Baldors are ubiquitous and are as good as the next one. I'd not hesitate to use a Baldor.

Once worked at an OEM equipment maker. We used Baldors, U.S. Motors, Leeson, Bodine and many others.

Baldor cases will feel hotter than some other motors. Baldor engineers explained to my that this is because their motors shed heat better than the competition and that's why they feel hotter, the heat isn't being trapped inside the motor. That sounded reasonable to me.

I have worked on motors with SPECs. stating " motor is working at 115 % of rated use". That to me would suggest you were using a motor of like design. Manufacturing 100's of motors that way increases profits. Would you agree?

Not sure I follow you, exactly, nor do I agree that it would increase profits.

Many motors are manufactured with a service factor of more than 1. My present 1 HP pool pump motor has a SF of 1.25, meaning that it can be run at 1.25 HP without damage to the motor. No doubt running at 1.25 SF will probably shorten the life of the motor.

When I worked at an OEM, my engineers spec'd hundreds of motors and we never purposefully over worked a motor. Most of our motors ran 16 hours a day or more pumping all kinds of fluids at many different SG's.

I assume you've checked the HP - 1 and RPM - 3450? The picture on the link is a 56C frame without feet - will this mount on your compressor, or do you need feet? Some have c-face, some feet, and some both. I've used lots of Baldor's - they're as good as any. (I'm not sure I agree with Lyn's explanation of the heat. I think it's like high-intensity bulbs - same heat, less surface area available.)

"I'm not sure I agree with Lyn's explanation of the heat"

I started to add a disclaimer, but decided not to complicate things further.

Never bothered to do any studies, since they are as trouble free as any of the others.

I use Baldor all the time (among many others, Leeson, Lincoln, Toshiba etc), and have never had any issues.

Toshiba is the best I have used, but Baldor is a good economic choice.

I saw that you posted this elsewhere first and never replied back to my questions, the same questions brought up here. So you STILL seem to refuse to acknowledge that you have incomplete information and appear to be "shopping" forums to find someone who will tell you it is the right motor.

OK, it is. Happy now?

You might need a 1HP, or 1-1/2, or 2, or 3HP motor, it might need to be 1200RPM, or 1800RPM, or 3600RPM, but what the heck. You seem to want to use this motor, so go right ahead. No skin off my nose...

How does this constitute an "upgrade" of the compressor? Is something wrong with the existing motor?

You will (likely) find the sum of the parts exceeds the whole, e.g.:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SPEEDAIRE-Single-Stage-Compressor-4ME96

IR arguably a better compressor & for the cost of a startup kit (oil & filter), they double the warranty.

Upgrade capacity, filtration, drying, receiver drain (automatic/timer) - just ideas.

....and its time to change the motor.

Why?