Shopsmith Forums

I have about 20 AO Smith 1/2Hp motors from models E and ER. They all have the cords cut so I can't tell if they run or not. I don't have the space to keep them and their wieght is so high their too expensive to ship.

Here's my question - should I recycle them or keep them outside under a tarp? If I recycle them are there any parts in them I should keep?

Thanks, Tom

e2512 wrote:I have about 20 AO Smith 1/2Hp motors from models E and ER. They all have the cords cut so I can't tell if they run or not. I don't have the space to keep them and their wieght is so high their too expensive to ship.

Here's my question - should I recycle them or keep them outside under a tarp? If I recycle them are there any parts in them I should keep?

Thanks, Tom

If we knew where you lived, the forum might have some peeps who would take some of them off your hands. I know I would, if I lived nearby or I was traveling through your area.

Something to ponder ....

BTW, you could make a tester easy enough to eliminate any "bad" motors you have......

I live near Asheville, NC.

How do I make a tester?

e2512 wrote:I live near Asheville, NC.

How do I make a tester?

Working with live circuits so think ... lol

I would just take a short extension cord, remove the female end and use wire nuts to put power to the motor. Make sure you have the motor in a vise or some such "holding device" so the start torque doesn't let it get away from you, but still. If the cord was removed from the motor completely, then just hook the extension cord directly to the motor lugs. Just plug the extension cord in and pull the plug for the switch. You will get a minor arc when plugging in and out, but no more than a vacuum cleaner if left on. At least you would know (pretty much) if the motors are any good or not.

Just my .02

First, out of curiosity, how did you get so many of those motors?

If you still want to get rid of them, make a post on the BYOD section of the Old Woodworking Machine's Forum. That's a larger forum and there's probably someone in your area. Even if not, they have a whole system there for helping haul machines and parts across the country as different people are traveling.

If I'm not mistaken, he got them all from Bill Mayo, in Bill's ER sell-off.

There is a guy nicknamed HogWinslow at the Yahoo ER site, asking the same question.

Tom, test them and save the good ones.

steve