by ex-Gooserider » 11 Sep 2018, 03:15
I would agree, especially if the motor hasn't been used in horribly wet environments - the bearing is sealed so it shouldn't be letting water or other crap in, or oil out... The plug is mostly cosmetic.
However if the bearing has failed, it can leak in both directions, and as BM said the shaft could possibly moved enough to push the plug out... Regardless of how the plug got lost, it's being missing should make NO difference to the way the motor works... (if what's under it is bad, that's a different story)
It is a far from foolproof diagnostic, but I would try getting both wheels off the ground and try moving them in all directions by hand with the power off, in both drive and freewheel modes... There should be NO detectable play in any direction other than turning. You will probably feel a small amount of backlash or 'slop' when turning the wheel back and forth, but not a lot. Also both wheels should have about the same amount of slop. Spin the wheels in both directions in 'freewheel' mode, they should both make about the same sounds... Any crunching, grinding, gritty sounds are probably bad...
If both wheels are about the same and seem 'normal', then you might not have a problem, if they are different then you do, and further investigation is needed....
ex-Gooserider
T-5, ASIA-B
Jazzy 1100
Jazzy Select 6
Quickie Q-7
Invacare Mariner
Want to make / get a better chair, ideally one that stands.