Testing of burner motors during annual tune up

marty D_2

I recently moved to a new service company. Their policy is
that every non psc motor, regardless of age, be pulled to
perform a winding ohm's test. Pulling motor allows the start
switch to be tested by pulling out the shaft. I'm relatively
new to this trade, and previous company did not require this. Opinion's please.

thanks

lchmb

Sounds

like a company that want's their customer's taken care of to me. I myself pull every motor on every cleaning. Do I ohm them all out no. But it does give the chance to clean the squirrel cage and the end of the motor. I do myself ohm the older motor's out and check the shaft and pump coupling. I do every cleaning as if it were my own burner, that way I feel they, the customer, got the best service..:)

Robert O'Connor_6

I

test a few myself . But I have never found one that was bad that was not causing a problem.

I know of one outfit locally that reccomends changing motors every 10 years.

I like to pull motor mostly to clean the squirell cage.

Are these flat rate cleanings or by the hour? Are you paid comission?

Regards

Robert

ME

jim lockard

I have found

that more small motors fail because of bearing problems then winding or electrical problems. Proper attention to the blower wheels, motor mounts, couplings and lubrication will go much farther then checking for insulation breakdowns. Best wishes J. Lockard

marty D_2

insulation breakdown

Jim
I tend to agree with you. You mentioned testing for insulation breakdown. I am baffled at what the motor "ohms"
test is really testing for. Some say you are really only
testing the start switch because the actual continunity of
the windings does not change and there is no such thing as
a "dead" spot, only a flakey start switch. You mention
insulation breakdown, could you explain that further for
me.

thanks

Marty

marty D_2

Cleanings

Robert
%90 of cleanings are part of a yearly service plan. Techs
are expected to complete 4 cleanings per day.

Robert O'Connor_6

Ok

I would think they want you to test the starting switch/

Insulation breakdown would be a stretch.

Check out this link and read down to the "Troubleshooting hints"

http://www.oiltechtalk.com/Just For Tek's/burner-motor.htm

Good question. This information eluded me early in my career.

Regards

Robert

ME

marty D_2

Motors

Robert
Just printed out the article on motors, thanks this is
what I was looking for and makes sense. Much appreciated.

Marty

Robert O'Connor_6

Marty

Where are you located?

Regards

Robert

ME

marty D_2

Location

Robert
On a hill in New Sharon Maine. You?

Big Ed

I think....

.....it would cause more call back then it's worth . Sure do a ohm test on a safety call......Looking into my crystal ball......I see slipping coulpings and bad connections in your furture.....But hay, they are the ones that pay your wages and loose with more call back. I would do as your told...