Bad bearings or something else

[vchavez]

Pump is about 4 years hold, and this is the sound it makes, which it has been making for about 4 years now and my neighbor just told me it doesn't sound right.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6l3cpxdclrco233/20150102_171539.mp4?dl=0

It's an Emerson 1HP... bearings? Can parts be found for these or do I need to replace the entire motor?

Thanks

[FormerBromineUser]

Hmmm. Not a mechanic here. Do I see lots of bubbles in your pump basket? Are they always there? Impeller comes to mind.

[vchavez]

an impeller would make that noise?

bubbles are always there, been like that for 10 years.

[FormerBromineUser]

Not sure about the impeller but it doesn't sound right to me. Waiting for an expert to chime in here. Things are a bit slow this time of year.

You have had those bubbles for ten years? That does not look normal to me. I will see if I can get someone to help.

[vchavez]

The bubbles don't bother me so much. I tried tracking them down, replaced the 3 way sandy valve rings, replaced the clear top, the top o-ring and it still bubbles. It doesn't bother me.

The noise, however, is bothering my neighbors so I want to fix that issue. My gut is telling me bearings, but i never thought of the impeller. I guess I could disconnect/remove the impeller and just run the motor with it not connected and see if it's just the motor making the noise?

[FormerBromineUser]

I really know nothing about motors! I tried to get some people to look at your questions. Hope they do!

[mas985]

Sounds like bad bearings to me. You can replace them if you have the proper tools but a new motor is easier.

[FormerBromineUser]

Thanks, Mark, for looking at this thread.

Isn't that pump cativating? I am wondering if that is shortening the life of his pump. Just a thought.

[mas985]

Air in the pump basket is not the same thing as cavitation. Cavitation can only be heard and not seen because the vapor bubbles occur only at the inlet to the impeller and collapse in the impeller so they cannot be seen. Plus it is actually quite hard to cavitate a residential pool pump.

The sound is more like metal rubbing which would occur in the motor bearings and possibly the impeller ring.

[FormerBromineUser]

Thanks for the explanation. Really glad you looked at this. Do you think vchavez needs to worry further about those bubbles?

[mas985]

The air in the pump basket is probably due to a bad lid gasket or just debris on the gasket. Try removing the pump lid, cleaning the gasket and seat and add a little pool lube to the gasket. That should eliminate the air in the pump basket. If not, you may need a new gasket. Other places air can leak are the pump drain plugs and valves.

[vchavez]

Well, I removed all the pump related stuff down to the bare motor and just running the motor and it makes the same sound... so, bad bearings.

The motor was new in 2009.

Any thoughts on where I can get bearings? I know replacing the motor is easier, but replacing bearings is cheaper. :-)

[mas985]

http://wetheadpumprepair.com/

[vchavez]

Thanks for the information. I've attached a picture of the front.. wonder if this is normal, and this is still suitable for a bearing upgrade?

Also, the Pump is a 1HP Emerson with a SF of 1.65. It replaced at Pacfab challenger motor which was a 1HP Centurion 1.65SF motor. If I wanted to just swap out the motor:

Do I need to maintain the 1.65SF x 1 HP for a max HP of 1.65?

Would a 1HP x 1.25SF be sufficient?

I have a 3-5-3 pool, which is about 13K Gallons.

[vchavez]

Here's a link to how it looks...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vbbznpm0hob5296/poolpumpfront.jpg?dl=0

[mas985]

No it isn't normal but it is for a seal that was leaking for a while and probably what cause the bearing failure. If you can clean it off without damaging the motor shaft (must be smooth for the seal to work), then you could replace the bearings.

But it might be a good time to replace the motor with a two speed if you are so inclined.

[vchavez]

The Pump is a 1HP Emerson with a SF of 1.65. It replaced at Pacfab challenger motor which was a 1HP Centurion 1.65SF motor. If I wanted to just swap out the motor:

Do I need to maintain the 1.65SF x 1 HP for a max HP of 1.65?

Would a 1HP x 1.25SF be sufficient?

I have a 3-5-3 pool, which is about 13K Gallons.

[mas985]

The new motor must have a THP (Label HP * SF) >= to the old motor or you risk overloading the motor.

You can downsize a motor but you would need to also downsize the impeller at the same time.

Again, you would be wise to go with a two speed motor.