Can anyone help me find this piece for my blower fan.

[Doindia]

Hey all I have this Ashley stove that calls for a replacement blower of 891492 but the fan works fine so I hate to spend 80-100 replacing it when all I need is this plastic grommet circled in the picture. I’d be happy to even by a misc pack of grommets that might work. The Dan fan started making a terrible sound and when I pulled it out I realized the end cap which is just plastic had broken off of it. Hate to spend 100 on a 10 cent piece of plastic. Thanks for any help.

 

[stoveliker]

If you have measurements this can be fabbed pretty easily by someone with a lathe.

 

[begreen]

Maybe have someone 3D print one up?

 

[stoveliker]

I presume that the inside of the cap centers the axle. If so a 3d printed one may not have the proper precision/specs (and might need to be finished on a lathe anyway)

 

[begreen]

It's all in the measuring regardless of how it's fabricated. If the dimensions are correct for the shaft and OD, including flats for mounting, then it should work.

 

[stoveliker]

Okay. Maybe 3d printing has improved in precision beyond my last exposure to it.

 

[begreen]

Definitely, as long as the CAD drawings entered are accurate, the results can be quite good depending on the system. Some are quite high rez. They 3D print jet engine parts now.

Here's a neat 3D printing project for gearheads - salt and pepper shakers.

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, but metal precision is easier (lots of things are harder for metals, but tolerances are not one of them in 3d printing).

Those shakers are cool, but I wonder if they have been finished. Something for @Gearhead660 ;-)

 

[all night moe]

Perhaps a stop at the local hardware store? I'm think maybe a bronze bushing of equivalent size?
If not give McMastercar a try. An online paradise, like Graingers but reasonable prices.

 

[Doindia]

yeah I need to look around. I’ve found bushings that flare out nicely and will seat in there but the problem ends up being the toothpick of an axle is much smaller than any of the bushing housings

So basically it seats in the hole but doesn’t hold the axle. I figured I’d have to fab something. This seems like such a wear part (especially being plastic) that they would sell these things by the bucket load! 🤦‍♂️

 

[stoveliker]

Then buying some plastic and using a drill and small hole saw might work to fab it yourself?

 

[Rearscreen]

I saw this online: An optional cross support brace is available to help further stiffen the chassis and prolong bearing life. Blower comes with a 1 year replacement warranty.
Just a thought, did the bearing go? Is the plastic a bearing cover? Can you hook it up on a bench and determine if the bearing is still good?
It seems weird that you can buy an optional brace to "extend" bearing life.

 

[begreen]

yeah I need to look around. I’ve found bushings that flare out nicely and will seat in there but the problem ends up being the toothpick of an axle is much smaller than any of the bushing housings

So basically it seats in the hole but doesn’t hold the axle. I figured I’d have to fab something. This seems like such a wear part (especially being plastic) that they would sell these things by the bucket load! 🤦‍♂️

I can't see plastic holding the axle. That would not stand up. I thought the part just held up the fan or was a cover. If it's holding up the axle I would expect a bearing to be seated in the plastic housing.