Why Does My Nottingham Motor Seem To Run Fast?

I will be getting the oild soon but the platter does seem to spin forever. 
I am wondering if anyone can confirm that it is temperamental to get this thing started?
I am still running on the string rather than a proper belt but often the motor will not take over when I spin it. The motor seems to stall very easily. Is this normal. And should the motor not spin unless pushed at exactly the right speed even unloaded without the belt on? It seems so weak. Sometimes I have to get back up after starting it because it has slowly ground to a halt after push starting it. When it goes though it is at the right speed now though (nearly) 

You absolutely have to give it a hefty push start to get it spinning way above the speed you really need it at.
Then it gradually slows to whatever speed you are set for 33 or 45.
I never had a problem with it then slowing down past its setspeed as long as I followed this regime.

Proper belt arrived and it's a lot less temperamental. The guy who sold me the previous 'belt' realised it was a damping belt from the hyperspace HD kit!