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How to Lubricate the Rotor in an Electric Motor

Because of the wide variety of applications for which electric motors are suited, it's impossible to function in modern society without using many of them every day. The motors that power everything from the blender in your kitchen to your washer, dryer, refrigerator, air conditioning compressor, garage door opener, laptop (or desktop) computer and even many of your children's toys require periodic lubrication to keep their rotors turning smoothly, and to ensure long-term reliability.

Things You'll Need

Lubricant oil
Ball bearing grease
Cloth

Instructions

Motors with Relubricated Ball Bearings -- Disassembly
- 1
  Take the motor apart following the manufacturer's instructions. Isolate the bearings and wipe the existing grease off with a clean cloth.
- 2
  Add fresh ball bearing grease to the bearings until the system is about two-thirds full of grease.
- 3
  Reassemble the motor according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Motors with Relubricated Ball Bearings -- Lubrication Openings
- 4
  Remove the drain and filler plugs from the engine's bearing compartment. Turn on the motor and let it run until the existing grease runs out the drain.
- 5
  Put new ball bearing grease in the filler and turn the motor on, letting it turn until the new grease starts to ooze out of the drain.
- 6
  Slide a wire in and out of both openings to remove any excess grease. Put the plugs back into place.

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