Take a look at the pic in this thread.
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=4800
The air in mine flows from the front (pump end) to the back through passages between the windings. That's how it's cooled. If critters got in there and built something I think about the only way to clean out the crud is with high pressure air. By trying to clean stuff put by poking wire through the passages you run the risk of damaging the insulation and causing a short. Then the motor is kaput.
Hope this helps.
Al
BTW: that small black thinggy at top center is the thermal cutout. The big black thinggy to the left is the starting capacitor.