The external blower on our Onyx does not sound happy this season. Sounds like a bearing is going bad, or something. Do I send this one back for repair/replacement, or look at other options? I believe it's an 8" ~650cfm blower. There are tons of inline fans out there, and I wonder if some others might be quieter? Thoughts? For instance, I've pondered ~200 cfm 6" fans mounted out where the bedroom lines tree off.
External blower motor going bad on RSF Onyx.
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Did you look to see if there are oil ports on the motor? That would be the first thing I try.
As for replacement, can you provide the nameplate info for the blower and maybe a picture?
As for replacement, can you provide the nameplate info for the blower and maybe a picture?
There may or may not be ports for oil, but lubrication may still need to be applied. If you are not comfortable with doing that, get your dealer involved, or someone with appliance/small motor repair experience if a dealer is not an option. It isn't difficult to lubricate these things if you can get to them, but doing it right requires using the right lubricant in the right spot without overdoing it. If the motor/fan is still under warranty, by all means get them involved.
central_scrutinizer
Member
central_scrutinizer said:
I think that is the fan that pushes air through the central heat duct work.
kkesler said:
Check out a Grainger store, they may have a replacement motor... I found most stove fans cheep, noisy, short life and too expensive…. Box fan works good or think about a ceiling fan, they are the best, move lots of air and hardly make a sound…
I can certainly tear it apart, no problem there. Didn't realize these type of motors required lube, thought they were "permanently" lubed.
It is the fan that blows air through the duct work to the rest of the house. We put in new duct in the basement for the Onyx, as there is no access to the attic where the existing duct is run.
I see nothing identifying on the outside of the assembly.
It is the fan that blows air through the duct work to the rest of the house. We put in new duct in the basement for the Onyx, as there is no access to the attic where the existing duct is run.
I see nothing identifying on the outside of the assembly.
kkesler said:
Yes they are "permanently" lubed for the life of the bearing. Additional lube might extend that life.
If you haven't taken a look at that fan yet, its possible some dirt or something is throwing that fan off balance enough to cause the extra noise, cleaning the blades of the fan may solve your problem or at least a portion of it.
Ok, bearings in the blower are completely shot. It's a common bearing, though, and I was able to order a couple from Advance Auto. Will put them in and put the motor back together tomorrow, then see whether I fixed it or finished it off. :D
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I've been using the same blower for more than a decade but I use mine to push cold air to the stove instead of pulling hot air from the stove as RSF intended. I also have a filter in front of it to keep the vanes from building up with crud and getting out of balance.
Yes, I am relocating the blower to the other end of a filter box we fabricated. Not sure how it could be set up to push, as the Onyx air intake is the grilles above and below the unit. Blades were clean, I believe the constant bombardment of dust is what did in the bearings.
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I used the knockout in the bottom to run the 8" pipe up through the floor from below. The grilles become the outlet instead of the intake. The blower down in the crawlspace is mounted in a housing that holds the two furnace filters. The air return for the crawlspace is about 40 feet from the stove.kkesler said:
That wouldn't work for me, I need the air to be pushed out to the registers in the bedrooms. Going without the central blower last night really drove home just how effective that unit is at distributing heat, as the bedrooms were frigid and the living area hot.
Success. Two roller skate bearings later I have a quiet, working fan. Moved to the other end of the line it's the quietest it's ever been, too. Thanks to all for the help, tips and support.
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