Howdy All,
Installed a new 550 in Dec of 2011. Embarked on a colossal learning curve for many years after, eventually involving a blockoff plate and truly seasoned wood, among many other factors.
The chirping began years ago. Having no mechanical aptitude whatsoever, I endured it for half a decade as it got worse. Looking at replacement cost from Jotul, I simply balked. Unable to obtain adult supervision for a mechanical task, I kept waiting.
Finally decided to order replacement fans from Fireplace Blowers Online. I ordered the GFK21 replacement blowers, but one of the motors needs to be reverse mounted. Paid $116 for two blowers. They were helpful and answered email correspondence promptly. N/C for reverse mounting. Discount for two blowers.
Well, short story is that it's freakin' night and day difference. Getting that ungodly bearing chirp out of my life was like having a family curse lifted.
OK, now we get to the subjective. The old fans ran around 71 dB (C-weighted) at a foot, but it was the most annoying noise ever. The new fans are running at 68 dB at a foot (C-weighted), but the noise can be endured. It just sounds like a fan. Somewhat subtle, but still not inaudible.
Here is a very interesting observance. I had (still don't) no knowledge if polarity had any effect. I connected the short lead to the closest post and the longer lead to the further post. The new fan ran in the same direction as the old fan. That's good, I thought. Thought I'd try the left fan before I put it back in. OUTSIDE the stove, the new fan was nearly silent!! WTH?? HOWEVER, once I replaced the LHS fan, I realized most of the noise is coming from the fan being placed in a compartment, so to speak. So a bunch of the fan noise that drives me crazy is the result of being enclosed. Outside the stove the fan was very quiet. Volume increased 2-3X when mounted.
My stupid camera had a low battery, so the flash didn't work, and it was a low-light situation, so I have fuzzy photos. I used the wife's phone to record the noise, but haven't received the files from her yet. Will post when I receive. Here are some pics that ought to help somebody.
After a LOT of investigation, mirrors and flashlights, I discovered that the fans are held in place by two clips. Slide the fan forward, and push the heat-shield upward (with the fan), tilt the fan upwards, and work it out. BION, it comes out. Fascia can stay in place. Of course the grate comes off.
Here are the retaining clips.
Here are the differences in orientation of the power leads, and the plate that needs to be re-used. Of course, the blower side points inside the stove.
Here's a good representation of the differences between the original and replacement. The replacement seems to be missing a secondary heat shield. Note the difference in the orientation of the power leads. I found it quite helpful to label the connectors for main and right hand side. I had to bend the tab to get a 7mm socket in there to get the locknut loose.
Finally, I ran into a surprise when pushing the LHS fan back in. Got the thing in there, couldn't hit the clips, but then seemed trapped. Realized the power leads of the new fan got stuck behind the heat shield. Bend the shield up and I'm back in business.
Overall, I took my sweet time because I knew nothing, stove is upstairs, tools are downstairs, and it took me 1.5 hours. I could see this taking an experienced person 15 minutes per side. The difference is amazing, and I wish I'd done it the minute those fans became annoying. The LHS fan chirped nearly incessantly, but the RHS fan was making way too much noise compared to the replacement.
Hope this helps somebody.
Greg
Installed a new 550 in Dec of 2011. Embarked on a colossal learning curve for many years after, eventually involving a blockoff plate and truly seasoned wood, among many other factors.
The chirping began years ago. Having no mechanical aptitude whatsoever, I endured it for half a decade as it got worse. Looking at replacement cost from Jotul, I simply balked. Unable to obtain adult supervision for a mechanical task, I kept waiting.
Finally decided to order replacement fans from Fireplace Blowers Online. I ordered the GFK21 replacement blowers, but one of the motors needs to be reverse mounted. Paid $116 for two blowers. They were helpful and answered email correspondence promptly. N/C for reverse mounting. Discount for two blowers.
Well, short story is that it's freakin' night and day difference. Getting that ungodly bearing chirp out of my life was like having a family curse lifted.
OK, now we get to the subjective. The old fans ran around 71 dB (C-weighted) at a foot, but it was the most annoying noise ever. The new fans are running at 68 dB at a foot (C-weighted), but the noise can be endured. It just sounds like a fan. Somewhat subtle, but still not inaudible.
Here is a very interesting observance. I had (still don't) no knowledge if polarity had any effect. I connected the short lead to the closest post and the longer lead to the further post. The new fan ran in the same direction as the old fan. That's good, I thought. Thought I'd try the left fan before I put it back in. OUTSIDE the stove, the new fan was nearly silent!! WTH?? HOWEVER, once I replaced the LHS fan, I realized most of the noise is coming from the fan being placed in a compartment, so to speak. So a bunch of the fan noise that drives me crazy is the result of being enclosed. Outside the stove the fan was very quiet. Volume increased 2-3X when mounted.
My stupid camera had a low battery, so the flash didn't work, and it was a low-light situation, so I have fuzzy photos. I used the wife's phone to record the noise, but haven't received the files from her yet. Will post when I receive. Here are some pics that ought to help somebody.
After a LOT of investigation, mirrors and flashlights, I discovered that the fans are held in place by two clips. Slide the fan forward, and push the heat-shield upward (with the fan), tilt the fan upwards, and work it out. BION, it comes out. Fascia can stay in place. Of course the grate comes off.
Here are the retaining clips.
Here are the differences in orientation of the power leads, and the plate that needs to be re-used. Of course, the blower side points inside the stove.
Here's a good representation of the differences between the original and replacement. The replacement seems to be missing a secondary heat shield. Note the difference in the orientation of the power leads. I found it quite helpful to label the connectors for main and right hand side. I had to bend the tab to get a 7mm socket in there to get the locknut loose.
Finally, I ran into a surprise when pushing the LHS fan back in. Got the thing in there, couldn't hit the clips, but then seemed trapped. Realized the power leads of the new fan got stuck behind the heat shield. Bend the shield up and I'm back in business.
Overall, I took my sweet time because I knew nothing, stove is upstairs, tools are downstairs, and it took me 1.5 hours. I could see this taking an experienced person 15 minutes per side. The difference is amazing, and I wish I'd done it the minute those fans became annoying. The LHS fan chirped nearly incessantly, but the RHS fan was making way too much noise compared to the replacement.
Hope this helps somebody.
Greg
Every rattle, squeak and plosive gets noticed. For the first few years, it was intermittent, and I could affect it by changing the speed. This season it was relentless. I tried and tried, but could NOT train them to quit hearing it. 
