I have a 1/4 HP motor here that won't start unless you spin the shaft. Is the capcitor bad?

could be

Originally posted by Dean:
could be Gonna change it and see if it will spin up smile.gif

Sounds like the problem to me. The cap holds a charge for starting, due to a lack of residual magnetism in the motor, unlike in a DC application. Once you spin it by hand, you excite a field and that get's it going.

Actually the capacitor splits the phase smile.gif

Just had a thought, these CSR motors have almost zero starting torque and many times they just need oil and the dry bearings cause too much drag to let them start
a lot of them have no oil holes so I have punched holes through the end caps with an awl to oil them

The most common problem with these typ motors is the front bearing and shaft get worn a little and they're toast then cause even if you replace the bearing, the shaft is usually worn down too much