Abstract: A water motor has an endless series of buckets arranged for movement about a generally rectangular path of travel to present an uppermost, horizontal, loading flight whereby each bucket may be completely filled with water from an overlying basin prior to its descent along a vertical power flight of the motor. The buckets are pivotally supported for free swinging movement and there is provided a trip mechanism adjacent the lowermost end of the power flight for individually emptying the buckets at the end of their descent. A water outlet in the overlying basin extends longitudinally along the full length of the loading flight and is provided with a baffle for controlling the flow of water to the buckets. A pair of endless roller chains secured at opposite ends of the respective buckets are operably coupled with an output shaft for powered rotation of the latter in response to movement of the buckets along their rectangular path of travel.