The elevator in my condo recently failed. The our elevator vendor is giving us a quote of $4000 to replace it, and reccommend that we also purchase a Solid State starter for $4,800. It seems a bit high, but I'm no expert. Any thoughts on this cost? I've included the info for the motor. By the way we have a maintenace contract, so I was a bit surprised by this sudden repair.

Nameplate Info: Leroy Somers Inc. Arlington Heights, Illinois Submersible Hydraulic Pump Motor Model: E*R228 or R225 Serial#: N8C57805 HP: 25 RPM: 3400 PH: 3 V: 200 A: 78.2

-- Doug (dougwinfield@hotmail.com), October 15, 2004

Answers

Price is right. I'd check the contactor and see if the contacts are melted. If they didn't do the PM on the contacts that's why the motor burnt...very common unfortunatly.

-- joe (whobwho@yahoo.com), October 15, 2004.

Bill is right if they are saying $4800 for the starter but I thought he meant $4800 for both. Starters themselves are around $1000. Install can't be that much. I figured they were giving them a break so they wouldn't have to change contacts anymore :)

-- joe (whobwho@yahoo.com), October 15, 2004.

And if your in the Los Angeles area email me and we can save you a bunch of money

-- joe (whobwho@yahoo.com), October 15, 2004.

I should clarify that they are asking for $8,800 for the Motor and a Nordic solid state starter.

-- Doug (dougwinfield@hotmail.com), October 15, 2004.

They should check the oil, I have had a pump motor that malfunctioned and there was a lot of garbage in the oil, we had to replace the motor as wel as the oil.

-- Marcel (ncc1502@yahoo.co.uk), October 15, 2004.

If your paying $400 a month for 2 cars, you should have a full service contract in which the motor is covered. If your paying that for a grease & oil contract, you're paying to much.

-- Freddie (floesch@comcast.net), October 16, 2004.

Joe, Welded contacts aren't always the cause of a motor burn up, it's not unusual to be a result of the burn up.

-- Clark (pdell200@comcast.net), October 16, 2004.

The info that I've been told is that the contact became "stuck" but is fine now. Do the contacts get stuck then right themselves, or should I assume that they cleaned up the evidence of failure?

-- Doug (dougwinfield@hotmail.com), October 17, 2004.

Doug, Will is giving you good advice. That unfortunately is the problem with mom and pop shops. Those and the big companys have their downfalss and in my opinion what is the best in one area is probably not in another. It all depends on the mechanics and their supervision. I would tell my boss we need to replace the motor and if it got that hot maybe evan the pump and valve. They should atleast put a new starter on for you and a mom and pop shop should be able to take alot of the price off the solid state starter. If you have leveling problems and stuff like that after the fact they ,your company should replace the valve atleast and the oil. This is very costly and they might try to tell you you have to pay for it. They are full of it and need to be set straight on the type of contract you are paying for.

-- fixalift (fixalift@yahoo.com), October 17, 2004.