I have the Flexcoat 6 rpm finishing motor with adjustable chuck, seen here: [www.mudhole.com]. The motor is about to go out anysecond now, and I'm a little worried about leaving it unattended. The Flexcoat replacement motor is pretty pricey, but there is another motor that's only $13 and some change. (Seen here: [www.mudhole.com]). Does anyone know if the chuck from the Flexcaot motor will work work with the cheaper one? Thanks.

I'd call Mud Hole and ask. I'd guess somebody there would be happy to get one out and see if they'll interchange.

...........

I just went through this several months ago, there is a definate difference in the shaft between the Flex coat and the one for pac bay. I wound up with both motors and still haven't used either of them yet.

You should call Mudhole and talk to someone to see if they know how to make the cheaper one fit your flexcoat.

If you do a search for hankscraft motors (model E) you might come up with what you're looking for.

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2010 09:28PM by Walt Davenport.

Ryan,
Another option is to check the internet as well as surplus stores. A couple of years ago, I found a bunch of new 6 rpm motors in a surplus store that were virtually identical to the flex coat motors for 50 cents each.

My only downside was that I only purchased a half dozen. When I went back to get more, they were all sold out and I have not found any since then. But check these sources from time to time and it may suprise you at what you might find.

Take care
Roger

p.s.
Another very good option, which many folks over look is to use a DC low voltage gear motor. You can often find a 6,12, or 24 volt DC gear motor of the correct speed on the internet for a couple of dollars. Then, simply find a plug in power supply of the correct voltage for another couple of dollars and you will be set. Most of these DC gear motors are of very high quality and very long lasting motors.

I'll second roger on the surplus store. I only got 2 to see how they'd last, and while they have not quit yet (and I doubt they will), the store no longer has them. What you want to look for in those for a/c is a timing motor as its designed to run continuous duty. Anything with finish and intermittent duty is asking for failure at the exact time when you need it the least. Been there, done that.

D/C gear motors also a great option as you have the ability to turn it both ways depending on polarity and when compared with their a/c timing motor cousins, they have significantly more torque and power which is great for things like heavy offshore stand up rods. As my motors slowly dwindle off (I'm on year 4 with them now at 2.50 a piece), I will likely be switching to D/C gear motors due the reasons listed above, but also one nice little thing that may or may not be of importance. They are SILENT, my current motors are quiet, but not silent.

In addition to what Sean mentions on the type of motors, be sure to NOT use a shaded pole motor for a timing motor. These 110v AC motors are the motors that have an armature with a single heavy copper band running through the center which supplies the starting torque. The issue with these motors for a dryer, is that the starting wire is engaged all of the time causing the motor to continue to heat.

I had found a batch of motors - all nice 6 rpm motors that I was going to use for a multi bank dryer.

After receiving the motors, I wired up one motor, plugged it in, left it on a piece of shipping foam on the top of a plastic topped work table.
I came back to the shop about 4 hours later to find that the motor had gotten so hot that it had melted through the foam support, and was 2/3rds of the way melted through the table top.

Fortunately, I was able to ship back the entire shipment of motors.

If one were to have used this group of motors for intermittent operation - i.e. on for two minutes and then off for three minutes; they would have worked just fine. Also, if a large cooling fan had been added to each motor, they also would have worked well.

Better to just stay away from these shaded pole motors.

Take care
Roger

Ryan,
The link that you put up is for the entire new assembly. They sell just the motor and that is a $30 savings right there. Here is the link to the 16rpm motor, but I just bought the 6RPM a month or so ago and I know they have them.

[www.mudhole.com]

Do it right. The 30 bucks you save will cost you hundreds in the future with one failure while drying a rod.

Kevin

Kevin,
Doing it "Right" means putting a reliable motor on your dryer.

A reliable motor may be obtained from many many world wide sources. Obtain the drying motor from the source that makes the most sense to you to do the job that is needed.

Virtually every product that is used in rod building - has a use some where else in the industrial world and typically has multiple suppliers to supply this product.

Good luck
Roger

Thanks Kevin. I know that they do have the motor only, but as I mentioned, it's a little pricey. $45, not $30. Just seems like there would be cheaper options out there, On a positive note, I did receive an email from an individual at Flexcoat, but haven't had a chance to call him yet. Just the fact that he took the time to reached out to me unsolicited speaks volumes on their customer service. Thanks to all.

Ryan

I have been using the motor in the higher RPM from Mud Hole for many years now. No problems at all.

Bill - willierods.com