electrical supply place and ask them to match it. The place I go to can test them, and also come up with accurate matches.

I would advise caution if the shop is going to measure the capacitance of the old capacitor to select the value of a new one. Those older caps (the paper body would lead me to think 1950s) can have their actual capacitance values drift significantly as they age and the dielectric breaks down. I have had old (electrolytic) caps' values off by at least a factor of two in equipment a bit newer than that motor--and that was in a sensitive integrator circuit where the mfr would have spec'ed a tighter-tolerance component.

 

[JZiggy]

Thanks for the input, guys. I have seen a 210-260 mF cap in both my 1HP block grinder and in a 1/4hp Westinghouse motor. That's what is leading me to assume it may be suitable for a 1/2 hp general purpose motor like this.