A lubricant retention assembly is employed with an electric motor to prevent
the
loss of lubricant from a self contained lubricant reservoir of the motor. The lubricant
retention assembly includes a thrust collar mounted on the motor shaft and a bearing
cap surrounding the thrust collar, where the thrust collar has an annular flange
that throws lubricant leaking along the shaft radially outwardly toward the bearing
cap. The bearing cap has an angled interior surface that deflects the lubricant
thrown from the annular flange of the thrust collar back into the motor interior
and toward the lubricant reservoir. A thrust washer is also provided on the shaft
adjacent the thrust collar and prevents lubricant leakage along the shaft between
the interface of the shaft and the thrust collar. The thrust washer and thrust
collar have complementary configurations that maintain the thrust washer in position
on the shaft adjacent the thrust collar.