Harbor Freight vs Tractor supply

[RwWilly]

I need an electric motor for a DIY project. The motor will run for a couple of hrs. several times a year. Nothing major, hobby project not life saving.
Here's my question.
HF 1/2 hp $119 vs TSC 1/2 hp $189. Now with coupon I can save more on the HF model.
I hate HF as a rule but! $70 is $70!
Anybody have experience with HF or TSC motors?
Thanks

 

[engineerbrian]

They are probably both made in China or Mexico, so I'd save the $70 and go with HF.

 

[Matlack]

Harbor Freight are knock off engines and are sub par. They are a complete crap shoot. I know people who have bought them and they worked great, others not so much. Issues started pretty quickly. I dont believe replacement parts are readily available either, but I am not sure. There are tractor parts places like the you pull car places. I would start there instead of going the route of buying from either unless parts are readily available. The other option is to look on craigslist for a free mower/snowblower, etc that you can pull the motor off of. You can find them with other problems besides the motor. Riding mowers with rusted out or missing mower decks for instance. Someone from Catonsville I believe has posted several push mowers over the last few weeks with various problems.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

That is probably the best 70 bucks you'd ever spend.

HF mechanical stuff is garbage.

Most of it made of cheap, soft, crappy, pot metal.

TSC prides itself on its quality.

 

[rseymorejr]

They are probably both made in China or Mexico, so I'd save the $70 and go with HF.

I'm sure most of the motors you'll find at Grainger, etc. are Mexican or maybe even Chinese. Do we even manufacture any fractional HP motors here anymore?

 

[engineerbrian]

I'm sure most of the motors you'll find at Grainger, etc. are Mexican or maybe even Chinese. Do we even manufacture any fractional HP motors here anymore?

I agree. That's why I'd save the cash.

 

[Matlack]

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/zip/5823550630.html

Has a riding mower posted. It was posted yesterday, so who knows if its still there. Mowers go quick on CL.

 

[dieselfarmboy]

People he is looking for a electric one.

 

[Matlack]

1/2 hp ... duh. My mistake.

Back to craigslist. Look for free treadmills, pull the motor off and trash the rest.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Old bench top drill press?

 

[StickShaker]

I would say it's a crap shoot. TSC also has a lot of poor quality HF type stuff. Does TSC list the motor brand?

 

[RwWilly]

1/2 hp ... duh. My mistake.

Back to craigslist. Look for free treadmills, pull the motor off and trash the rest.

Had no idea treadmills ran 2.25 hp motors. 130 vdc, might have to look into that, infinate speed control also. Thanks

 

[StickShaker]

Had no idea treadmills ran 2.25 hp motors. 130 vdc, might have to look into that, infinate speed control also. Thanks

Yes, a good choice if you want variable speed. Need to include all of the control electronics and DC supply if separate. Sometimes boxing up all of that stuff up is a pain depending on your project.

 

[Sampson]

Go with HF and get the extended warranty. They will replace it without issue.

 

[Squaregrouper]

I need an electric motor for a DIY project. The motor will run for a couple of hrs. several times a year. Nothing major, hobby project not life saving.
Here's my question.
HF 1/2 hp $119 vs TSC 1/2 hp $189. Now with coupon I can save more on the HF model.
I hate HF as a rule but! $70 is $70!
Anybody have experience with HF or TSC motors?
Thanks

This qualifier is how I determine Harbor Fright or Not Harbor Fright. The infrequency of use would qualify this as a Horrible Freight purchase.

Harbor Fright
Horrible Freight
Hong Kong Freight
Any others?

 

[dgapilot]

Check Surplus Center, they have some 1/2 hp motors for $59.99


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ras_oscar]

Here's my rule of thumb for harbor freight:

Hand tools that I'm going to use once, HF
power tools I'm going to use once or occasionally, HF
consumables, HF

anything I want to last and/or am going to rely on, no HF.

 

[Chris]

TSC stuff is better then most. The last couple of small electric motors are still in use. We are in one of the store atleast once a week but then we have animals to feed and take care of. Great place to get your pet/animal meds from plus they have clinics for shots. Chris

 

[Don H]

Last time I needed a small electric motor I pulled one from an old washing machine. 1/3 HP I believe.

 

[Mike]

Ask an HVAC guy if there are any furnace blower motors available. They're often 1/2 HP, 110 volt but not variable speed in most cases.