My Northstar is 7 years old and I've had to send motors back 4 times due to seizing supposedly because of water intrusion. One went back a second time about a year after its first repair. HJ recommended wrapping a plastic bag around the motor head while not in use. Those motor heads apparently aren't sealed very well.
Supposedly HJ sent their manufacturing to China a few years ago and the newer motors are even worse.
One member here was able to put a wrench on the motor head and break the bearing seizure by hand. I haven't had any seizures since reading that to give that a try. (knock wood)