Now, for the Dark Side
The dark side of the gift of the Kenmore Commander relates to my decision to remove the motor. I can see Chuck’s quandary. While I do not need the motor, and shipping it without the motor would be less expense, is the hassle of removing the motor worth the additional shipping cost? The answer is obvious – no way.
And that is why I suspect Commanders end up in the dumpster. It takes a gorilla or a very angry person to remove the engine. I spent about thirty minutes, working aggressively and efficiently, removing the motor with a screw driver, cut off grinder and two pound hammer. I banged and cut and bent and destroyed and finally, with a misshapen case and motor parts on the floor, and a sore wrist, the motor was removed. I then, in a sort of post apocalyptic serenity, reshaped the case and reinstalled the end cap and nose cone. Having grown up in a body shop and salvage yard, reshaping the case was no big deal – almost a pleasure after the loud and painful demolition activity.
Now, I am not proud of the way I remove Kenmore Commander motors. Not at all. And each time I think it will go better. What, pray tell, is the secret? Should I attach a long extension to a socket and reach in the front and attempt to loosen the screws on the metal collar that holds the internal rubber motor mount? You see, I cannot get the motor to slide through that mount. It drags the mount along. Anyway, I am licking my wounds and happily adding the Commander to my inventory of future projects.
Again, thank you Chuck Chatham.
Mark
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