The purpose of this study is to identify torque characteristics in capacitor type electric motors and to illustrate the effects of several design parameters on the fluctuating components of the motor torque. To do this, two revolving field theory and stationary reference frame theory were applied to derive governing equations for the torque generated by motor. For simulation studies, parameters of the motor components were measured under the conditions of no loading and locking. Based on these, effects of several design variables on the torque characteristics were analyzed and compared with the actual measurements, which were estimated indirectly by measuring the stator voltage and current. Then, some illustrative improvements in design are suggested by taking Taguchi method.