Lathe Motor capacitor question

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
alamocdc

alamocdc

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
7,970
Location
San Antonio, Texas, USA.
The capacitor on my Delta LA200 got quite hot this afternoon and won't start the motor spinning.

1) I can spin start it for now, but will this hurt the motor if I can't find a replacement capacitor soon?

2) Also, does anyone know where I might find one since Delta no longer carries them?
 
Last edited:
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
locating a capacitor

Heating and Air Conditioning contractors keep a few in stock. That is usually my best bet for locating one. Regards----bobby moyers
 
alamocdc said:
Okay, I have two answers to the last question. Nothing on the first?
Click to expand...

Billy, It depends on the type of capacitor. If you're helping the motor start and it's jumping on up to the correct RPM rather quickly, then apparently the capacitor is also being used to aid the motor as it runs. Heat can damage a motor. If it's getting to hot to keep your hand on the motor, then I would wait until I replaced the capacitor. --Bobby Moyers
 
hotwire55 said:
alamocdc said:
Okay, I have two answers to the last question. Nothing on the first?
Click to expand...

Billy, It depends on the type of capacitor. If you're helping the motor start and it's jumping on up to the correct RPM rather quickly, then apparently the capacitor is also being used to aid the motor as it runs. Heat can damage a motor. If it's getting to hot to keep your hand on the motor, then I would wait until I replaced the capacitor. --Bobby Moyers
Click to expand...

Bobby, only the capacitor got hot as it went out yesterday. But the last few times I ran the lathe (spin starting) it did not get hot at all.
 
If your motor has two capacitors, one is a starting and one will be a running cap. If there is only on it is for starting. We have 220v and the cap value is normally about 400v and 300 mfd depending of the size of the motor. If you can hand start it, it does no harm to the motor. It is just a pain in the neck or maybe two foot down. I get mine from the company that fixes the electric lawn mowers here where I live
 
You shouldn't suffer any damage to the motor then. You don't have a running overload condition, just a problem getting it up to speed, but you're taking care of that last problem. Heat building up beyond a certain point would tell us that the motor isn't running efficiently. Have a great day Billy! ----- Bobby Moyers
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom