Why Do I Eat Fans?

 
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jpete
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 10:14 am

Blower on my Mk I went again. I think this is my third in 10 years. I try to keep it lubed with white lithium. Maybe that's the problem?

This year, I plugged it in, wait 3 seconds and it would slooowly start to spin. Then it got to the point where I had to give it a tap to get it started, then I had to take it off the stove and spin it by hand to make it go.

Now, it's just dead.

I rigged up another fan for now, but it doesn't move as much air as needed.

It's a Fasco, so I think it's a good brand. Not sure why I keep killing them.


 
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Post by Smoker858 » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 10:44 am

White Lithium - Do you have grease fittings?

If you only have small ports then use 3 in 1 oil or equal.

You lithium may not be getting to or spreading around the bearing surfaces.

 
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jpete
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 10:56 am

It's a spray can of lithium. I use the little red tube to get down inside the two ports.

It's making me crazy because I think the last one I bought was around $80.

 
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Post by jim d » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 11:07 am

i use #30 non detergent for all my elect motors including circs ect

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 11:48 am

I use the 3 in 1 for Electric Motors on mine. I think it's like SAE 30 oil or something.

Maybe try some synthetic oil, I think they make it for small motors.

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 11:50 am

Agree with oil not grease...
Oil flows grease not so much...

 
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Post by SteveZee » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 12:42 pm

WNY wrote:I use the 3 in 1 for Electric Motors on mine. I think it's like SAE 30 oil or something.

Maybe try some synthetic oil, I think they make it for small motors.
That's what I've always used too. 3 in 1. I like the smell of it. Mineral oil like the old castrol we'd mix with 2 strokes. Think I've had the same red and white can for 10 years!


 
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Post by Berlin » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 2:17 pm

white lithium is your problem. it cakes inside the bearings and becomes an abrasive. I have electric motors still working in regular use from the 40's and 50's, I use the same thing my grandfather did, heavy weight motor oil; sae 40 etc.

 
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:04 pm

A little tech tip....don't use white lithium on motors! :D

My philosophy is that you can't break what's already broke so I pulled it apart and it turns out Berlin is absolutely correct!

Both ends were caked with dried lithium. I dunked everything in WD 40 and scrubbed it all with a toothbrush.

Then I broke my philosophy I think. :) There seems to be a "packing" around the bushings. Maybe a felt wick? When I dug all the lithium out, it was fibrous and there certainly appears to be a cup around the bushings.

So my next question is, can I replace the felt?

I slapped the motor back together and it runs like a champ. Not sure I'd want to expose it to much heat without the felt around the bushing though.

 
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Post by SMITTY » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:15 pm

20W-50 Amsoil motorcycle oil in all of mine. 3 years on the Mark I, & now 3 years on the Mark III without any failures so far. I'll keep ya posted on that one now that I jinxed myself ... :lol:

Don't see any reason why you couldn't replace the felt. Just needs something to hold the oil in. With the lithium in there, it's probably a good idea to toss the felt anyway.

 
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:27 pm

SMITTY wrote:With the lithium in there, it's probably a good idea to toss the felt anyway.
I didn't just "toss" it, I blasted it across the garage at 125psi. :D

I still have to fiddle with the motor because it "knocks" which is why I was greasing the snot out of it. I think the armature isn't shimmed properly or something. There is a lot of endplay and I think it bounces back and forth unless it is at exactly the right position.

I also rigged up a piece of furnace filter over the inlet to keep the fan from clogging up with dust. Let's see how long it takes for that to clog...

 
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Post by MURDOC1 » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:40 pm

If you ever need to replace motors again consider spending just a few more dollars and replace with a cross referenced ball bearing unit as opposed to the factory supplied sleeve bearing... No oiling required, run quieter and draw less juice at full load... Electric motor warehouse gives the Dayton equivalent part numbers for any given Fasco unit... Then go to Grainger.com and plug in the Dayton number to have a look at the specs... I no longer have any sleeve bearing units on either of my stoves, replaced them all with bearing units and am very happy with the results so far...

When I did use the sleeve bearing units I too used 3 in 1 household oil, not the heavier stuff for electric motors, I think that for such small blowers/motors the heavier viscosity of the stuff labeled for electric motors is simply too much and would actually make the motors work harder than they need too due to the greater film thickness... Oil thin and oil often is my take on it all...

 
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jpete
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:46 pm

MURDOC1 wrote: Oil thin and oil often is my take on it all...
That would be my theory also except the oil holes on this thing point down. So I have to take the motor off to oil it. I didn't realize it had a wick in it or I'd have gone with something other than grease.

I was just concerned it would weep out as soon as I reinstalled it.

 
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Post by MURDOC1 » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:50 pm

jpete wrote:That would be my theory also except the oil holes on this thing point down. So I have to take the motor off to oil it. I didn't realize it had a wick in it or I'd have gone with something other than grease.

I was just concerned it would weep out as soon as I reinstalled it.
Motor comes off in a jiffy on your stove, no big deal there!!! I use a syringe and draw up the oil in it, its a long "blunt fill syringe" and its attached to a 5cc or so cylinder, draw it up and put the needle end into the tube and give it a little shot once a month and should last forever...

 
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Post by jpete » Sun. Oct. 30, 2011 3:58 pm

Thanks for the tip on Grainger. You're right about the ball bearing motor. It pulls half the amps as the sleeve bearing. And 15 more cfm out put. If I get a few dollars to blow, I may order it.


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