Main pump humming (electrical sound) and not working anymore

[Hairyet]

Our main pump hums, no pumping and then stops. We didn't see that the breaker had triggered, but reset anyway. We tried to start it again and it just hummed again, so we quickly turned it off. We noticed the housing was hot. I looked in the forums to see what could be wrong, but found mostly information on boosters and bad capacitors. My booster has the cap hump, but my main doesn't have that, so not sure the cap situation applies. What do you recommend for steps to take to diagnose it? The pump is only 2 years old.

 

[JamesW]

Check for a run capacitor under the back cover and replace it.

It takes a 35 uf , 370 or 440 volt run capacitor.

U.S. Seal Run Capacitor, 35 MFD - RD-35-370 - INYOPools.com

RD-35-370 - CAPACITOR, RUN 370V 35 MFD (RD-35-370)

www.inyopools.com

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Could you post a picture from farther back, so we can see the whole pump and not just the motor?

 

[tstex]

Might want to also do a simple test of determining if the impeller is stuck. Make sure the breaker is off and test to see if the impeller spins freely or is stuck...if not, then a testing of electrical parts is in order...

 

[Hairyet]

Here is the picture.

Hi, welcome to TFP! Could you post a picture from farther back, so we can see the whole pump and not just the motor?

 

[Hairyet]

Might want to also do a simple test of determining if the impeller is stuck. Make sure the breaker is off and test to see if the impeller spins freely or is stuck...if not, then a testing of electrical parts is in order...

OK, let me see if I can check whether the impeller is stuck. I will turn the breaker off first.

 

[JamesW]

If the capacitor end is bulged out, it's bad.

 

[1Sammy]

If all else is ok then take a look at the switch on the back of the motor shaft as it may not be turning on the start winding. Because it is hot makes me think this.

 

[Hairyet]

OK, let me see if I can check whether the impeller is stuck. I will turn the breaker off first.

Took the motor off and I can turn the center part. There was debris stuck in the intake? to the impeller which I was able to get a little bit out. I suppose the main point is that the center part does move, right? I have a multi-meter, is it time to dig that out?

 

[Hairyet]

If the capacitor end is bulged out, it's bad.

Not sure where the capacitor is located on the main pump from US Motors. Where would I find it?

 

[zea3]

The plastic cap at the rear of the motor should pop off. If you have a capacitor it should be in there. How much debris was stuck in the impeller?

 

[Hairyet]

If all else is ok then take a look at the switch on the back of the motor shaft as it may not be turning on the start winding. Because it is hot makes me think this.

I need to take this back off, correct?

 

[zea3]

Yes, remove the screws on the back cover and it should pull off. It will still be joined where the electrical enters the cover.

 

[Hairyet]

The plastic cap at the rear of the motor should pop off. If you have a capacitor it should be in there. How much debris was stuck in the impeller?

There was one large organic item (although at first I thought it was a pebble about the size of the gap at the outer edge) and it looks like some small twigs left. I am wondering if maybe if some of the debris washed away when I broke the seal. The plastic cap appears fine, no bulging I can see. Maybe slightly rounded on the bottom if anything. Also, temp-wise, not as hot as the motor area.

 

[Hairyet]

Yes, remove the screws on the back cover and it should pull off. It will still be joined where the electrical enters the cover.

For thoroughness sake, should I take the impeller cover off and make sure all the debris is removed?

 

[JamesW]

The impeller cover is called a diffuser.

Yours looks broken. Is there a loose part stuck in the pump?

 

[tstex]

After you've completely cleaned from the impeller area, put her all back together, turn on breaker and try starting her

 

[Hairyet]

The impeller cover is called a diffuser.

Yours looks broken. Is there a loose part stuck in the pump?

I don't see anything broken, but I can take the diffuser off and see.

 

[JamesW]

The motor is a replacement. So it doesn't help us identify the pump.

We need the pump model number to figure out what diffuser you need.

Are there any numbers on the pump?

 

[JamesW]

The diffuser is not correct. Reach in where the front of the diffuser lines up with the hole and remove the front part of the diffuser.