[GreenKeys] WHY ME??!! :-((

[Jim Haynes]

If the motor has brushes - then it is a speed governed motor and runs
at a different speed from the sync motor, and therefore requires
different gears.

I was gonna say hang on to the original motor - there are motor rebuilders
in almost every town of any size.  Of course it may cost too much to have
the motor rebuilt, but they aren't making any more of them so the time
may come...

I would guess the reason for the fire, assuming it's a sync motor,
is that the cutout switch for the starting winding got stuck on.
It's supposed to open that winding as soon as the motor gets up to
speed.  That winding is designed to be used only momentarily.