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How to Install a Century 2.7HP Variable Speed Motor

WRITTEN BY: Inyo Pools

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If you currently have a single speed (SS) pump and you would like to reduce your pool operating costs by as much as 80%, you should consider upgrading your pump with a Century Variable Speed (VS) V-Green 165 Pool Motor. To get these savings, it is only necessary to replace the motor.

Depending on your pump model, you would select either the VS motor with a square flange or one with a round flange. Although this guide features a Hayward Super II pump and a Century Variable Speed (VS) V-Green 2.7HP Pool Motor, most of these steps are adaptable to most pumps.

Step by Step

Top

Step 1

Here's a list of common tools you will need to replace your motor: screwdrivers (Phillip head and flat), 9/16" socket wrench, 7/16" open end wrench, channel wrench or strap wrench, silicon gasket lubrication (do not use petroleum jelly), clean soft cloth, "GO KIT" - pool pump seal replacements

Step 2

TURN OFF POWER - Before you start, make sure that the power to the pump is turned OFF. For maximum safety turn off the power at the circuit breaker to the motor.

Step 3

BLEED AIR FROM SYSTEM - Open up the air relief on the filter. This will allow most of the water to drain from the pool pump.

Step 4

SEPARATE MOTOR FROM PUMP - The pump we'll need to be separated in half at the seal plate and housing. Most pumps have bolts that secure the two halves. Other pumps have a clamp.

In this install, we are working on a Hayward Super II. Using a 9/16" socket, remove the 6 bolts.

Step 5

PULL MOTOR OUT - Slide the motor assembly out of the pool pump housing. After the assembly is out, you should see the diffuser and diffuser gasket on the end of the assembly. If you do not see the diffuser or its gasket, check inside the housing.

Step 6

DISCONNECT BONDING WIRE - Unfasten the heavy copper bonding wire from bonding lug on pool pump motor. There may be more than one wire attached to this lug. You may have to use pliers if this lug is rusted.

Step 7

REMOVE SCREWS ON ELECTRICAL COVER - To gain access to the wiring, unscrew the two cover screws.

Step 8

REMOVE COVER - When you remove the cover, you will see a large capacitor.

Step 9

DISCHARGE CAPACITOR - Capacitors store power even when the pump has been turned off. To avoid a possible shock, you want to short out the capacitor by laying an insulated screwdriver across its leads. On rare occasions, these capacitors have been known to explode so it's a good practice to wear eye protection and to cover the capacitor with a cloth before shorting the leads.

Step 10

DISCONNECT POWER WIRES - Disconnect the three wires coming into the motor through the conduit. Use needle-nose plyers to lift the red (white) and black wires off their terminals and a screwdriver to remove the green ground wire.

Step 11

UNSCREW CONDUIT ADAPTER - Unthread the conduit adapter and remove that as well as the wires from the old motor.

Step 12

MOVE MOTOR - The motor is now completely disconnected and can be lifted out to be worked on in a more convenient area.

Step 13

REMOVE DIFFUSER - Pull the pool pump diffuser away from the motor assembly. It should snap off easily exposing the impeller.

Sometimes the diffuser on a Hayward pump will get stuck in the front housing when you pull out the motor. If that is the case, remove it from the housing and set aside.

Step 14

REMOVE IMPELLER RING - Remove the impeller ring. Note how the ring was placed on the impeller with the broader side up. This is marked on this ring but may not be marked on all rings. Note: Some motors do not have this impeller ring so don't panic if you can't find one.

Step 15

PREPARE TO REMOVE IMPELLER - To remove the impeller you will twist the impeller off in a counter-clockwise motion. The impeller cannot be freed from the motor shaft without first securing the motor shaft. Move to the back electrical end of the motor.

Step 16

SECURE MOTOR SHAFT - To secure the shaft from rotating, slide a 7/16" wrench behind the thermal protector until it engages with the flat end of the motor shaft.

Step 17

REMOVE IMPELLER - At the impeller end, twist off the impeller in a counter-clockwise motion. You may have to use a strap wrench to free up the impeller. It applies even pressure and is less likely to damage the impeller then something like channel lock pliers.

Step 18

LIFT OFF SEAL PLATE - Remove the seal plate. It should just lift off.

Step 19

REMOVE MOTOR PLATE BOLTS - Using a 9/16" socket wrench, remove the four bolts that hold the motor mounting plate to the motor.

Step 20

REMOVE MOTOR PLATE - Lift off the motor mounting plate.

Step 21

NEW MOTOR - Move the old motor to the side and move the new variable speed motor into place.

Step 22

PLACE MOTOR PLATE ON NEW MOTOR - Place the motor mounting plate onto the new motor. Make sure that the mounting plate is placed correctly. For this pump, the top of the motor mounting plate is labeled "TOP".

Step 23

BOLT ON MOTOR PLATE - Bolt the motor mounting plate onto the new motor with the 4 bolts. It's a good practice to alternate bolts when tightening (1,3,2,4) to seat the plate correctly.

Step 24

POP OUT SHAFT SEAL - Half of the old shaft seal is still in the seal plate. Turn the plate over and pop the seal out with a screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the seal plate.

Step 25

PLACE WHITE HALF OF SHAFT SEAL - Set the new seal on the shaft inside the seal plate - white side up. Be very careful NOT TO TOUCH the white ceramic side of the seal with your hands.Use a clean cloth to push the seal into the seal plate.

Step 26

PUT SEAL PLATE ON MOTOR - Place the motor seal plate onto the motor shaft seal so that it matches up with the motor mounting plate.

Step 27

REMOVE SHAFT SEAL FROM IMPELLER - Grab the seal on the pool pump impeller and twist it off. Make a note of how the seal is positioned on the impeller so you know how to place the new seal. It is possible to place this seal upside down. Note: You may have to also have to remove the metal collar if the new shaft seal also has one. Several people have written in saying that the new seal won't fit because they were trying to place the new collar on top of the old one.

Step 28

PUT NEW HALF OF SHAFT SEAL ON IMPELLER - Push the other half of the new seal onto the pool pump impeller. Place the new seal with the black SHINY side facing out. Again, DO NOT touch the shiny surface of the seal that will make contact with the white surface of the seal in the seal plate. Fingerprints will cause the surfaces to burn.

Step 29

STABILIZE MOTOR SHAFT - At this point, we will want to put the impeller onto the new motor shaft which requires us to stabilize the motor shaft. This motor has a little different setup than the single-speed motor. To stabilize this motor shaft, you need to place a 5/16" Allen wrench into the hole in the back of the motor. Spin the shaft a little until the end of the shaft engages with the Allen wrench.

Step 30

TWIST IMPELLER ONTO MOTOR SHAFT - Place the impeller onto the motor shaft and spin it on with a clockwise motion. Do not overtighten. Just firm it up.

Step 31

PLACE IMPELLER RING ONTO IMPELLER - Place the white impeller ring onto the impeller with the wide side out. This is commonly marked on the ring.

Step 32

PLACE DIFFUSER ONTO SEAL PLATE - Place the diffuser onto the seal plate. It should just snap on. Make sure the diffuser is positioned correctly with the "TOP" label at the top.

Step 33

SLIDE NEW DIFFUSER GASKET ONTO DIFFUSER - Push the diffuser gasket onto the front of the diffuser to the base of the collar.

Step 34

REPLACE HOUSING GASKET - Replace the old housing gasket with the new one from the GOKIT. Lubricate the new gasket with a Teflon or silicon-based lubricant

Step 35

PUSH MOTOR INTO PUMP HOUSING - Clean the portion of the motor plate that come in contact with the housing gasket and insert motor assembly into the pump housing.

Step 36

BOLT ON MOTOR ASSEMBLY - Attached the motor assembly with the six bolts. When screwing in the bolts, alternate tightening bolts a few turns at a time (1,3,5,2,4,6) to seat the motor assembly evenly and prevent leaking.

Step 37

REMOVE TERMINAL COVER - Remove the cover over the electrical terminal. A 1/4" socket can be used to remove the screws.

Step 38

REMOVE BLACK TERMINAL PLUG - Remove the plug on the high voltage port.

Step 39

FEED WIRES THROUGH HOLE AND TIGHTEN CONDUIT ADAPTER - Insert the three power wires through the electrical conduit. Tighten the conduit adapter.

Step 40

CONNECT POWER WIRES TO TERMINAL - Connect the three power wires to the motor terminal. Black wire (hot) to terminal L1; Red wire (hot) to terminal L2; and green ground wire to the ground screw.

This install had two black hot lines and the white one was ground.

Step 41

REPLACE TERMINAL COVER - Replace the cover over the electrical terminals. Tighten the screws.

Step 42

ATTACH BONDING WIRE - Attach the bonding wire onto the motor's bonding lug.

Step 43

PRIME PUMP - Prime the pump and replace the cover.

Step 44

START MOTOR - Turn on power to the pump at the circuit breaker and turn the motor dial to "Run".

Step 45

REPLACEMENT COMPLETE - You have successfully replaced a single-speed motor with a Century Variable Speed V-Green 165 Pool Motor. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment down below or use our live chat feature.