Question for Anyone with a Small Cement Mixer

[Turbo]

I'm trying to get an old mixer running again. I inherited it from my uncle who had fitted a 300w washing machine motor to it, it ran ok for years but it has now stopped working.

I have another motor to go onto it that came from another mixer but unfortunately the motor plate is missing. It looks like the correct size but I don't know if it's 110 or 240v (no cable), what the current rating is or what capacitor it needs. The capacitor on it is not original, no markings but I measure it at 8uf which I think is too small.

The motor has a socket like this moulded into the cover, similar to a euro socket. This was used on some older belle mixers & you use a fly lead for it. This would indicate it's a 240v motor but I've tried it on both 110 & 240v and it runs sweeter on 110v and draws a lot less amps - 0.2A on 110v & 1.6A on 240!

I repaired some wiring on it & it's running but I'm not sure what capacitor it should have or what amps it should be pulling. I'm going to fit the motor, try different capacitors under load but I would like is some ballpark figures.

So if you could please take a look at your mixers & try to get this info off the motor plate & capacitor.

Voltage 110 or 240v
KW or HP prob around 370w, 1/2hp
Current (A)
Capacitor rating in uf, maybe 25uf on 240v, 110uf on 110v

Thanks for your help.

 

[frank horton]

for safety, just bin it and get another motor with some history....plenty of cheapee's on fleebay......110v is a pain but much safer around the working envoirement......I still use 240v but I always work alone........
nobody to blame for trapped wire's........hahaha
frank

 

[steviec_lj]

Have a very similar sounding mixer at home. I'll see if I can check it later, or get in touch with the Mrs to have a look.

Like you, I inherited it, and spent £5 on a belt to get it running again.

 

[Turbo]

for safety, just bin it and get another motor with some history....plenty of cheapee's on fleebay

Unfortunately all those cheap motors are on the mainland & 'collection only'. Used motors over here are a rarity & expensive, I gave £20 for the motor I'm trying to fit. I have a better motor I took off a pillar drill but it isn't rated for outside use (not waterproof).

If all else fails I can get a new motor for around £70 but I want to avoid that, the mixer rarely gets used.

I've just took a few pics that might help.

The mixer is a Belle Mini-mix mark 3

Motor & the capacitor that was cable tied on.

The euro style socket for the fly lead is moulded into the top of the terminal cover. I think the capacitor bolts onto the bracket on the right.

The base mounting.

 

[Turbo]

The insulation on the wires from the windings to the terminal block had become brittle & crumbled away.

Repaired it with heat shrink sleeving.

A few cable ties & all back together again!

I'm hoping the brittle insulation wasn't caused by the motor overheating. I've stripped countless cooked motors & know the signs. but the windings on this motor look perfect & meter ok so I think the windings are ok.

 

[penfold]

I've never seen one of those sockets on anything other than 240v gear, although I don't encounter very many cement mixers so it's doubtful what that's worth as experience. A motor that size being a half horse power(1.6 x 220 = 352w) is a lot more plausible than 1/20th of a horse(0.2 x 110 = 22w), so your pepsi test suggests 240v also.

The capacitor will be 8-10 microfarads, on the basis that the two bits of equipment in the shed with half horse motors have 8 or 10 microfarads.

 

[gaz1]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BELLE-mi...657287?hash=item4d673ee687:g:-J8AAOSwfVhaBaHT

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BELLE-MI...618702?hash=item3d5052f3ce:g:6A4AAOSwPAxaFtMZ

 

[Turbo]

I've never seen one of those sockets on anything other than 240v gear, although I don't encounter very many cement mixers so it's doubtful what that's worth as experience. A motor that size being a half horse power(1.6 x 220 = 352w) is a lot more plausible than 1/20th of a horse(0.2 x 110 = 22w), so your pepsi test suggests 240v also.

The capacitor will be 8-10 microfarads, on the basis that the two bits of equipment in the shed with half horse motors have 8 or 10 microfarads.

The current readings were taken with just a bare motor under no load. I'm going to fit the motor to the mixer & see what the current readings are like when turning a drum full of wet sand! I reckon a 1/2hp 220v motor should draw 2-3a under load, I can play with different capacitors until I get the current within range & the motor running smoothly.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Turbo]

While waiting for capacitors to arrive I decided to do something about the oil leak from the gearbox output shaft. Good job I did look at it, there was very little oil left in it and what was there was very dirty.

Where oil was getting out water was getting in, there were signs of rust on the bearings & they were that rough they felt like they were running in sand.

Everything has been stripped out & washed, new bearings & seals on their way!

 

[Turbo]

I thought I'd better update this thread.

As usual with my projects another project was started & this was pushed into a corner. I had got the gearbox rebuilt but nothing done with the motor.

Then a few days ago we had to repair some broken concrete around a gate post so the mixer was needed. The panic was on!

I found a rule of thumb online that starting amps should be around 225% full load amps. I played around with a selection of capacitors until I got close to that figure & ended up with a 15 uf capacitor with the motor running nicely at 2A with a drum full of sand.

It was used today to mix 1/4 ton of concrete & ran perfect. It was going constantly for 2 hours & the motor got a bit warm but nothing excessive - it will be ok for all the use it will get!
Yes I know it needs a belt guard, ran out of time to fit it! Got another few small concrete repair jobs to do then I will strip the mixer & give it a much needed paint job.

 

[Shedendman]

Blimey,and theres me thinking you had tons to mix,1/4 ton and a few small repair jobs,was it worth the flaffle,i'd have knocked that lot by hand
Shovel and an old tin bath

 

[arther dailey]

Nice job that,and its ready for use next time,loverly enclosed mtr ,ideal really.

 

[brightspark]

Blimey,and theres me thinking you had tons to mix,1/4 ton and a few small repair jobs,was it worth the flaffle,i'd have knocked that lot by hand
Shovel and an old tin bath

maybe he hasn't a tin bath but he has a cement mixer I have 2 mixers , 3 if u include the wife

 

[Shedendman]

maybe he hasn't a tin bath but he has a cement mixer I have 2 mixers , 3 if u include the wife

And which may i ask knocks up the best

 

[brightspark]

And which may i ask knocks up the best

the electric belle mixer its not stroppy and it doesn't answer back

 

[Turbo]

the electric belle mixer its not stroppy and it doesn't answer back

And it has an off switch!

Blimey,and theres me thinking you had tons to mix,1/4 ton and a few small repair jobs,was it worth the flaffle,i'd have knocked that lot by hand
Shovel and an old tin bath

At the moment I'm waiting for operations on both my shoulders, using a shovel is very painful! 1/4 ton was 3 big barrow fulls, though I took 6 small ones instead. That's 168 shovels into the mixer & 168 out of the barrow so not having to mix it manually was a big help! I was ready for my tramadol last night!

 

[brightspark]

And it has an off switch!



At the moment I'm waiting for operations on both my shoulders, using a shovel is very painful! 1/4 ton was 3 big barrow fulls, though I took 6 small ones instead. That's 168 shovels into the mixer & 168 out of the barrow so not having to mix it manually was a big help! I was ready for my tramadol last night!

lol like this

 

[Turbo]

lol like this

Can't do that either! Probably due to my meds my stomach can't handle alcohol! I used to be able to drink a full bottle of red wine, now I struggle with one glass. Lost my taste for it as well - now it all tastes like vinegar.