Harman exhaust blower high frequency whining noise

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Don2222

Minister of Fire
Feb 1, 2010
9,110
Salem NH
Hello

Last night the stove started to squeal very load! It became almost unbearable! I went down in the basement and it looked like it was coming from the back right side. That is where the distribution blower is! After taking the back panels off, it sounded like it was coming from the left side. So I shut the stove down and when the power was cut to the distribution blower, I could still hear the wine.

We had some drywall done and there was plaster dust all over everything. I think the bearing in the fan got really dry!

So I cleaned the blower with 150 psi compressor and lubed the shaft with light machine oil. See and hear video of noise below.

 
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Sounds like metal on metal like the cooling fan may have shifted and is rubbing? Or the exhaust fan is transmitting noise somehow?
 
Sounds like metal on metal like the cooling fan may have shifted and is rubbing? Or the exhaust fan is transmitting noise somehow?

Yes, it was very dry from the plaster dust. The blower is only 12 years old. After I cleaned and oiled it last night, it quieted right down and has been good all night and this morning so far. :)

Getting the oil on the motor shaft was the hard part. I found a new applicator that makes it easy peasy! What do you think?
 

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Cleaning, what a wonder it does!
 
Yes, with the right stuff?
 
The first time my convection blower "went" I first thought it was the combustion blower. Don't know about yours for certain, but most bearings are sealed and you can oil them all you want without doing any good.
 
The first time my convection blower "went" I first thought it was the combustion blower. Don't know about yours for certain, but most bearings are sealed and you can oil them all you want without doing any good.

Not all are sealed bearings. Many have oil holes! Some have rubber plugs in them! See yellow plugs below.

See pics below. Click to Enlarge
 

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Just my luck! All of mine appear to be of the sealed variety

Hi Kodiakll

I just brought an Englander exhaust blower back to life. It has a sealed bearing and no oil holes. After blowing out all the dust, I got it to to spin freely by applying light machine oil on the shaft near the bearings. The lubrication made a huge difference and I will always use it. The 2" appliicator gets the oil right where it needs to be, right on the motor shaft!

See pics and video!
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-for-englanders-and-many-other-stoves.125418/
 
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