My blower motor had failed on my '90 124 about seven years ago. I removed it to replace it with a new one. I chickened out trying to get the squirrel cages off, as my new one did not have the cages and I needed to move the old ones to it. I was certain I would break them.

Well, the motor would barely turn by hand - it was very tight. I put a few drops of motor oil on the shaft and worked it in by twisting the shaft by hand.

I reinstalled the old blower motor and it has worked fine for the last seven years.

YMMV!

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560