Wiring a motor

[cam2s]

Not to sound like I was being careless when taking apart a vintage Hoover, but I had an accident recently when working on my recently acquired Hoover suitcase vacuum. I was working with the motor, it was still connected to the power supply. I was going to label the wires but I turned it in such as way and both of them fell of their terminals. I don't want to wire it up wrong and damage the motor. Both of the wires going to it are white, although I can trace them back to the cord which has a black and white wire. How can I tell which wires go where?
Thanks for any help!
Cameron

 

[squarehandle]

Guess What...

For most AC motors, it doesn't matter which wire goes where! (as long as the motor turns in the right direction) Also, if they fell off the terminals, they were too loose!

 

[cam2s]

Thanks!

I think I had read that somewhere before, but I wanted to ask just in case.

Cameron