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Buying Electric Motors from Yards

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    longisland started this thread.
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    Buying Electric Motors from Yards

    Anyone buy things such as elec motors for yard then break them down? I was thinking about asking my yard to sell me what he gets but am not sure as to what I should offer to pay. Anyone do this type of thing?



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    I have tried to buy both compressors and certain electric motors from my yard but no luck so far. Thinking about trying some of the smaller yards to see if I have any luck.

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    divapickers's Avatar
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    We've had no success with the yards down here. One in particular sells us all kinds of crap, trailers, trucks, and equipment, but they will not sell electric motors or computers. I may be able to buy wire though.

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    Mechanic688's Avatar
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    I have also tried to buy motors from a large yard in the Peoria Il. aera with no results.They did respond and we talked but the dialog stopped on there end.It was suggested from someone on SMF that the yard may have a contract to fill an not wanting to take away from that.I have had success getting motors from pool and spa repair shops but have had to buy them,that is only fair.The spa motors were awesome the pool motors ....25% were alum. Windings.All in all I still made some fair money,it just depends on the amount of work for the return.I love those motors!

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    divapickers's Avatar
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    pool and hot tub motors are the best and easy to pull apart.
    I use a bench vise and a boat hand winch.
    Take it all apart and then cut the end of the windings off. Then put the hook from hand winch through the other side and pull out the copper windings.

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    What is so valuable in the motors? I was going to sell the motors that I gathered whole & i was kinda wondering why some yards pay more for them

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    Some motors have copper windings in them Julie. This is what everyone is after.
    I know lying is wrong, but if the elephant man came in now in a blouse with some make up on, and said, "How do I look?" Would you say, bearing in mind he's depressed and has respiratory problems, would you say, "Go and take that blusher off you mis-shapened elephant tranny?" No. You'd say, "You look nice... John""

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    well it al comes down to the price of #2 copper the avarage motor wii net you 2 lbs copper,the price of electric motors that avag 18 lbs you figure it out

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    Julie's Avatar
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    ah ha, I figured that there was something. You're talking about the bigger motors though I'm assuming.

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    i was refuring to the motors in a/c units for the house

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    Quote Originally Posted by johny View Post
    well it al comes down to the price of #2 copper the avarage motor wii net you 2 lbs copper,the price of electric motors that avag 18 lbs you figure it out
    just did the quick math in my head here and i would only make an extra $2 at the prices im getting here. and while that adds up it seems like a lot of work and time to make it? how long does it take you to pull the windings out?

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    CTscrapman's Avatar
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    Tried to buy the motors and computers from my local yard that ive been going to for years but they already have established buyers for them. I managed to take a couple of his computer guys away. They now sell to me directly now, as you know most yards pay almost nothing for them.

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    Bens junk, if you use diva pickers method above in only takes a few minutes for the whole process, it's the way I do it now and I've tried a lot of ways

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    I've never thought to ask my yard to sell me stuff, I didn't know if they were allowed to do that or not.

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    Quote Originally Posted by newattitude View Post
    I've never thought to ask my yard to sell me stuff, I didn't know if they were allowed to do that or not.
    Usually not but they're not allowed to shoot you for asking.
    People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank.

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    I see that this is many years to late but....i work at a local scrap yard my buddy owns and myself and a few other workers buy electric motors at a very reasonable price take em home break em down and make really good extra money doing it...if you have the right tools and know what you doing it can be very beneficial


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