Poultry Man Changes Motor on Rotary Scalder

As of February 2026, Poultry Man has started to power the 30” Rotary Scalder and 41” rotary scalder with a motor and worm gear speed reducer. Since it’s inception in 2000, Poultry Man has relied on a Dayton low RPM gear motor and two belts to turn the birds in the rotary scalder.

In 2025, Poultry Man discontinued the 47” scalder and replaced it with a 48” scalder with a wider tank. That new 48” scalder uses a motor and worm gear to turn the rack in the scalder. The new 48” scalder design has performed well, and now, all Poultry Man rotary scalders will use the same “drive train.”

The primary advantage of the motor and worm gear drive is more lifting power across all the scalders. The two belt drive works well, but over time those belts stretch and slip, especially under heavy load.

With the redesign, the scalder motor is now mounted to the outside of the scalder (previously, it was underneath the scald tank). The motor, worm gear, and scalder components will continue to be protected by a removable cover. As seen in the picture, the worm gear speed reducer is connected to the motor via a single belt. This belt should remain slack and provide just enough tension to lift the birds out of the water.

There have also been changes in the supply chain for the old dayton low rpm gear motors, making now the right time to make this change. Poultry Man will continue to stock gear motor replacements for existing equipment.