Where to start with electric motor

[Brimfield]

I have a home built chicken plucker I built last year. It has a 3/4 hp farm rated thermo overload motor on it. It had plenty of power before but last week we were offing 16 birds and only got to 10 because the motor on the plucker bogged down. It got so bad I had to spin the plucker plate to get it moving and I finally gave up. Nothing is blocking anything or hitting anything. I have a heavy 12 gauge wire plug hooked up to a short 12 gauge extension cord. Where to start looking?

 

[Mendonsy]

Maybe a bad starting capacitor?? Some single phase motors only use it to start, others use it to run also. It depends on the motor type.

 

[bcp]

Dry bearings? Do things spin freely before and after use?

Bruce

 

[hr3]

Was your belt drive getting to wet and slipping ???