[morzh]

OK, seems like I figured what to do with it.
I was not sure whether I keep the insulator and this was "ce qui cause mon tourment".
Did not want to break it.
So I went to Lowes and found a snuggly fitting 1/2" plastic electrical male fitting and a locking nut for it, so this will serve as the new central insulator.
I hammered out the central rod with a nail set, it came out after a while. Then I used various barbaric methods to vrush the thermoplastic insulator. I thought it would be brittle, the piece of therad having separated and all, but boy was I wrong! Anyways, after 30 minutes of a qualm of ingenuity using all kinds of contraption I was able to crush the plastic without mangling the metal bottom much.

Then as I mentioned all was covered with blue crystals inside and the hot water did not do the trick. I was reluctant to use Naval Jelly which I think would to the trick but I was not sure what it would do to the finish if it gets there.

So, I went on a hunch. I took a large plastic jar, put the cylinder at the bottom andpoured it over with white vinegar which I have galore - it goes a dollar a gallon.
In 10 minutes the vinegar went blue and the crystals were mostly gone.
I rinsed the tube, and then ashed it in baking soda solution to stop the acid.
Rinsed well again and then baked it at 200F for 20 minutes.

Now it is ready to receive the new capacitive innyrds and be fitted with the new insulator and potted.

And all this was done while fighting my frozen pool pump - did not start it yesterday and by the time it started it froze, and then teh breaker tripped. had to disassemble the whole piping, flush the ice out.....fun.