not a go kart, but an electric motor (;

[Brandon1023]

so finally after moving in to a new house almost 10 years ago, the clothes washer in my house has been acting up. not doing the "final spin" cycle in particular. the 1/2 HP motor is connected to a belt via cent. clutch just like any clutch on a kart here. the problem? too much weight in the tub will reselt in the motor spinning with no drum rotation. as expected, after pulling the machine apart, i found the clutch which was indeed worn out and confirmed by my dad's friend who sells applicances. (im confused where the friction primarilly takes place in a clutch. is the friction material (usually magnesium oxide) found on the inside of the drum, the outside of the shoes, or both?)

Anyway.. now that my dad is getting a nw clutch, it comes with the motor, so now we'll have a spare laying around. since we just got wood flooring installed, i think itd be a cool side project my own floor polisher. (i know you can buy one for $40, but then there's no fun of building something.)

the motor turns around 1400 Rpm which should be sufficient in my opinion. i dont think this will be too hard, but the wiring is the only issue ill probably encounter. ill attach some pictures of the input. im not sure ill be able to use it, since the connection seems to be different than what im used to. but then again, im no electrician.

if i can get a current to run through, ill obviously then have to think about how i plan to complete the rest. i was thinking of somehow attaching a shaft to the motor and attaching some sort of pad covered in wool or cotton which will act like a friction disc clutch in a car, except the goal is for the pad to slip, not catch on to the floor LOL!

i plan to mount the motor on a small flat surface with some small wheels and a handle. picture a lawn mower blade spinning from a vertical engine. same concept. i just need to design a little deck for it to sit on. if the electrical can be conquered, i plan to use an extension cord to connect to the motor.

now, can this be done resonably? obviously i dont want to break the bank, but im down to invest a little bit of money since i find enjoyment in constructing/fixing things, just like most of the guys on here. give me any input (;

yes, there's grammer errors and sentence fragments and whatever else have you. im on a sidekick 4g, and selecting each mistake is a pain -.-

[Fabroman]

Once you figure out how to power it up, you'll want to put a switch & a speed control in the line; 1400rpm is quicker than you think.

[anderkart]

Originally Posted by Brandon1023

(im confused where the friction primarilly takes place in a clutch. is the friction material (usually magnesium oxide) found on the inside of the drum, the outside of the shoes, or both?)

I'm not sure, but you could take a peak inside that new replacement clutch...

I dont know if this'll help rebuilding your clutch or not, but you could research
this search link: http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...+oxide+coating

[Brandon1023]

well the washer is fixed as of the day after this post. but idk what all those wires do. im guessing since its a nice washing machine, its all the different voltages for different speeds. however i watched the machine run with the cover off, and its fascinating to see that the motor maintains a constant speed during all the different cycles (i.e. agitation, rinse, final spin etc.) id love to see more of how the transmission works in it, but i cant find much on the internet.

anyway, the new clutch is installed and it works. the motor is sitting by my go karts. i tried this contraption on a smaller scale with a drill, and a swiffer mop head, until it hit my big toe at 3/4 speed, leaving a nice sized blood blister. anyhow, ill leave this project on the side until the electrical is figured out.