How to Replace a Spa Water Pump Shaft Seal
A puddle under a spa's pump motor usually indicates that the water pump assembly's shaft seal has failed. A spa's pump motor uses a shaft to turn an impeller inside of the pump assembly. The shaft seal hugs the pump motor's shaft. A worn or damaged spa water pump shaft seal will leak water against the pump motor's housing. Replacing a damaged water pump shaft seal keeps the spa water from damaging the pump motor. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Turn off the spa's circuit breaker.
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2
Close the spa pump motor's two water valves, located on the pump assembly's intake and output water pipes. If the spa uses plunger-style water valves, push each plunger handle down against its valve body. If the spa uses gate valves, turn each water valve's handle counterclockwise.
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3
Grab a pump assembly's union fitting with locking pliers and turn the fitting counterclockwise until the fitting releases the water pipe. Disconnect the second union fitting, using the same method used on the first fitting. Each water pipe contains a union fitting between its water valve and the pump assembly.
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4
Remove the pump motor's mounting bolts, using the correct size wrench. The mounting bolts hold the pump motor's base to the spa housing. Many pump motors have four mounting bolts.
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5
Adjust the pump motor's position until its pump assembly faces the front of the spa. The pump motor's power cord has enough slack to turn the motor without disconnecting the wires.
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6
Remove the pump assembly's cover. If the assembly uses a stainless steel band, loosen the band's tension bolt and pull the cover from the assembly. If the assembly uses mounting bolts, use the correct size wrench to remove the bolts before pulling the cover off the assembly.
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7
Place a wrench on the shaft's bolt head, located on the end of the motor below the power cord. Turn the impeller, located in the pump assembly, with a hand counterclockwise until it releases from the shaft. The shaft runs completely through the pump motor. The wrench holds the shaft still while turning the impeller.
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8
Slip a slotted screwdriver under the pump motor's shaft seal, the O-ring that slips over the shaft. Pry the shaft seal off the pump motor's shaft, using the slotted screwdriver for leverage.
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9
Slide the shaft seal off the threaded end of the impeller, if equipped. Some spa pumps use two shaft seals: the O-ring on the motor's shaft and a plastic ring containing the seals on the impeller.
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10
Slip the pump motor shaft's O-ring shaft seal into its groove on the pump motor. Press the seal into the groove with a screwdriver's handle.
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11
Slide the impeller's shaft seal onto the threaded end of the impeller.
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12
Hold the wrench on the shaft's bolt head still. Position the impeller's threaded end on the pump motor's shaft and turn the impeller clockwise.
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13
Coat all the O-rings in the pump assembly with plumber's grease. Replace the pump assembly's cover and either tighten the stainless steel band's tension bolt or tighten the cover's mounting bolts.
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14
Rotate the pump motor until the union fittings on the pump assembly's intake and output ports lineup with the respective water pipes. Tighten both union fittings, using the locking pliers to turn the fittings clockwise.
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15
Secure the pump motor to the spa with its mounting bolts, using the correct wrench to turn the bolts clockwise.
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Open the spa's two water valves and check for water leaks before turning on the circuit breaker.
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