a/c fan squeals

[Stretch]

Sounds like the fan bearings are shot. When it starts to squeal, It is usually too late to oil it. However, you can try if it has oil ports on the side of the motor. Add 20 drops of 20 or 30 weight non-detergent motor oil to each port. DO NOT use WD40 or sewing machine oil or penetrating oil. Use a squeeze bottle with a small nozzle on the end to get the oil in.

If that doesn't help, you are looking at $200.00 to $350.00 depending on rates in your area. Should take 1.5 to 2 hours to diagnose and replace the motor. You will pay more if the fan blade cannot be reused.

Stretch

[badgolferman]

My home A/C Carrier brand outside unit fan is squealing. It is probably 15 years old but I don't know for sure since I've lived here for seven years and the house was built in 1990. When I bang on the cover it goes away for a while.

Is this something I can remove and grease the bearings or is it a sealed unit and not worth fixing?

If I call a repairman what should I expect pricewise?

If this is repairable any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

[QUIRT EVANS]

most all newer fan motors are sealed and will need to be replaced.

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle

George , I have never changed a fan motor , from start of figuring out what it is to driving off , in 30 minutes in my life. in most cases you will spend 2 hours travel time , changing the motor, and writting the bill but you might be faster.

Now George did you hear the words Carrier condenser unit fan motor which can be about 15 years of age. That would be the carrier Condenser fan motor with wing ears on it and cost me about $120.00 + Tax, and capasitor. So Figure about $145.00 atleast. Then the truck , me, the help will get about $100.00 out of this. So your looking at $245.00+ atleast if i give the motor to you at wholesale. If not your looking at $345.00 + here.

George , I live in the Depressed income area and these are the prices here and you must be Super Depressed to say Less than $200.00 for a Carrier wing Ear motor.

TURTLE

[Stormin Mormon]

Usually not dificult for a repairman to reoil a fan motor.

Since it hasn't had maint in a while, it needs cleaning, and check the freon. I'd expect the clean and check special, under a hundred bucks.

[George E. Cawthon]

A squeal doesn't necessarily mean the bearing is shot. And, $200 to $350 for a motor is a rip off. What is to diagnose? it either continues to squeal after adding oil or it doesn't. Replacement, at least in my unit, shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour start to finish no matter how klutzy one is--unplug the fan wires and remove a few bolts.

If the oil doesn't fix the OP's fan and the OP has any mechanical skills, he ought get the model number, go to a parts place and order the motor (and fan blade if needed), and replace it himself.

Glad I don't live where you are. It only cost me $50 bucks to have a tech check the gas pressures and voltages/amps, add a little bit of gas, and oil the motor. Took about 20-25 minutes, most of which he spent talking to me and answering my questions.

[badgolferman]

What about light machine oil -- 5W? Is that the same as sewing machine oil or penetrating oil?

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

Bubba is George's Brother in law and had not seen each other in a week or so .

TURTLE

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

Sewing Machine oil yes but NO penetrating oil at all.

Most Manufactor will say 20 Weight oil. I use 20-W-40 weight oil or straight 30 weight oil. Anyweight oil you use is better than no weight oil at all.

Don't Use WD-40, LPS, 777, 3 in 1 oil, or any penetrating oil product.

TURTLE

[barry]

Not really applicable. OP did say something about 15 yrs old.

With newer motors, in case of bearing failure, you may be able to press bearing(s) off/on- or any competent motor shop. That is how they're assembled. Sometimes you can get some lube in with an oiler that's like a hypodermic, through the lip-seal. Never say never.

No matter- Grainger or other supplier should be able to find replacement for current stuff.

HTH, J

[Gideon]

most all newer fan motors are sealed

Somewhat true.

and will need to be replaced.

Absolutely not true.

[Dr. Hardcrab]

"George E. Cawthon" wrote

Did the cost include a 6 pack of beer for Bubba too?

Added "a little bit of gas", huh? How did he determined that it needed that?

I hate to see what happens if you have a real problem.

[webmaster]

Yea...ok. How about a two speed Trane, or York fan? American Standard two speed? Wholesale is over $200 for those. What about a Carrier OEM motor? Totaline LOVES those...almost $150 for one.

No way he did it correctly then, since in order to " add gas" properly, you have to check subcool, or super heat and this takes at least 15 minutes to do properly. Then, after adding, he has to recheck it again. BTW, the pressures mean NOTHING. Nada....One of my guage sets does not even have pressures on it, but temps, depending on the refrigerant in question. Hint...its not the pressure that matters as much as the temps of the refrigerant in question, based upon the superheat, or subcool.

He stole your $50 man....even if you think its working fine, he stole your money....reached right in your pocket and stole it.

20 minutes for $50...hes charging over $100 per hour for stealing. Damn..I gotta raise my rates since we do it right....

[Stretch]

George, If he just checked the Freon pressures, he is a hack! No wonder he is so fast, it is easy to do a half assed job quickly. Every manufacturer of AC equipment that I am familiar with uses suction superheat charts to charge systems with piston metering devices and liquid subcooling charts to charge systems with expansion valve metering devices. If he checked the pressures, and added Freon, he did it wrong! He should have checked the indoor wet bulb temperature, the outdoor dry bulb temperature, the suction line or liquid line temperature (depending on metering device) and the pressures. Then he can determine if the charge is correct.

Stretch

[Stretch]

George wrote: I'm probably full of it, as I said replacement, but I really meant removal only

Yes, I agree, you probably are (full of it). But then, that is your right.

Stretch

[Stretch]

So what makes you think he didn't check the temps? All my wife told him was that it didn't seem to be cooling quite right after she heard a gurgle. (personally I didn't agree with my wife but it did seem to cool a bit better).

How do you check the subcool and the super heat? Do you go inside? I've never seen an AC guy check a unit by going inside the house! Hell I don't know exactly what he did.

In fact, to achieve rated efficiency, it must have the proper charge, the correct air flow, be the proper size, and have a correvct equipment match between the outdoor unit and the indoor coil.

If your tech never goes inside to measure the indoor temperature, he cannot follow the manufacturer's recommendation. I would suggest that you get a new service company to get your unit serviced properly. By your own description, it was serviced improperly.

The price is not the main issue, but the amount of time. Unless he is a super hero who can warp time, he cannot do a proper job using your time estimates. The price will vary with wholesale prices, exact motor models, company overhead costs, labor rates for your area, insurance rates, average travel times etc. Every company is different. That is why I gave such a wide range of prices.

Not trying to be a smart alec, just trying to do it right.

By the way, I can get you a great deal on a YUGO, you seem like the kind of guy who likes to save money that way! Be careful how you save money, it can cost you in the end!

Stretch

[~^Johnny^~]

[badgolferman]

I have since looked at the fan up close and would like to report my observations.

Fan model and specifications:

5KCP39BG K497S 220 VAC, 0.9 Amp, 1/8 HP, 1100 RPM

Apparently when I removed the cover which the fan is also attached to I broke the ground terminal lug from the chassis. Being an electronic technician, fortunately I had the equipment to repair this. I had an oiler with a needle attached that had 5W machine oil which I used to drip a bunch of oil down the shaft. The shaft spun smoothly before and after oiling so maybe there hasn't been too much damage. It's been running straight for three hours since SE VA is very hot today and my wife had shut off the A/C for fear of it breaking while I was gone to work today. I haven't heard any squealing or screeching yet so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Tomorrow I will call local shops and locate a replacement just in case. Thanks to everyone who responded.

[meirman]

In alt.home.repair on Mon, 18 Jul 2005 11:35:34 GMT "Gideon" posted:

So what does one to rehab a sealed fan motor?

Meirman

-- If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter. Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

[George E. Cawthon]

Sceptic and snotty, huh? Well it was relay 15 percent more but they give a discount for old people.

He used pressure gauges, etc. to see if it was running correctly and added 1/2 pound. Highly professional and double checked everything. Same company that installed the AC about 25 years ago.

"I hate to see what happens if you have a real problem." Me too! Probably cost a lot, but I'll call this guy or the company in a heartbeat.

Oh yeah, he didn't give me any bullshit about a relay going bad (about $150) and the compressor being weak (probably going to fail) because it didn't pull enough current which was what the company that installed my gas furnace did on a free inspection of the AC.

Yep, too bad repair persons around here are competent and charge reasonable amounts. Probably will get the incompetents and high chargers in a few more years when all the honest people are replaced by infiltratetees from California.