Abstract: An electric motor having a stator assembly, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, and a pair of end shields secured to the stator assembly and journalling the shaft for rotation of the rotor within the stator assembly. The motor includes a pair of self-aligning bearings for transmitting both radial and thrust (i.e., axial) loads from the shaft to the end shields. Each of the end shields has an outwardly facing race. A first ball member is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is journalled in the race of one of the end shields. A second ball member is axially movable along the shaft and is journalled in the race of its respective end shield. A pushnut or the like is provided to axially secure the second ball member to the shaft when the first and second ball members are journalled in their respective races thereby to substantially prevent axial movement (i.e.

Abstract: An electric motor having a stator assembly, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, and a pair of end shields secured to the stator assembly and journalling the shaft for rotation of the rotor within the stator assembly. The motor includes a pair of self-aligning bearings for transmitting both radial and thrust (i.e., axial) loads from the shaft to the end shields. Each of the end shields has an outwardly facing race. A first ball member is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is journalled in the race of one of the end shields. A second ball member is axially movable along the shaft and is journalled in the race of its respective end shield. A pushnut or the like is provided to axially secure the second ball member to the shaft when the first and second ball members are journalled in their respective races thereby to substantially prevent axial movement (i.e.