I think I did the bad thing...

[red_october]

Well tonight I got help moving the Coldspot out of the window and decided to take a look and see what was wrong. I got the motor out of it (and lot of detritus in the process). Lacking any obvious place to oil it, I opened it up. I still found no obvious place to oil it. What I eventually found was that the caps on the end of the motor appear to hold the oil in little sponges, which have degraded completely, as have their inner rubber bushings. Nonetheless I oiled it up, but now that I have put it back together, it doesn't spin freely at all and won't kick over or run. Did I screw it over hard, or was this shot from the begining?

 

[red_october]

Nevermind...

The inside of the endcaps that hold the shaft somehow got damaged, most likely when I had the motor appart. Considering the iffy oil wicks and the extreme likelyhood of repeat failure, I will attempt to procure a new motor. Shouldn't be hard. I know a good appliance shop and failing that I have located a motor specialty shop. This A/C WILL cool again, mark my words!

 

[selectomatic]

I don't think you did anything quintessentially bad.

It sounds like the motor needed some major work. A little oil, more or less, hasn't done any irreparable damage.

Your second post reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara. "As god is my witness, I'll never go sweaty again!"

-kevin

 

[red_october]

Nuts...

I need the A/C model number to get the motor -the appliance shop is going to get me the correct motor, we surmise the 3-speed was a replacement. At any rate, I cannot find a nameplate anywhere on the unit... I think it used to be on top of the unit where it sits inside the case. There are little lines where something used to be; and there is a schematic diagram that has almost completely worn away.

Failing this the appliance store can match the motor that came out, but this is the better option. Any ideas?

 

[panthera]

US fractional horsepower motor variations

If all else fails, you can narrow down a replacement using these criteria:
*NEMA enclosure spec.
*NEMA frame spec.
*Shaft rpm./Shaft diameter
*3-speed, 115V, Single Phase, AC

The enclosure spec. you can do just by looking at the motor. I've scanned the relevant chart, hope the picture comes through ok.
Next post is frame spec's. Hopefully.

 

[panthera]

Nema frame specs.

I am not going to bore folks with several million pages of specs (ok, it's like four...but still).
So here are the relevant dimensions. You don't need all of them, some allow a bit of variation in your case, others will have to be exactly right.
Measure as best you can and then consult either the nema spec's at www.nema.org or list them here and I or another member will track 'em down in the lists. (I bet some folks have these things in their heads, not me, need the space for feathers and fluff).

 

[panthera]

all from Thomas J. Glover "Pocket Guide"

All this stuff is from his little black book, by the way - wonderful resource.
Never leave home without it.

All that's left - in case things haven't already narrowed down enough to get the motor -
*Shaft rpm. (We now have shaft diameter).
*3-speed, 115V, Single Phase, AC (Duh, we can forget this one, too).
So you need shaft rpm and a decent fractional horsepower. I am guessing the shop will be able to recommend the fractional horsepower for you, if push came to shove they could ohm's law the resistance out into amps and go from there (it ain't rotating at full speed, otherwise we could strobe it...) but they'll have enough experience to know what's about right.

But you won't even get half way through this stuff before you have enough info to get what you need...this is just the long way round.

Let us know, this is interesting!

 

[red_october]

I have most of that...

Because it is printed on the motor. The appliance parts store needs the Air Conditioner's model number so they can try to order the exact replacement for that model, though. But the model number doesn't appear on the unit anywhere; either the tag fell off or it was on the schematic that eroded away.

 

[panthera]

That

Is not a problem. These motors are "generic". If you have the motor's data (try sending a digital picture of it or copy the info out an post it) one of us can get you a catalog number on it at a parts distributer in about two shakes of a tail feather.

 

[red_october]

Got a motor!

Bell/Simons Pump rocks! The boys at the Lowell shop actually took about an hour and rebuilt my motor out of another one on the counter in front of me! They couldn't order a new one as it wasn't in their books, but they thought they had a double-shafted motor in the basement. Sure enough they did and were able to make a suitable, working motor for the Coldspot! All I have to do is cut down the shafts. Pictures in a bit.

 

[panthera]

Hey, that's great

List me there contact info, would'ja?
Thanks
Keven

 

[red_october]

This is the store I used;

But from there you can find them all over the northeast. Please do transact some business with these guys; I told them I'd send them business. Great for heating, A/C, what have you.

http://www.bellsimons.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Bell&file=br12