Insert Scroll Fan Diagnosis

[jatoxico]

One of the fans in my Jotul started "singing". Very high pitch but barely noticed by anyone but me. Sounds almost like a thin piece of metal is touching the squirrel cage as it spins.

It spins fine and isn't stiff but I pulled it so I could oil and clean before it fails. Any thoughts what it could be or what I should look for?

 

[begreen]

Bearing failure can start out as a squeal. Clean, then oil the bearings and see if the sound goes away.

 

[jatoxico]

So I pulled the offending fan apart and found the bearing that's a bit "tight". They are not sealed but have plastic cap/race covers. I removed the cap and found 6 (?) ball bearings that I regreased but its still not spinning completely free.

It's all back together and it is somewhat better but I guess that bearing needs to be replaced altogether. For the price of a new fan I suppose its worth it but I need to get the exact specs. Ho hum.