Whisper Flo 2hp With A.o. Smith Motor Not Separating

[AJS]

Hello all,

I'm totally stumped! I have a whisper flo 2hp pool pump mated to a A.O. Smith Guardian Centurion pump. The breaker has tripped and I've reset a couple of times. After reset I turned the pump back on and immediately I hear a "POP" and the breaker trips again.

I spoke to the local pool store and they said it sounds like a bad motor, which they have in stock. They said it was pretty simple to replace myself, so in order to save some $$ I figured I could do it. I'm pretty handy.

I first turned off the power and removed the main breaker fuse. I then removed the 4 bolts that mate the motor to the rest of the housing. I then proceeded to try to pull the motor back from the rest of the pump housing, but NO LUCK. I feel that it's loose and I can shift it from side to side and up and down but it will not pull back from the rest of the unit. I have plenty of clearance behind the motor but I can't get it to break free. What am I missing? Please help!!!!

I can provide pictures if necessary.

AJ

[Pool Clown]

Put those bolts back and hand tight them. You need to take the six bolts that are just in front of the 4 you took out. That will release the seal plate and impeller. Don't forget, you should replace the shaft seal as well as the seal plate gskt. Many times this (shaft seal) is what caused the motor to fail.

http://www.pentairpool.com/partslists/pump...-pumps-227.htm#

Numbers 9 and 16

You'll have to "Knock" the seal out of the seal plate and press the new seal in. 1" PVC coupling works perfect (for install only).

Run a bead of silicone sealant around the seal before pressing it in.

[AJS]

Thanks Pool Clown,

Everything I read said to take those 4 bolts out and the thing SHOULD have come right out. It's dark out now, but I'll do what you say tomorrow!!

I'm just not clear on how the motor will come off when I do what you say. Should I use something to knock the shaft of the motor back?

AJS

[Pool Clown]

Thanks Pool Clown,

Everything I read said to take those 4 bolts out and the thing SHOULD have come right out. It's dark out now, but I'll do what you say tomorrow!!

I'm just not clear on how the motor will come off when I do what you say. Should I use something to knock the shaft of the motor back?

AJS

Once you get the impeller off, THEN you take those 4 bolts off and the motor will separate from the seal plate.

[AJS]

SUCCESS! I've got the whole unit away from the rest of the housing. I took the other 4 bolts off and expected the motor to just slide out of the seal plate, but that's not the case. Do I have to unscrew the phillips head screw (#14) from inside the impeller (#28)? By looking at the impeller shaft it looks like it is a bit corroded, not sure.

Almost there!!

Thanks,

AJS

[AJS]

man, that impeller is on there good and tight. I can't loosen it from the shaft. I'm making sure that I'm turning the impeller the opposite way of rotation whilst holding the back of the motor shaft with a channel-lock pliers. I'm losing this battle slowly!

[Pool Clown]

Whoa Whoa Whoa! Sorry, some impellers have a set screw that IS LEFT HAND THREAD. Cockwise to take off. Also, if you take the cover off the back of the motor, and look for the shaft, you may notice that it has a notch for a wrench. Thats the best way to hold the shaft still so you can remove the impeller.

[AJS]

Thanks Pool Clown,

After struggling with it this morning. I took the unit to the local pool supply store since I needed to get the motor there anyway. They guys gave me some assistance to remove the impeller and the seal plate. After some checking it appeared the seal plate had some cracks where the bolts screwed in. I ended up getting a new seal plate, motor, seals, gasket, and o-ring. Brought it all home and reconnected and fired it up. Everything is humming along nicely now.

Thanks again for your advice. I've learned alot more than I expected with this little project. Next time I'll be able to do this myself for sure.

AJS

[Pool Clown]

I hope the pool store guy let you watch as you may need to change a pump seal yourself again down the road.

[AJS]

He did. Very helpful. I think I'm capable of managing this myself in the future.

Thanks again.