I recently replaced the pool pump motor because the bearings were shot on the old motor (horrible whining sound). I had a spare motor on hand (same exact make and model) so I swapped it in for the old motor. When I powered back up, the motor wouldn’t start and there was nothing but an electrical hum. I assumed it must be the capacitor, so I swapped the capacitor from the old motor (should have been working since the old motor worked but just had bad bearings) with the capacitor on the new motor. No luck - still not starting but still got the electrical hum. Decided to just replace motor at this point so I got a new one online. I just swapped it in for motor #2, and still no luck - humming but not starting. The impeller seems to be free of debris. What should I try next?
Pump motor humming but not turning on
- Thread starter Bazodoobydoo
- Start date
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- Tags
- motor problems
Welcome to TFP!
Will the impeller turn by hand? Have you checked the voltage at the motor terminals?
Will the impeller turn by hand? Have you checked the voltage at the motor terminals?
Bearings can get "stiff" when a motor has been sitting for a while. On many motors you can take the cap off of the back end and use a 9/16 wrench to free up the shaft so it turns more freely. In many cases, that's all it is.
DO NOT try to start the motor while trying to manually turn the shaft.
DO NOT try to start the motor while trying to manually turn the shaft.
If the new motor won't run, check the voltage. Are you using 120V or 240V? If 120V you will need to set the motor to run at that voltage. Motors that can use both voltages always come set for 240V and will just "hum" if only given 120V.
If you using 240V, be sure it is actually getting to the motor. You test for this by using meter leads on both of the power wires or terminals at the motor with the pump turned "on" by whatever method is being used (timeclock/automation?).