A hermetic compressor including a housing, a compression mechanism disposed in the housing, a motor disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the compression mechanism, the motor including a stator, the stator having, relative to the compression mechanism, a proximal end and a distal end, at least one fastener extending through the stator, the stator being fixed, relative to the compression mechanism, by the fastener, a motor cover disposed over the distal end of the fixed stator, a portion of the fastener extending through the cover, and a clip engaging the portion of each the fastener, the cover being retained to the fixed stator by the clip. Also methods for assembling such compressors, one of which includes the steps of providing surrounding a rotor with a stator; placing fasteners longitudinally through the stator; loosely attaching the stator and a compression mechanism with the fasteners; aligning the stator relative to the rotor, whereby an air gap therebetween is set; tightening the fasteners and fixing the stator relative to the compression mechanism after the air gap is set; aligning apertures provided in a cover with the fasteners and fitting the cover over the stator and rotor such that portions of the fasteners extend through the cover apertures, whereby the fastener portions protrude through the cover; and engaging clips onto the protruding fastener portions, whereby the cover is retained in a position between the stator and the clips.