I got my cement mixer hooked up the other day by stealing the 1 hp motor from my band saw. Just to get it running. I didn't like the looks of it, and wondered how well it would do with 180# of wet concrete in it. Plus, I can't use the saw and the mixer at the same time.
Put an ad on freecycle.org, and had an e mail the same day. The lady was divorced, and it was laying around the garage for a couple of years. Got a Dayton 1 1/2 hp motor for free. I had a bunch of 7-11 free coupons for large Slurpees that my daughter, a LEO, got for free, so I gave them to her for her kids. This thing weighs about three times as much as the 1 hp, and I KNOW this will handle it. The current motor hangs there, the weight of the motor keeps the belt on the top larger pulley. This weighs so much, I may have to put an allthread so it tensions, but doesn't just hang there and stretch the belt. So, I can put the saw motor back in place, and get the mixer going and do my awning.
I love freecycle.org, and would suggest you check it out. There are lots of baby clothes, and worthless junk, but when you want something, there's always a chance. And when you want to dump stuff, it usually disappears quickly and people come and pick it up.
Steve
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