Old electric motors turn up everywhere: under workshop benches, in sheds after a renovation, in the back of a ute after a strip-out. Most people know there is value in them, but are less sure whether to pull them apart, what to take off first and how to present a load. This guide covers the practical side of getting scrap electric motors in Sydney ready for a mobile pickup, without unnecessary cutting, mess or risk.
What counts as a scrap electric motor?
Put simply, anything with copper windings inside a casing. Common examples include pool and water pump motors, compressor motors, motors from drills, grinders and saws, washing machine and dryer motors, fan motors, and starter motors and alternators from cars and trucks. Both single-phase and three-phase motors are worth setting aside. Our electric motors recycling page lists what we take. If something is not on the list, a quick photo usually settles it.
Whole or stripped? Why you usually don’t need to cut a motor open
Because the value sits in the copper windings, it is tempting to cut the casing off. In most cases it is not worth it. Opening a motor takes time and an angle grinder, leaves sharp edges and dust, and can be hazardous if you have not done it before. Complete motors are also easier to assess, while a motor that has been half cut apart is graded on what is recoverable. If you are unsure, leave it closed.
Before you handle anything, make sure it is disconnected from power. If a motor is still hardwired into a machine or switchboard, have an electrician disconnect it rather than cutting cables yourself.
What to remove first
A little preparation goes a long way. Focus on the easy jobs:
- Drain the oil. Pumps, air compressors and geared units can hold oil. Do not open sealed fridge or air conditioner compressors. Drain it into a sealed container where you can, and keep it out of drains and soil.
- Take off plastic. Unclip or unscrew plastic fan covers, shrouds and power tool housings.
- Trim long leads. Cut long power leads back near the motor and bundle the cable separately. Insulated cable is its own category, so mention it when you call.
- Unbolt frames and pulleys. Mounting bases, brackets, pulleys and belts can come off if they unbolt easily. If something is welded on or seized, leave it and let us know.
Sorting by size and casing
Sorting makes a pickup quicker and gives a clearer picture of what you have. Start with size: small motors from tools and appliances, medium motors from pumps and washing machines, and large industrial units. Then sort by casing.
Aluminium-cased motors are lighter, often ribbed, and a magnet will not stick to the body. Steel or cast-iron cased motors are heavier and the magnet will grab. The two are graded differently, so keeping them apart helps. Starter motors and alternators make a sensible group of their own.
Motors attached to gearboxes, pumps or air conditioners
Gearboxes. Many industrial motors are bolted straight to a gearbox. If the motor unbolts cleanly and the gearbox has been drained, separating them lets each be assessed on its own. If the bolts are seized, leave the pair together. See our gearboxes recycling page for more on those units.
Pumps. The same rule applies. Separate the motor from the pump head only when it comes apart easily, and drain any water or oil first.
Air conditioners. These are different. The compressor sits inside a sealed refrigerant system, so do not cut lines or try to pull the compressor out yourself. Refrigerant should be recovered by a licensed technician before the unit is dismantled. Our air conditioners recycling page explains what to have ready.
Getting a load ready for a mobile pickup
Because we come to you, a few details before the visit help everything run smoothly:
- Access. Keep the motors at ground level with a clear path to where a vehicle can park. Mention stairs, tight driveways or anything heavy that needs lifting gear.
- Photos. Take one shot of the whole pile and a few close-ups, including any nameplates showing size or phase.
- Rough counts. A count by group is plenty, for example a dozen small tool motors, four pump motors and two large three-phase units.
- Keep them dry. Store motors under cover and off the ground, ideally on a pallet, so they are clean and easy to load.
Your suburb and a rough idea of when the motors can be collected round out the details we need.
Have scrap electric motors to move? Oz Scrap Recycling is a mobile scrap buyer — we come to you. Call 0413 609 674 to arrange a pickup.