Advice on Replacement blower

[slate]

I need advice replacing my blower for a Jotul C450 Kennebec. There are OEM blowers, aftermarket replacements, universal replacements . . . and the prices are wildly different.

Straight up OEM replacement from Woodsman's Parts Plus is $312 - (broken link removed)
Local dealer will sell it to me for $370!!

Another posting on Hearth and pictures lead me to believe that this motor may be a Fasco A125.
Web search shows the Fasco A125 can be purchase for about $120 at various places:
(broken link removed to http://www.hvacbrain.com/Fasco-A125-p/a125.htm)
Emotorstore
Sears
Do you think this is the same blower for 1/3 the price? My blower has high/low speed. This Fasco is listed as 1 speed.

Then there's a universal blower from (broken link removed to http://fireplacebloweroutlet.com/shop/75-cfm-blower-fb075/) but it's only 75 cfm

There's also options on ebay.

Any other suggestions?

 

[oconnor]

I looked into this a while back but can't find the site that had the details. I'd look for a blower that had better bearings than the original. Mine has sleeve bushings and is hard to oil. Some original blowers seem to have oil holes based on posts I've read. Mine doesn't.

I'd also switch to a single speed unit that can be used with a motor speed controller. I've tried one on mine, but it acts weird due to the motor being wired for the two speed switch.

 

[slate]

Thanks, Brent. If you find that site, or remember any brand names, please post. Thanks

 

[oconnor]

They were Fasco motors, that I remember. I'll have a better look.

 

[slate]

So do you think that those Fasco A125's that are only priced at $120 will work? You think those sites are reputable . . HVACBrain, emotorstore . .

 

[begreen]

Not sure if this is close to the same size. Measure and see:
(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAKEL-J238-150-HVAC-INDUCER-UNIVERSAL-FIREPLACE-MTR-AND-BLOWER-ASSY-/390758384925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5afb03c51d)

 

[slate]

Looks like that would fit. Wondering about the power, electric, switch . . . is it all compatible with what's in there now?

 

[KodiakII]

Can it be rebuilt? I am running a similar blower in my pellet stove right now that was rebuilt for the whopping sum of $12 (new bearings).

 

[slate]

Can it be rebuilt? I am running a similar blower in my pellet stove right now that was rebuilt for the whopping sum of $12 (new bearings).

What kind of place rebuilds these motors? What do I search for?
Thanks

 

[oconnor]

The Jotul blower in mine looks more like this.

(broken image removed)
Check this site http://www.electricmotorwarehouse.com/dayton_blower.htm as well as the Fasco catalog . Fasco catalog has the spec for the OEM blower in it. http://www.fasco.com/distribution/products/blowers/

 

[oconnor]

You could also buy a replacement motor - again the Fasco catalog will have the specs. You'd be looking for a two speed 3.3 inch 2000 rpm motor based on the label in your pics. If you aren't sure, check with an electric motor repair shop in your area.

 

[slate]

Those Dayton's look like the could really work. I've got to take the motor out again and measure it carefully.
You think it will be easy to wire it up? I'm good at figuring this stuff out but never done this before.

$110 sounds a lot better then $300+

 

[oconnor]

Won't be hard to wire up, even if you replace it with a single speed motor.

 

[slate]

So can I buy a single speed motor and replace the switch with a variable speed wheel ? Current switch is high / off / low. Would that current switch work? I almost always use low, but high on rare occasion is useful.

 

[KodiakII]

What kind of place rebuilds these motors? What do I search for?
Thanks

Did mine DIY really simple. If not hit your yeller pages, there has to be a shop in youur area.

 

[slate]

Great. Thx KodiakII

 

[oconnor]

So can I buy a single speed motor and replace the switch with a variable speed wheel ? Current switch is high / off / low. Would that current switch work? I almost always use low, but high on rare occasion is useful.

Yes. The snap disk gets wired into one side and the variable speed with the other. You will want to get a good quality variable speed switch, or get an external speed controller that the assembly plugs into at the wall. A router speed controller or a common one used.

 

[slate]

Ok a few terms - snap disk is what senses the temperature and turns the fan on? What's the walk ? Thanks again.

 

[oconnor]

Typo. Should read wall. Oops

 

[slate]

Oh wall. Of course. Lol. Thx

 

[jadenusa]

Oh wall. Of course. Lol. Thx

Hi Slate, following this post closely as I'm in the same situation. How did the replacement go? Did you end up with the Fasco or Dayton unit?

 

[slate]

I've been meaning to update this for anyone who had the same problem. I ended up suffering for the remainder of 2014 winter. In fall, I consulted with a friend who has serious technical knowledge. I managed to find the specs on the original fan and compared to the replacements I was considering. There were some significant differences and in amount of air the fans move, and the speed, etc.

So I dug in some and found out there are two Jotul part numbers for the fan kit that I have.
155342
155304
One of these part numbers is the Blower Kit, and one is the Blower ONLY. The Blower Only is significantly cheaper. Around $200. I can't remember which part number is which but you can figure it out with some research. This was difficult to figure out and I had to call some vendors and ask them to actually pull the blower off the shelf and look at it. The kit is easy to find. The blower only is more difficult. The vendors have access to Jotul catalogs and they can double check part numbers and which stoves those part numbers will fit.

However, in the end, I brought the old blower to an electric motor shop and they replaced the bearings. Can't remember how much it was exactly but around $100. It works great!

Here's some notes I took on vendors and prices for the blower only:
Woodman $210 plus shipping
Stove king waiting for call back - Dale 860 774 6100
PA $199 plus $20 shipping http://www.leacockcolemancenter.com/Blower-Kit-For-Tamarack-Kennebec/item/155304
Chelmsford $190 on website but submitted inquiry form.