Topic
Motors, Belts and Blowers
The blower assembly moves thousands of cubic feet of air every minute. Get belt tension, bearings and motor speed right and the cooler runs quiet, efficient and strong.
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Swamp Cooler Motor Guide: Types, Oiling, Testing and ReplacementMost whole-house swamp coolers use a belt-drive blower motor of roughly 1/3 to 1 horsepower, often two-speed, at 115 V or 230 V. Keep it healthy by oiling ported bearings with non-detergent SAE 20 oil, keeping belt tension correct, and checking running amps against the nameplate. Replace it with a motor matching horsepower, voltage, speeds, shaft size, frame and rotation.
All motors, belts and blowers guides
- Swamp Cooler Belt and Pulley Adjustment: Tension, Alignment and Blower Speed
Adjust a swamp cooler belt: set about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deflection, align the pulleys, size a new belt, and change blower speed without overloading the motor.
- Swamp Cooler Blower Wheel and Bearings: Cleaning, Balance, Oiling and Replacement
How to clean and balance a swamp cooler squirrel-cage blower wheel, oil sleeve bearings, test shaft play, and choose sleeve or ball bearing replacements.
- Two-Speed Swamp Cooler Motor Wiring: Common, High and Low Leads Explained
How two-speed swamp cooler motors are wired: common, high and low leads, why wire colors vary, how to verify with the label and an ohmmeter, and switch hookup.
- How to Choose a Replacement Swamp Cooler Motor: HP, RPM, Frame, Shaft and Amps
Match a replacement swamp cooler motor by horsepower, 1725 rpm speed, 48 or 56 frame, 1/2 or 5/8 inch shaft, voltage, speeds, amps and thermal protection.
- Swamp Cooler Blower Housing and Shaft Problems: Rust, Bent Shafts, Wobble and Vibration
Fix swamp cooler blower housing rust, bent or worn blower shafts, wheel wobble, cracked bearing brackets and vibration carried into the ducts and roof.