When you invest in a new electric motor, you’re buying more than a piece of equipment—you’re buying reliability. At Good Fruit Electric in Memphis, Tennessee, we see one issue over and over again: the fastest way to lose both performance and warranty coverage is to treat a new motor as “install it and forget it.”
Most manufacturers tie their warranty obligations to how the motor is installed, operated, and maintained. A solid maintenance plan is not just good practice; it’s your insurance policy that the warranty will stand when you need it.
In this post, we’ll walk through practical maintenance recommendations for new electric motors and highlight the common warranty requirements you’ll want to follow (and document).
It is always best that you review and refer to your new motor warranty document.
1. Know What Your Warranty Actually Covers
Before the motor ever hits the foundation, read the warranty. Even a quick review helps you avoid expensive surprises later.
Key things to look for:
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Coverage period
- Standard warranties are often 12–36 months from shipment or startup.
- Some premium or severe-duty motors have different terms or require registration.
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What’s covered
- Typically: defects in materials or workmanship.
- Often not covered: damage from misalignment, contamination, improper lubrication, overloading, or power-quality problems.
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Installation and maintenance requirements
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Many warranties explicitly require:
- Proper alignment (often with documented records)
- Correct mounting and base design
- Adherence to lubrication recommendations
- Use of specified accessories (seals, bearings, VFD settings, etc.)
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Many warranties explicitly require:
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Authorized repair / service center rules
- Some warranties say repairs must be performed by an authorized service center.
- Unapproved modifications, rewinds, or disassembly can void coverage.
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Claim process
- Save your purchase documentation, serial numbers, and startup date.
- Note whether you must return the motor or allow inspection before replacement.
Tip from the shop floor at Good Fruit Electric: keep a copy of the warranty and the motor’s nameplate data in your maintenance system or job files. If something fails, you’re not scrambling for paperwork.
2. Pre-Installation Checks That Protect Your Warranty
Many warranty disputes trace back to problems that started before the motor was even bolted down.
a. Inspect Immediately Upon Receipt
- Check for shipping damage: cracked feet, bent shaft, broken fan cover, dented frame.
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Verify nameplate details match your order and application:
- Voltage, phase, frequency
- Horsepower/kW
- Speed (RPM)
- Service factor
- Enclosure type (TEFC, ODP, etc.)
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Rotate the shaft by hand:
- It should turn smoothly with no grinding or binding.
Document any issues right away and notify the supplier. Using a damaged or incorrect motor can void the warranty before it ever starts.
b. Storage and Handling
If your new motor will sit in storage for a while:
- Store it indoors, clean, dry, and free from dust and vibration.
- Protect from condensation—consider space heaters or desiccant for long-term storage.
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For motors with grease-lubricated bearings, follow the OEM’s guidelines on:
- Periodic shaft rotation (e.g., monthly)
- Re-lubrication intervals during storage
- Avoid lifting by the shaft or fan cover; use designated lifting lugs.
Improper storage can cause bearing damage and insulation issues that won’t be covered by the warranty.
3. Installation & Startup: Where Warranty Claims Are Often Won or Lost
Correct installation is critical—from a performance standpoint and for protecting coverage.
a. Foundation and Alignment
- Use a rigid, level foundation to prevent soft foot and vibration.
- Check and correct soft foot before final alignment.
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Perform precision shaft alignment between motor and driven equipment:
- Use dial indicators or laser alignment tools.
- Document final alignment readings and date.
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Verify coupling selection and installation:
- Ensure it’s rated for torque, speed, and misalignment capabilities.
- Install guards as required.
Many OEMs will deny warranty claims if there is clear evidence of misalignment (for example, patterns of bearing failure or unusual shaft wear). At Good Fruit Electric, we see misalignment show up all the time in failed bearings that “should” have been under warranty.
b. Electrical Connections & Power Quality
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Confirm power supply:
- Voltage and frequency match the nameplate.
- Correct connection for dual-voltage motors.
- Tighten all terminations to specified torques.
- Verify rotation direction before coupling to the load.
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If using a VFD (variable frequency drive):
- Ensure the motor is VFD-rated if required by the application.
- Program proper limits: speed, current, acceleration, deceleration.
- Follow any OEM guidelines on cable type, grounding, and output filters.
Power quality problems (voltage imbalance, harmonics, etc.) are a common source of failures that aren’t covered under standard warranties.
c. Startup Checks & Baseline Data
On first startup:
- Monitor current, voltage, temperature, and vibration.
- Listen for abnormal noises (bearing rumble, rubbing, electrical hum).
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Record baseline data:
- Line currents on all three phases
- Surface temperature after reaching steady state
- Vibration readings if you have condition monitoring tools
This initial baseline is extremely helpful later for troubleshooting, proving proper installation, and supporting any warranty claim.
4. Maintenance Recommendations for the First Year
Once the motor is running, consistent maintenance is the key to both uptime and warranty protection.
a. Lubrication Practices
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Follow the manufacturer’s lubrication schedule:
- Grease type (base, consistency, formulation)
- Quantity per lubrication
- Interval based on speed, frame size, and operating conditions
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Avoid over-greasing:
- Too much grease can overheat bearings and push grease into the windings.
- Use clean, labeled grease guns to prevent contamination or mixing incompatible greases.
If you deviate from the OEM lubrication recommendations, document why and how. In some cases, using the wrong grease or interval can void bearing coverage under warranty.
b. Periodic Inspections
Set up a simple routine that includes:
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Weekly or monthly visual checks:
- Unusual noise, vibration, or smells
- Oil or grease leakage
- Blocked ventilation or dirty cooling fins
- Loose conduit, junction boxes, or guards
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Quarterly or semi-annual checks:
- Verify mounting bolts are tight.
- Inspect couplings and belts for wear and tension.
- Check for corrosion or moisture ingress.
- Clean cooling passages (compressed air with appropriate safety precautions).
c. Temperature and Vibration Monitoring
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Keep an eye on bearing and frame temperature:
- Sudden increases may indicate overload, alignment issues, or bearing problems.
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Use vibration monitoring if available:
- Track changes over time rather than just isolated readings.
- Early detection lets you correct issues before they become warranty disputes.
Good Fruit Electric’s repair technicians often see motors that could have been saved—or repaired under warranty—if early warning signs had been addressed.
5. Documentation: Your Best Friend in a Warranty Claim
From a warranty perspective, maintenance that isn’t documented is maintenance that “didn’t happen.”
Keep a simple log for each motor:
- Serial number, model, and nameplate data.
- Date of installation and startup.
- Alignment and test records.
- Lubrication dates and grease type.
- Inspection findings and corrective actions.
- Any changes to operating conditions (load, environment, controls).
If a failure occurs, this documentation helps demonstrate that you followed the manufacturer’s requirements—and that the issue is likely a legitimate defect rather than misuse.
6. Common Warranty “Gotchas” to Avoid
Here are some common mistakes that lead to denied claims:
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Running in the wrong environment
- Example: using an ODP motor in a wet or dusty environment instead of TEFC.
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Operating outside nameplate ratings
- Overloading beyond service factor.
- Operating at speeds or voltages outside manufacturer limits.
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Unapproved modifications
- Drilling into the frame, altering cooling paths, or modifying the terminal box.
- Rewinding or repair by a non-authorized shop when the warranty requires approved service centers.
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Ignoring early warning signs
- Operating the motor until catastrophic failure despite excessive noise, vibration, or heat.
7. Partnering With a Qualified Motor Service Provider
You don’t have to navigate warranty details alone.
As a dedicated electromechanical repair and service shop in Memphis, Good Fruit Electric supports customers across the Mid-South with:
- Electric motor repair and rewinds
- On-site troubleshooting and field service
- Precision alignment and vibration analysis
- Preventive and predictive maintenance support
- Guidance on warranty-compliant repairs and documentation
Working with a qualified service provider helps ensure your new motors are installed, maintained, and repaired in ways that align with the manufacturer’s requirements—so your warranty protection stays intact.
Final Thoughts (and How Good Fruit Electric Can Help)
New electric motors are a significant investment, and the warranty is there to protect that investment—if you meet the maintenance and installation requirements by:
- Understanding your warranty
- Installing and starting up correctly
- Following OEM maintenance recommendations
- Documenting what you do
You give yourself the best chance of long, reliable motor life and hassle-free warranty support if something goes wrong.
Need Help With a New Motor or a Warranty Question?
If you’re installing a new motor, dealing with a premature failure, or just want a second set of eyes on your maintenance practices, Good Fruit Electric is here to help.
We can:
- Assist with startup and alignment
- Perform warranty-friendly inspections and repairs
- Help you build a practical maintenance plan tailored to your electric motors
Contact Good Fruit Electric today to schedule a consultation or service visit and keep your new motors running reliably for years to come.
email: [email protected]
phone: 901-260-2340