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Step 1
Turn the power off to the split phase motor. Inspect the split phase motor to see if it is burned, the shaft is jammed or if there has been any visible damage to it.
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Step 2
Inspect the split phase motor to determine if it is controlled by a thermal switch. Reset the switch if it is manual, and turn the motor on.
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Step 3
Use a voltmeter to check for voltage at the motor terminals, if the split phase motor does not start. The voltage should be approximately 10 percent of the split phase motor's recorded voltage. If the voltage reading is incorrect, troubleshoot the circuit connected to the motor. If the voltage reading is correct, turn the power on the split phase motor off in order to test it.
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Step 4
Turn the handle of the safety switch or combination starter off. Once the power is off, attach the ohmmeter to the motor terminals that the incoming power leads were once connected to. The ohmmeter will display the resistance of the starting and running wingdings. If the meter has a read of zero, the split phase motor has a short. If the meter reads infinity, an open circuit is present. If the split phase motor reads zero or infinity, it should be replaced.
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Step 5
Look for signs of burning or broken springs on the centrifugal switch. Service or replace the switch if there are any noticeable signs of a problem. If there are not any noticeable signs of a problem, check the switch using an ohmmeter.
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Step 6
Operate the centrifugal switch manually. If the resistance on the ohmmeter decreases, the split phase motor is good. A problem exists if the resistance stays the same.
