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Most likely the run capacitor or an internal short in one of the motor windings. If its the start capacitor, the motor will just sit & hum until it either pops the breaker or starts smoking. The run capacitor is an easy fix, about $10.00 from an electric motor place. If there's an internal short, it's probably easier/cheaper to replace the motor. Just went through a very similar problem on a used belt drive unit I got cheap cuz the motor didn't run. Replaced the start capacitor, worked OK for a while, then died again, run capacitor this time. Think it has an internal short that's causing too much current to be drawn through the capacitor, making it heat up & fail. Ended up scrounging a used motor, works fine now. You don't say if this is a direct drive or a belt drive compressor. Motors are electrically the same, but the mounting arrangement for a direct drive motor is unique, & I've never seen a universal replacement. Might be worth spending the $10 for a replacement run capacitor (should say motor run capacitor on it) just to see if that's the problem. Take the old one with you to make sure you get the right capacitance value & voltage rating. If that doesn't fix it, you're looking at either replacing the motor or spending some significant $$$ to have someone repair it. A stuck unloader is also a possibility, easy to check. Start the motor with the tank empty so theres no pressure against the compressor. If the same thing happens, or the motor overloads when the pressure starts to build, its a motor problem. Good luck, Keith
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