my friend just bought a new motor for his Down East hot tub.
the old motor would go on for approx. 3 seconds then shut right off . after about a minute you would here a small click on the motor and it would do it again.
we changed the motor and it still does it.
is there a flow switch problem and if so where would it be.
the motor is not seizing up , there is flow through the catch basket during the 3 seconds it is on
there was no sign of the impellor being seized or rubbing.
it is a 220 volt motor
any suggestions

Good grief.
If the controller is powering the motor correctly then I have absolutely no idea.

Unless you've ended up with a defective new motor with the same symptoms?

At this point I'd be attaching test leads at the pump connector or directly to the back of the pump motor and monitor the voltage - just to eliminate that as a source of error. Eg go back and consider that the controller has a problem. Check the voltage output between common and (hi or lo) - which should refer to white and black or white and red depending on speed selection.

Let us know what you find out.