you may have already checked this, but - is the cover interferring with the pully? That is, are you sure it's the motor making the sound, or could it be the pully rubbing on the cover. I had a HW19 and the cover would rub the pully unless washers were placed between the cover/plate and the stand-offs.
help noisy vpi motor
I just received a HW-19 III table, purchased over the internet. And apparently, I paid the price and more, as the motor sounds like there's gravel in it. How loud should a properly running HW-19 motor sound? Is the motor replaceable, where could I find one, and what might it cost? Help! Ben