exhaust blower!

[Brokenwing]

I hope everyone is enjoying there summer. last week the light bulb went off, and I realized I had not cleaned my stove yet. So yesterday I tore it down, and i did a really deep cleaning. One thing that puzzles me, and If it makes no sense, I will try to re explain, and take pictures. The fan housing on the exhaust blower was really caked with fly ash. I removed the exhaust blower from the stove, loosened the bolt, and the fan blade came right off. I gave it a good cleaning, and placed it back on and tightened it down. Afterwards it would not spin, the smaller outer fan blade was hitting the screws. It looked like when i pushed down tightening the bolt, the shaft moved. I gently pulled the fan forward, and all is well. Why does that shaft have play in it like that? I never forced anything, and the fan blade came off so easy I was amazed.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

Shafts don't normally move back and forth. Wish I could say more.

 

[Brokenwing]

thanks for the response, I am not sure what to do. It is all back together, and I am wondering if I should just fire it, In the fall and wee what happens. I hate to replace a perfectly good motor, just don't know why it has play in it like that.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

I would be worried about the shaft moving in and out during operation, then you lose your exhaust, and you possibly run into smoke/fire issues. Maybe someone else will chime in about a shaft moving like that... I don't think it is at all normal.

 

[Brokenwing]

I would be worried about the shaft moving in and out during operation, then you lose your exhaust, and you possibly run into smoke/fire issues. Maybe someone else will chime in about a shaft moving like that... I don't think it is at all normal.

I totally understand your concern. I have the same concern as well. It does not have a lot of slop in it, but It should not move at all. I guess I will be taking a trip to Graingers, Enviro parts are to expensive from the manufacturer!

 

[imacman]

AFAIK, all electric motors have a small amount of "end play" in the bearings. If there weren't any, the bearing would get hot from friction & seize up.

Connect the motor power leads to a "test power cord" like a lot of have made out of an old lamp cord (with connections properly insulated, of course!), and if it spins OK installed in the stove, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Brokenwing]

AFAIK, all electric motors have a small amount of "end play" in the bearings. If there weren't any, the bearing would get hot from friction & seize up.

Connect the motor power leads to a "test power cord" like a lot of have made out of an old lamp cord (with connections properly insulated, of course!), and if it spins OK installed in the stove, I wouldn't worry.

I will make one this weekend, and give it a test. The motor connects to a capacitor, does that matter, when testing

 

[Don2222]

AFAIK, all electric motors have a small amount of "end play" in the bearings. If there weren't any, the bearing would get hot from friction & seize up.

Connect the motor power leads to a "test power cord" like a lot of have made out of an old lamp cord (with connections properly insulated, of course!), and if it spins OK installed in the stove, I wouldn't worry.

Agree, I have worked with many. The shaft is the same size and the blades should move up and down until the set screw is tightened. Many do not move from all the rust and corrosion. Therefore yours is in excellent shape! Just IMO, but Spraying "Dry Moly" on the fan blades also keeps it better longer.

My test is to spin the blades by hand. If they slow down and stop slowly, the motor is in good shape. If the blades stop abruptly, then the bearings may be on the way out!

 

[MountainSean]

AFAIK, all electric motors have a small amount of "end play" in the bearings. If there weren't any, the bearing would get hot from friction & seize up.

Connect the motor power leads to a "test power cord" like a lot of have made out of an old lamp cord (with connections properly insulated, of course!), and if it spins OK installed in the stove, I wouldn't worry.

Every motor I have ever tested has always had some in and out play in the shaft and I consider it a normal thing as long as it is a lot of play. There might be a minute amount of back and forth play in the shaft but very, very little; almost unnoticeable.

 

[TheMightyMoe]

BUT if the shaft moves in and out enough to cause the fan to lock up... Is that something to worry about?

Maybe adjust the fan on the shaft in a way that if plays forward or back it won't affect operation?

 

[DBCOOPER]

BUT if the shaft moves in and out enough to cause the fan to lock up... Is that something to worry about?

Maybe adjust the fan on the shaft in a way that if plays forward or back it won't affect operation?

If you put the fan back on in the exact same spot on the shaft and it does it, that would be a problem. Did you put a new gasket on when you put the fan back on? If so was it the same thickness as the one that was on there. Some end play in a motor is perfectly normal. Was the fan locking up before you did anything?

Feel like Don with all the questions...

 

[stoveguy2esw]

"dry fire" the stove(no fuel), be ready to kill power, see if the natural current draws it back into the "binding" of the contact with the screws or whatever its hitting, motors generally have a slight bit of "play" on a linear axis up and down on the shaft (or 'in and out") as long as the field does not draw the motor into the bind you should be ok. if it does, kill power and go shopping, simple as that

 

[Brokenwing]

thanks everyone. It has no problems before, at all, the only reason I noticed it was after pushing down a little to tighten the nut that holds the fan blade, it push the shaft backwards a hair, causing it to hit the screws. I pulled it forward and it spins fine by hand. I am going to fire it off, and see if she pulls back or not.

 

[Brokenwing]

If you put the fan back on in the exact same spot on the shaft and it does it, that would be a problem. Did you put a new gasket on when you put the fan back on? If so was it the same thickness as the one that was on there. Some end play in a motor is perfectly normal. Was the fan locking up before you did anything?

Feel like Don with all the questions...

the regency gc60 and m55 do not have a gasket on the exhaust blower.

 

[Eatonpcat]

My M55 does...I think!! LOL

 

[Eatonpcat]

 

[Don2222]

My M55 does...I think!! LOL

Does the motor come out of that housing? Is there a gasket on the motor hub?

 

[Eatonpcat]

Don't know, that is as far as I've ever got into it!! I will ask Mad Dog to come over and we will get you an answer!!

 

[Brokenwing]

Don't know, that is as far as I've ever got into it!! I will ask Mad Dog to come over and we will get you an answer!!

The whole assembly has a a gasket, but If you remove just the motor with the 3 or 4 screws, you can access everything without disturbing the gasket.

 

[stovelark]

That's right, the M55 and GCI60 both do not have a gasket, only 4 small Phillips head screws. Don't put self tappers in there either, my buddy discovered when you do that, it blocks the fan from turning, ugh...