furnace squirrel cage only turns if I use hand

[louis3301]

My furnace fires up but the blower has stopped coming on (it's a Bryant

330AAV upflow). I can barely spin the squirrel cage with my hand, and it will not spin on it's own after I pull my hand out. It makes a low hmmm sound, but just doesn't start turning, then the gas shuts off. I'm assuming I need a repair person to replace the blower, but I'd appreciate any comments if there are other things I should consider. Please give any advice on what else to check. Thanks, Mike

[Edwin Pawlowski]

When was it lubricated last? I'm not familiar with that model, but it is

99% sure one of two things. Bad bearings in the motor, or bad bearings on the blower shaft if it has a belt drive. Hell, if it has never been serviced it could be both.

Very slim chance, but it is possible something got sucked in and wrapped around the shaft causing it to turn hard.

The gas shuts off because the heat exchanger reaches the high limit set point. That is a safety feature.

[louis3301]

I've never lubed it, in fact, I can't find a lube bolt, so I'm assuming it is self lubricating. However, I am a novice so I'm not sure. I think you're right though and the bearings are probably shot, so I'm probably looking at having a new blower put in. Thanks for your response.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Replacing bearing is not that difficult. Replacing whole motor will cost some dough.

[marks542004]

I would check the motor starter (if it has one) and the relay that turns the motor on.

The gas is turning off cause of a temperature alarm or aair movement not detected.

If you have a setting for blower only that can help determine the fault .

[Andy & Carol]

It might have a internal cintrifugal starter switch inside the motor, simple to replace, or a capacitor on the outside that needs to be replaced.

[kellyj00]

went through this on an exhaust fan recently... flip the switch and it just hums. I was about to replace it, when I pulled it out and looked at it... it was dusty as all hell. Blew off the dust and hit it with a coat of CLP (that's the firearm version of WD-40 and it won't rust, and it's better... get it at walmart in the gun section for about $4 a can)

Anyhow, my fireplace blower had a similar problem... no matter how much lube I put on it, it still requires a little assistance to get moving every now and again.

Long story short... lube it. What's the worst thing that can happen, that you break it?

[Stormin Mormon]

Small chance it's a bad run capacitor. But, it's also very likely to be a bad motor. Call a furnace repair company before you get any colder.