IBM 1130 Console Printer - 1053 Selectric typewriter - it was the Run capacitor! Waiting for replacement part

COMMENT BY A FOLLOWER POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTON FOR THE PROBLEM

The motor on the I/O Selectric Keyboardless Printer (the console printer of the 1130) was stalling in the middle of printing most characters as well as moving the machinery much slower than usual. I was planning to verify the voltage was correct but Merlin Skinner-Oakes, who read the blog entries about the printer behavior, suggested that I consider the Run capacitor if this was equipped with one. 

Ordinary Selectric typewriters use shaded pole motors without capacitors, but on many of the printer models such as mine, IBM substituted an inductance motor with a capacitor that functions as both a start and a run capacitor. If that was bad or out of circuit, it would explain the weak start and lack of oomph. 

CHECKING CAPACITOR ON THE 1053

I removed the wiring to the capacitor on the rear of the console printer chassis and tested it with a capacitance meter. This is a 4 mfd Sprague Chlorinol 330V capacitor designed for induction motors. It is bolted on the back of the frame with cardboard insulation around the electrodes. I removed the bracket then took off the insulation. 

The issue was pretty clear as soon as I saw the capacitor without the insulation. The can was bulging out and deformed at the plate with the electrodes. 

I checked it with my test gear and found it had a capacitance of about 0.1 nanofarad and was essentially a short circuit at 0.1 ohms across the terminals. 

I purchased a 4 mfd run capacitor of almost the same dimensions, which will fit properly in the bracket and inside the typewriter. I should have it installed by Saturday and be able to verify that the console printer is back to 'console printing'.