RV A/C question

[Kachina26]

After 10 years of service, the blower motor for the roof air conditioner, started to make a squealing noise from the bearing. I am replacing the motor and had intended to reuse both fans. The squirrel cage fan has what looks to be a notch cut out of it For someone to get an Allen wrench to the retaining nut. I don’t think it was made like this from the factory, but rather someone knocked it to allow access. I wonder if the resulting balance issue did not cause the premature failure. Thinking about it though, I don’t know that I call 10 years premature. Do I use the old squirrel cage or just buy a new one?

 

[ltbaney1]

if it worked for 10 years to your satisfaction. i would say put it back together using that squirell cage.

 

[lbhsbz]

cut the same amount of blade off the other side and it will be in balance again.

 

[TrollerDave]

After 10 years of service, the blower motor for the roof air conditioner, started to make a squealing noise from the bearing. I am replacing the motor and had intended to reuse both fans. The squirrel cage fan has what looks to be a notch cut out of it For someone to get an Allen wrench to the retaining nut. I don’t think it was made like this from the factory, but rather someone knocked it to allow access. I wonder if the resulting balance issue did not cause the premature failure. Thinking about it though, I don’t know that I call 10 years premature. Do I use the old squirrel cage or just buy a new one?
View attachment 1497088 View attachment 1497088

I haven’t worked on one in years, but if I remember correctly, there use to be a round spring clip that held the wheel in place on the shaft. If it had a set screw, sometimes there was an arc shaped hole in the blade. These were DuoTherm Dometic units, that were dual shaft, one for the blower and one for the condenser.
I don’t think it would have caused the motor to fail. Was there a lot of vibration?

 

[ltbaney1]

cut the same amount of blade off the other side and it will be in balance again.

that thought crossed my mind as well, but im also the type who will mess with something that works until it breaks. i say it worked for 10 years atleast, replace bearing re use squirell cage and enjoy.

 

[WYRD]

Throw it away and buy a new RV

 

[90 Laveycraft]

Is that a plastic impeller? If so, balance is not your issue on re use-its how brittle the plastic is...

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Put it on a screw driver or shaft or some sort of appropriate size and spin it and see if it stops smoothly or jostles back and forth to find balance. The crescent shape was likely from the factory. I've seen it before on the small wheels like that and if so, it was balanced accordingly.

 

[Kachina26]

I haven’t worked on one in years, but if I remember correctly, there use to be a round spring clip that held the wheel in place on the shaft. If it had a set screw, sometimes there was an arc shaped hole in the blade. These were DuoTherm Dometic units, that were dual shaft, one for the blower and one for the condenser.
I don’t think it would have caused the motor to fail. Was there a lot of vibration?

If it were arc shaped, I wouldn't have even gave it a second thought. There was no vibration and really, the bearing was just a little noisy. I didn't want a failure in the middle of a trip.

Is that a plastic impeller? If so, balance is not your issue on re use-its how brittle the plastic is...

The impeller is quite flexible. I was really expecting it to be brittle. I was an automotive tech in a past life. I've done lots of these on cars.

Put it on a screw driver or shaft or some sort of appropriate size and spin it and see if it stops smoothly or jostles back and forth to find balance. The crescent shape was likely from the factory. I've seen it before on the small wheels like that and if so, it was balanced accordingly.

I see plastic "spikes" on the opposite side, I think they may be to offset the missing material.

I'm gonna run it.