Defective electrical component in compressor, trying to find

I have an Oiless 2 HP Air Compressor.

I have been trying to identify an electrical component located on the

hot wire of the input A/C line to a small air compressor. The part

number is 7am214b5-429. When the air compressor is turned on, it may

start, then sparks shoot from this component and the compressor stops.

With all of my years as an electronics technician in the U. S. Navy,

I have never seen such a device. I thought that perhaps it is a

capacitor. It is probably not an over-current device because there is

a fuse in the neutral line.

Any help you can provide will be most greatly appreciated. Also, if

you could help me get one of these devices, I could fix the compressor

and get it off of the TV tray in our living room. Wife would

appreciate that, too.

Thank you.

Ron