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  • Patrick J. Hughes March 26, 2013 at 7:54pm
    I've had good luck with A O Smith. The most important thing to me seems to be replacing the shaft seal as soon as it starts to leak. Keeping water out of the front bearing is key. I tell my customers that if they see water on the floor, it's time to call me.
  • David McLaren March 26, 2013 at 7:19am

    Could it be that the salt water is attacking the metals in the motor?

    • Patrick J. Hughes > David McLaren March 26, 2013 at 7:55pm
      The only pert the water should touch is the end of the shaft.
  • Brian Brennan November 25, 2011 at 1:31pm

    I absolutely agree. 2-3 years for replacement motors to last here in SoCal. I sold my route, but had some customers with motors  10 years old or more that were never replaced. Others I have replaced twice in the last 5 years!

    Brian Brennan

    Carlsbad, CA

    QuickLeakCheck.com

    Chris Cisneros said:

    AO Smith pool pump motors don't seem to run more than 2 to 3 years out here in Ca. on average. Been selling alot of 4x160's already had one fail at the 2 month mark. It's hit or miss. Failure rates are definitely worse than 5 years ago.

     

    Chris Cisneros

    Owner

    Infinity Pool Solutions

    Southern California Pool Service Company

    • Randy Blackburn > Brian Brennan March 10, 2013 at 9:38pm

      US seals makes a high dollar $35 dollar range. seal I use on all my motor replacements from here on out.  I had a customer complain to me about another service company who couldn't get the Pentair Challenger to stop leaking.  Used the silicon carbide seal from US Seal.  It fixed the problem with the leaky seal.  Sold on here on out!

  • Jeremy Hine July 6, 2011 at 9:20pm

    I like that idea.  Whisperflow pumps with failing motor get motor, seal plate and a seal kit replaced as a kit from this point forward.  

     

    -Jeremy

  • kevin a. obrien July 6, 2011 at 8:52pm


    I clean those seal plates pretty good before I put the new PS-1000's in.  A few guys I know will automatically change out the seal plate when doing replacement motor installs on a Whisperflo. 

     

    It's looking more like a 50-50 chance that you'll end up with a cracked seal plate on a motor switch-out...might save a lot of hassle just putting the new one in the first place and not get a call back in a few months that the motor's "frozen up". 

    • Patrick J. Hughes > kevin a. obrien March 26, 2013 at 8:07pm
      I love Whisperflo pumps and have installed them exclusively as replacements at a ski resort. I always use a very small amount of silicone on the hole in the seal plate. Don't let it get on that little flat seating surface or it will prevent the seal from seating properly and cause premature failure.
  • Jeremy Hine July 6, 2011 at 7:45pm

    Kevin:

    I've noticed w/in the last 2 years the mounts on the whisperflow sealplates having the same issue.  Get a little water on the mounting bolts and the plastc holding the brass threaded insert swells and cracks, rendering the sealplate unrepairable causing a whole lot more damage.  I"ve also had a hell of a time getting replacement PS1000 mechanical seals to seat properly in the whisperflo sealplates.  One out of 3 seems like I need to take it apart and smack the seal in a little tighter into the sealplate.  A real pain in the arse, Any suggestions?

     

    -Jeremy

    Florida Leisure Pool & Spa

    www.FloridaPoolSpa.com

  • kevin a. obrien July 6, 2011 at 2:46pm

    AO Smith off the hook on my motor problem.  The Whisperflo seal plate had disintegrated around both left-side motor mount bolts.  Plate was pressing into impeller which led to shaftseal tweaking, rusting and whatever.  Distributor gave me a new motor (anyways (was within two years of manufacture) so we got out of this one in good shape.

     

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