Where the green and black wires were joined, I cut them apart so I could 100% which path the centrifugal switch is on. After cutting, spinning the motor shaft causes the black path to open and the green path to stay closed.
This leads me to believe the green and black paths are switched with what they should be. Here's my train of thought:
How it is now:
1. Motor is not spinning. Cent. Switch is closed, causing the circuit to include both capacitors in the V circuit.
2. Once the motor starts moving, it opens the cent. switch, which breaks the entire V circuit, cutting both the start cap (good) and run cap (bad).
I think if I switch the green and black paths that when the motor starts spinning, it will open the cent. switch which will in turn cut out only the start capacitor from the circuit.
Does this make sense? I've ran this machine in the past for hours at top speed with no problems, but it was it the very warm/hot part of the year. Is it possible the cold makes the motor need the run cap where it didn't in the heat? That's the only thing I can think of that would cause this problem.
I welcome any input...