Replace the Bearings in a Pool Pump Motor - Part I

When your neighbors start complaining about your screeching pump, it's a good sign that the
bearings in your pool pump motor have failed and it's time to either replace the motor or replace
the bearings in the motor. With the right tools, you can replace these bearings yourself. This
guide is broken up into two parts. Part I shows you a step by step approach to removing the
bearings of your pool pump motor. Part II shows you how to replace the bearings and reassemble
the motor. Although this guide is specific to the Hayward Super Pump Motor, many steps are
applicable to other brands of motors.

Step 1

REVIEW TOOLS REQUIRED - This is a picture of most of the tools and parts you will need to
replace the bearings of your pool pump's motor. From the left, they include: a socket wrench, a
set of new motor bearings, the bearing puller, a short pipe, a set of shaft seal parts, and a
hammer. You will also need a set of external ring pliers shown in step #29.
Step 2

REVIEW PUMP - In this guide we will be removing the bearings of a Hayward Super Pump as
shown here. The motor will have to be removed from the pump's housing before we start. See the
first part of our guide on "How To Replace the Motor on Your Pool Pump" for instructions on
removing this motor.

Step 3

REVIEW STARTING POINT - This is the starting point for this guide. We assume that the
motor has been removed from the housing and the diffuser has been snapped off of the impeller.

Step 4

REMOVE ELECTRICAL COVER - At this point you will be removing the motor's impeller. To
do that you must first secure the motor shaft. Go to the back end of the motor where the wires
come in and remove the electrical cover. It is secured with two screws, one of which is circled in
the picture.

Step 5

SECURE MOTOR SHAFT - Next, slip a flat open-ended wrench under the capacitor at the
location shown until it engages with the flat portion of the shaft. This will keep the shaft from
rotating.

Step 6

TWIST OFF IMPELLER - Go to the front end of the motor and remove the motor's impeller by
rotating it counter-clockwise. If it will not rotate, use a strap wrench to loosen it.
Step 7

REMOVE SEAL PLATE - Remove the seal plate. At this point it should lift off easily.

Step 8

VIEW "TOP" MARKINGS - Note the location of the "TOP" markings on both the seal plate and
the motor mounting plate. When you reassemble the motor, these markings must be positioned at
the top of the motor.
Step 9

REPLACE MOTOR SHAFT SEAL - When your motor bearings fail, you should replace the
shaft seal in your motor. As shown in this picture, the shaft seal is divided into two parts; one
half goes on the impeller's shaft and one goes into the well of the seal plate. For more instruction
on replacing the shaft seal, go to "How To Replace a Pool Motor Shaft Seal".

Step 10

REMOVE MOTOR MOUNTING PLATE - Remove the motor mounting plate. It is attached to
the motor with four bolts. Note: these bolts are shorter than the bolts used to secure the motor to
the pump housing. Don't mix them.
Step 11

REMOVE WATER SLINGER - After you have removed the mounting plate, you will see a
rubber boot around the motor shaft called a water slinger. It helps keep water out of the motor
when the shaft seal begins to fail. Slip the water slinger off the shaft.

Step 12

REMOVE V-SWITCH - On a Hayward Super Pump the motor's governor is attached to the end
of the motor shaft and must be removed before the shaft and rotor can be removed from the
motor shell. To access the governor, first remove the V-switch as shown. It is secured with a
single screw. Push it aside. It does not have to be disconnected from its wires.
Step 13

MOVE CAPACITOR - Next, release the motor capacitor from its bracket by removing the single
screw at the top of the bracket. Push the capacitor to the side as shown. It does not have to be
disconnected.

Step 14

REMOVE GOVERNOR SPRINGS - Now, using a pair of small needle nose pliers, slip the
loops of the governor springs off of their post and remove the springs.
Step 15

REMOVE GOVERNOR WEIGHT - Remove the governor weight that pivot inside the governor
bracket. You may have to apply slight pressure with the needle nose pliers to spread the bracket
enough to slip out the weight.

Step 16

REMOVE GOVERNOR BRACKET - The screw that secures the governor bracket to the shaft
should now be visible. Remove the screw and take out the bracket.
Step 17

VIEW DISASSEMBLED REAR END - From this picture you can see the freed end of the motor
shaft.

Step 18

MARK END FRAMES - Mark the end frames and shell with a magic marker so the motor can
be reassembled in the original configuration.
Step 19

VIEW END BOLTS - The motor is held together end to end with four through bolts. The heads
of these bolts are shown in the picture.

Step 20

REMOVE THROUGH BOLTS - Unscrew the four through bolts and pull them out.
Step 21

KNOCK OFF FRONT END BELL - Using a hammer, lightly tap off the front end bell to
separate it from the motor's shell.

Step 22

PULL OUT ROTOR AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY - Pull the motor's rotor and shaft assembly out
of the motor's shell.
Step 23

LOCATE REAR BEARING LOAD SPRING - This motor has a circular bearing load spring in
the rear bearing well. If the spring did not come out with the shaft, extract it from the rear well or
shell,

Step 24

REMOVE BEARING LOCKING SCREW - The front bearing is held in position with a lock
clip. Remove this clip by removing the locking screw shown in the picture. The locking clip
should drop through the bottom of the motor.
Step 25

REMOVE FRONT END BELL - Remove the front end bell from the shaft by tapping the tabs of
the bell lightly with a hammer. Continue tapping around the bell until the bell drops off.

Step 26

SET UP BEARING PULLER - Set up the bearing puller on the rear bearing as shown. The three
teeth of the puller should be position of the outside race of the bearing to clear the clip ring on
the backside of the bearing. The center post of the bearing puller should be positioned on the
center of the motor shaft.
Step 27

PULL OFF REAR BEARING - Turn the nut on the bearing puller to work the bearing off the
end of the motor shaft.

Step 28

CHECK BEARING ID - Check the id stamped into the side of the bearing to make sure you
have bought the correct replacement bearing. This bearing reads 6203DW.
Step 29

REMOVE FRONT BEARING SNAP RING - The front bearing is held in place with a snap ring
that will prevent the bearing from coming off the shaft. Using a pair of external ring pliers,
spread the snap ring out of its groove on the shaft and slip the ring forward off the shaft.

Step 30

PULL OFF FRONT BEARING - Using the bearing puller as before, pull off the front bearing.
There isn't much space behind this bearing, so you may have to jiggle the puller jaws around a
bit to position them behind the bearing.
Step 31

SLIP OFF WASHER - There is a white washer behind the front bearing. Pull the washer off and
set it aside.

Step 32

MOTOR DISASSEMBLY COMPLETE - This concludes the steps required to disassemble the
motor and remove the motor bearing.