Jet Pump Problem

[jmusits]

Hey all,

The used hot tub that I recently picked up has an issue with the jet pump. It is a two-speed pump and it will not start on low speed. It will start on high speed and if I am quick enough, I can switch back to low speed before the pump fully spins down. This behavior has made me think that it is a bad capacitor. I replaced the capacitor and the behavior is still the same.

Questions:
1: What else should I be checking?
2: Does this mean that the motor itself is on its way out and needs to be replaced?

My biggest concern is that in winter mode the circulation pump and the jet pump (on low speed) will run periodically to prevent the lines from freezing. If the pump can't start on low speed then I have no protection in those lines from freezing, so this is something that I want to address before winter arrives.

Thanks for your help!

 

[RDspaguy]

Does it hum loudly when trying to start in low speed?
It could be a bearing issue or more likely a sticking centrifugal switch or start switch. Or a bad or wrong size capacitor, new does not always mean good. I'd bring it to a motor shop for a rebuild.

 

[jmusits]

Thanks for your reply. It does hum when trying to start, not real loud though. I did swap out the capacitor with a new one twice (from two different suppliers) and confirmed the specs on both of them to be the same as the original.

 

[RDspaguy]

Probably the centrifugal switch. Most motor shops will do a rebuild for under $150.

 

[jmusits]

Thanks for the info. At that price, I think I'm better off spending the $250-$300 for a new pump and motor, considering this one is over 15 years old.

 

[RDspaguy]

I hear ya. I am a re- guy. You know... re-use, repair, repurpose, refurbish, re...

 

[jmusits]

Totally. I usually am too, but in this case the economics of it makes more sense to re-place in my mind.

 

[A.O.]

So maybe you can send your old one to RDspaguy ??

 

[RDspaguy]

So maybe you can send your old one to RDspaguy ??

RDspaguy has too many bad motors already.

 

[A.O.]

Parts man parts!!