Replace motor or whole pump?

[Luric]

Our waterfall pump - Hayward 1.5hp Super Pump of unknown age - has stopped working and we've been told the motor needs to be replaced. Because I don't know the age or how much life is left, I'm torn between doing that or just replacing the whole thing.

Quick backstory: I'm not sure how old the Hayward PUMP is - I know it's NOT the original but was already here when we arrived in 2015, so more than 10 yrs for sure. We replaced the MOTOR in 2017 (Century, attached photo). I'm actually surprised it's failed already since we only run it 1 hr/day to clear the water in the waterfall basin (which admittedly is 3 ft deep, so more work than a traditional waterfall I suppose) or if we're having a party which is infrequent because my husband is a curmudgeon. Our pool season usually runs April-October.

I'm including an image of the label which has been lost to time, but in case anyone's eyes are better than mine and the entire thing in case anyone can tell age from how the model may have changed or if something gives better insight into whether it makes more sense to swap motor again for $350 or replace the entire thing for - $1100 Until we figure this out I've got a 3 ft deep cesspool full of dead leaves & probably small animals waiting to spill over into my real pool with the next big rain.

**Bonus question - could my curmudgeon (works in finance but is "generally" handy and owns tools & things) *possibly* DIY either the motor or pump replacement...??

 

[Texas Splash]

That motor was made on 9 May 2016.

 

[Luric]

That motor was made on 9 May 2016.

The original motor was replaced with that Century in March 2017, so that sounds about right, I just don't know when the Hayward pump was installed since it was here when we moved in. Could it outlive 2 motor replacements? Is that normal? Or are we throwing good money after bad? Or if we did replace the motor but the whole thing goes relatively soon, could we keep the motor to replace for when the new pump needs a new motor?

Is it weird for the replacement to die after 8 yrs running only an hr a day less than half the year?

 

[Luric]

That motor was made on 9 May 2016.

And where are you finding a date? And so specific??

 

[Texas Splash]

Could it outlive 2 motor replacements? Is that normal?

Absolutely. The plastic "wet end" can last a long time. The biggest danger in your area of course would be cracking during the winter. As long as it's solid, you can keep using it. Your weather might also explain the failure of the motor. While it doesn't get a lot of use, it's still subjected to some pretty harsh weather and moisture. Pool equipment is made to be outdoors, but still..... No telling though. Sometimes we just get a bad piece of equipment.

You may have other options though when it comes to replacing the motor. Definitely NO single speeds. 2-Speeds are getting harder to find, so a variable speed motor retrofitted to that wet end might serve you well. I know its just for a waterfall, but you would have lots of flexibility. I'll tag @1poolman1 for his thoughts on a good motor replacement.

 

[Texas Splash]

And where are you finding a date? And so specific?

The serial number. 13016 is the 130th day of 2016.

 

[1poolman1]

Absolutely. The plastic "wet end" can last a long time. The biggest danger in your area of course would be cracking during the winter. As long as it's solid, you can keep using it. Your weather might also explain the failure of the motor. While it doesn't get a lot of use, it's still subjected to some pretty harsh weather and moisture. Pool equipment is made to be outdoors, but still..... No telling though. Sometimes we just get a bad piece of equipment.

You may have other options though when it comes to replacing the motor. Definitely NO single speeds. 2-Speeds are getting harder to find, so a variable speed motor retrofitted to that wet end might serve you well. I know its just for a waterfall, but you would have lots of flexibility. I'll tag @1poolman1 for his thoughts on a good motor replacement.

Century EVC 165 motor, GOKIT 3