A motor base for use in vibratory apparatus. The vibratory apparatus includes at least one eccentric drive (22,32) having a driven shaft (24) rotatably mounted on a moveable exciter (20). A motor (40,50) is provided having a motor shaft (41,51) which is spaced from the eccentric drive and coupled to the eccentric drive by a drive belt (44,54). Rotation of the motor is transferred by the drive belt to the eccentric drive, which generates a vibrational force. The vibrational force moves the exciter in various directions during operation of the vibratory apparatus. The motor base (10,12) comprises a rigid support, such as an arm (61,81), having a free end (62,82) adapted to carry the motor. The arm is supported to move about an axis of the driven shaft, so that the arm maintains a center distance between the motor shaft and the driven shaft. A resilient support, such as a compression spring, is attached to the free end of the arm, below the motor, to absorb any resulting forces acting on the arm from the movement of the exciter. The motor base maintains a center distance between the motor shaft and the driven shaft, thereby increasing drive belt life by minimizing tension variations in the drive belt.