Help with Pump Problem

[Ctxman]

I have a Whisperflo 1.5 hp pump that is about 11 years old. Recently on startup, sometimes it hesitates before starting. I can hear the timer come on, a "hum" indicating power, and then after 1 or 2 second delay the pump starts up. On occasion it has paused so long that the breaker trips and I have to reset the breaker and flip the switch a time or two to get it started. Any ideas? Is this a brush type motor? I tried searching the net but all I can find are places selling the whole pump. If it is something I can repair I would prefer to go that route. If you have any ideas, or places to buy rebuild motor kits please let me know.

Thank you,
John

[hinejs]

No worth anyone's while to rebuild a motor nowadays. I recommend you pull the old motor off, remove the imellor, seal, and seal plate and replace with a new motor, shaft seal and seal plate gasket.

[Phillbo]

I agree.. If it's 11 years old, just replace it .

[Poconos]

John,
The fact that it can run says there is nothing basically wrong. These are not brush type motors however there is a centrifugal starting switch that can get cruddy over time and all it takes is a small flat file or fine sandpaper and some time to clean the contacts. This switch is usually behind the back cover where the power line goes in so if you can remove that cover you will see it. From your description it sure sounds like the switch isn't closing when the motor is stopped and when power is applied you get a little vibration, humming, that causes it to close and start the motor.
Hope this helps and saves you $$$
Al

[Ctxman]

Thanks everyone.

Poconos - thanks for the info. I'll check it out. There is a housing on the side of the motor where the wires go in to (looks like a solenoid on an automotive starter). This must be what you are talking about. I'll open it up and take a look and clean all the contacts and see if it does the trick.

Thanks again,
John

[Poconos]

The thing that looks like a starter solenoid is probably the cover for the starting capacitor. On some motors these are external. Check this post
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?p=30447#post30447
as it shows the back end of my Hayward. The black thing to the left is the starting cap and you can see the contacts I'm referring to. They are the inverted V things. When the motor comes up to speed a set of weights on the armature spring out and open the switch. Hope this claritifies things a little.
Al

[Ctxman]

Thanks Poconos, that pic helps a lot. Now my only challenge will be getting access to the back end of the motor since it is only a couple inches from the wall (doh!). I'll figure out a way.

Thanks again fro your help.
John

[Ctxman]

I was going to try and post pics but I don't see how to do that.


656


I did it for you.
Al

[Poconos]

I forgot but I think Ben turned off the ability of normal users to post attachments. I'll check that in a few minutes.
Al

Edit: Yep...attachments are turned off. I think there are other ways to do it but I never tried. You may do a search for 'attachments' and see what pops up. I know it's been discussed.

[CarlD]

If you have a web page, you can upload the pic there, then open another browser pointing to that pic, select it, copy and paste it into your post. That should work.

[Poconos]

John,
See if the pics appear in post-8 above. I stuck them in but I recall a couple of us mods were playing with adding attachments in other peoples posts a while ago and only certain people could see them.
Yes, you may have to tap to separate things but it looks like that end piece is also the rear bearing holder and not sure what comes apart. Every motor I've seen, not just pump motors, has the switch assembly under that back cover. Those 4 bolts look like they should release the whole thing.
Al

[Ctxman]

Thanks Al. Looks like I might have to unbolt the whole motor and work on it on the bench. It's a little tight where it is now to be dealing with bearings etc.

Thanks for all your help.
John