My Big Honkin' 50 hp Electric Motor

**daveward** · 03-18-2013, 11:15 AM

The question for this morning is this:

What do you do if the item in question has "take it apart" value of $X, but it might have more value if it was left intact?

If you don't know the item's history or don't have a way to verify if it can be "restored", do you just scrap it and move on? What advice would you offer in the case below? Thanks

I have some pictures of this big heavy 50 hp electric motor but my 'new-to-the-forum' status doesn't seem to allow attachments. Sorry, I suppose you'll have to use your imaginations.

The motor was taken out of service from a naval facility but that's as much detail of its story as I know. The specs are as follows:

U.S. Electrical Motors

HP 50 PH 3 Insul Class B HZ 60
Frame 326 TC DP Volts 230/460 Amps 116/58
Rating 40 degrees C amp RPM 3500
Lower 6313-U Upper 6211-27-J
ID # N08LI340632R-13 NEMA 91.7

**kbob** · 03-18-2013, 11:37 AM

I couldn't honestly tell you if it had any resell value. I suppose if u were to find the right buyer....
Haven't stripped a motor that big but can tell you the 5,10 horse motor I have scrapped were
more profitable selling whole,complete.

**JPete** · 03-18-2013, 12:19 PM

Leave it complete and check out electric vehicle forums. They can probably help with value and testing.

**ron22** · 03-18-2013, 12:24 PM

Search around for motor rebuilders. I have sold motors to them before.

**Mechanic688** · 03-18-2013, 02:27 PM

I have some pictures of this big heavy 50 hp electric motor but my 'new-to-the-forum' status doesn't seem to allow attachments. Sorry, I suppose you'll have to use your imaginations.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/smf-s...rum-video.html

**daveward** · 03-18-2013, 02:54 PM

Mechanic688, thanks so much for the video. Very informative. I believe my problem may be with terminology. In my "permissions" at the bottom of my screen I am "not allowed to post attachements", which is they way I usually ad things to posts or emails, since my pictures are on my computer (desktop). I wasn't intending to create a new place for these pictures, like Photobucket, since as soon as the motor is sold the pictures will be toast. All I want to do is "attach" my picture to the post. Thanks again for the quick offer of assistance.

**eesakiwi** · 03-18-2013, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by ron22

Search around for motor rebuilders. I have sold motors to them before.

I think thats a good idea . In NZ theres a goverment grant to recondition older electric motors as that saves more money & power.

Being a older motor with new windings, its just like a brand new motor, but a lot lot cheaper.

**1956** · 03-18-2013, 10:51 PM

I have scraped a few of those, a 50 hp motor will have about a 10 percent copper to weight recovery that motor should weigh about 250 lbs so 25-30 lbs of copper,there should be some cast aluminum covers and some aluminum windings on the inside a legit yard should not discount the motor because of this size, so you make the call, if you decide to scrap it your self the first one will take you some time to do, but you have to start some where

**happyscraper** · 03-18-2013, 11:02 PM

If you are going to scrap it there are two ways you can go. Useing the numbers from 1956's post above I could sell the whole moter as for 90.00 at the scrap yard that I bring my motors to. If you are going to brake it down I would get 96.00 for the copper then what ever for the aluminum and steel. In my opinion I would sell the motor whole and forget about doing all that work for a few more $$$.