How to Remove the Motor on a Residential Vertical Water Pump

The motor on a residential vertical water pump provides the power to drive the pump that draws water up from the well with sufficient pressure to supply a household. A well motor runs on electricity and connects separately from the plumbing. If the motor malfunctions, it must be disconnected from the system for repairs or replacement. Removing the motor takes less than an hour using basic tools.

Nut driver set
Screwdriver set
Wire cutters
Pliers
Work gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse from the fuse box for the circuit that controls the well pump.
- 2
  Use the nut driver to take out the bolts holding the box-like metal cover on the pump. Lift the cover off the motor.
- 3
  Disconnect the two wires attached to the motor. If the wires terminate in slip-on connectors, pull off each wire by the connector. On some systems the wires may be soldered to the motor terminals. In this case, clip the wires with wire cutters as close to the motor terminals as possible.
- 4
  Using pliers, pull out the retainer clip on the motor shaft where it attaches to the pump.
- 5
  Remove the screws or bolts holding the motor to the mounting bracket with a screwdriver or nut driver, depending on the hardware used in your particular installation.
- 6
  Pull the motor back and lift in the opposite direction from the pump. Wear work gloves to protect your hands and keep them clean. The motor may now be removed from the assembly.

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