Motor questions and some gloats

[LinuxRandal]

Found a tool garage/estate sale on my local CL last night. It listed motors (been looking for a couple of sizes). Well I found one that was slightly larger then I figured I would either find, or probably needed, for a reasonable amount. I asked if we could test it and he was happy to let me, it does work fine, but there was a tiny bit of black goo, around one of the capacitors. So my motor questions are 1. Is there an easy way to tell if this one has been replaced (and not all the old goo wiped off)? 2. Can they leak a little without going bad (aka a case of don't replace it until it is broken)? 3. Can they be removed and reattached, or once removed do they just need to be replaced?

Now for the gloats
The motor is a Century 1.5HP 1725 single phase, I picked up a home built grinder stand and a couple of brackets. I mentioned I could never find heavy enough pipe to build one for a vise, and he showed me a piece long enough for two for a couple of bucks. I thought I was in heaven and done for the week.
Went to a store that I shop at (hadn't been there due to no bargains for a while), found some silver solder for $5 a pound, then the creme de la creme. I had been wanting the digital tuner worktunes with the mp3 input and found them for $35. Then they had a sale, where someone came out in an Easter bunny suit and handed out 25% off of one item coupons. I picked up both pairs and was going to pass on the savings, but my father saw them and said he had to have one.

Haven't had this kind of a day in a while, I am afraid it is a dream.

[Daryl]

Good for you for your finds.
The black stuff was likely a tar substance for sealing the capacitor. The electrolyte they use is a clear liquid that is soaked in paper wound with aluminum strips. They usually have leads that go to the starter or have stabs, if they are bad it is no big deal replacing them.