Can you start a belle mixer with a full load?

[23vc]

I was told by an old boy when I first started out, never to start a belle mixer if it wasn’t empty, as it could “snap the belt” or something. I’ve always abided by that but is it true?
Yep, I’m having a bangin’ New Year’s Eve.

 

[foxhole]

Best to fill while running, motors don’t like a sudden heavy load.

 

[Roy Bloom]

The belts are very easily replaced and cheap as chips.
But there are at least two types.

 

[noseall]

The gearing means the load transfer is modest. Full or empty, Belle mixers could not give a chuff.

 

[^woody^]

I've done it for years. Fill the thing up first, and it stops all the splashing.

 

[stuart45]

I do it when mixing lime mortar. Once it's properly mixed it needs about 20 minutes left standing to fatten up, and then mixed again for another 5.

 

[cdbe]

I had one with a knackered capacitor, I had to spin the drum then switch it on to get it going, a bit like hand cranking an old car. I have a belle maximix now, if its really full I usually put the drum vertically when starting.

 

[23vc]

Brilliant, should have asked the question 20 years ago

 

[stuart45]

Brilliant, should have asked the question 20 years ago

waste of time, woody was still in nursery school back then.

 

[^woody^]

waste of time, woody was still in nursery school back then.

Yes, here's me on a project for the "when I grow up corner".

I stayed away from the rough kids in the sand and plastercine group.

 

[23vc]

Looks like RAAC to me

 

[^woody^]

It wasn't a thing back then, sunshine and unicorns. Don't blame me.

 

[opps]

I had one with a knackered capacitor, I had to spin the drum then switch it on to get it going, a bit like hand cranking an old car. I have a belle maximix now, if its really full I usually put the drum vertically when starting.

View attachment 327306

Not sure, but I would imagine that any capacitor would struggle to start a full load spinning.

 

[cdbe]

I don't know how they work, but that's what they do:

 

[opps]

I don't know how they work, but that's what they do:

View attachment 327338

The capacitor helps kick start the spinning process. The inertia required to start the spinning is pretty high.

My heat pump tumble dryer's motor recently started buzzing rather than turning the drum, if I gave it a gentle (rotational) nudge, it would start spinning. I replaced the capacitor and all was good. Once a motor is spinning, it is happy but it needs a kick start to get going- hence the capacitor.