Forum Discussion

RoadHogg's avatar
RoadHogg
Explorer
Nov 11, 2015

Atwood 7916-II 16,000 BTU Furnace Motor

In my newly acquired 1998 Great West Van class B motorhome, there's an Atwood 7916-II 16,000 BTU Furnace. We used the furnace a few times when we stayed in the motorhome in early October. The furnace seemed to work just fine but the motor screamed like crazy.

I just took the furnace out and removed the motor. The motor is one of those crimped sealed up motors so I am reluctant to disassemble the motor to service the bearings. In my experience in doing this kind of thing, it's hard to lubricate those bearings well enough so as to effect a very long lasting repair.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever serviced a furnace motor and can advise me on the availability of parts for these. I found a manual online with a parts breakdown so I'm thinking a call to the RV service store tomorrow might be in order. I can't call today being it's November 11.

I assembled the furnace on the bench and connected it to a battery and power supply...the motor has been running full tilt for at least five minutes now and it sounds fine. I was able to dribble some ZEP-45 down the shaft so I think some lube likely got into the bearing (which is really just a bushing in these).

My conundrum is, if I reinstall the furnace now, it might just run long enough to let the weather get REALLY cold here (-30C or colder in the winter) and then necessitate removing the furnace again to install a new motor...like I "should have" done in the first place.

I think I know the answer but, is there anyone who has ever serviced one of these motors successfully?
Class B
  • PSW's avatar
    PSW
    Explorer
    Nov 29, 2015
    RoadHogg, good for you!

    I have been "holding onto stuff like that" for fifty years, moved some of it three times over that half century and (well, most of the time) have not forgotten what the heck it ever fit or was used for in the first place :). My accumulation of parts, screws, bolts, pieces of motor, wire, etc seems to know no bounds. We love our stuff don't we? I wouldn't take for a box of it, not cash or gold. Sometimes I just pull down a box on a winter's evening and think back about where, when and the real fun is that which I have not the foggiest clue where, when and why. Good for you I say!!!

    Paul
  • RoadHogg's avatar
    RoadHogg
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2015
    Follow-up: New blower motor arrived yesterday. Installed motor in furnace, installed furnace in motorhome, tested for a good 20 minutes...runs good, blows heat, what more can a guy ask for?

    Put the used, still operational, motor in the box and labeled it. I usually hold onto stuff like this as spare parts.
  • RoadHogg's avatar
    RoadHogg
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2015
    PSW wrote:
    RoadHogg wrote: I did not order the motor, partly because I didn't care for his argumentative demeanor, which I've experienced before.

    I have had that experience more than one time. I always seem to get a guy that is offended that I ask questions about something, even though I do it very politely. Candidly, I very seldom buy anything for my RV locally. With Amazon and other sources around who needs rudeness from people that don't know what they are talking about? Try calling PPL Motorhomes in Houston. I have always found them helpful and polite. They are a consignment dealer, I think the biggest in North America. They sell more than 200 units a month and are consignment only along with parts. I sold my Roadtrek 210P through them year before last and they were about as professional a bunch as I have dealt with on anything in a long time. I have bought parts and other stuff from them by phone and internet for years.

    Paul


    Thanks for the tip, Paul. I'll keep them in mind. The Dollar difference + international shipping etc only add to my costs so it's rarely an option.

    I did call the "other" major RV place in Winnipeg and I found the parts person FAR more pleasant to deal with. His price was a bit better than the rude guy and he gave me a delivery time of "tomorrow" which was nice.

    Still not happy with $150 or so (when I know motors of this type should sell for well under $50) I searched with the information I had. I found a motor on Amazon.com..it's specifically for my furnace, not a knock-off. This is still USD and international shipping but, I had previously been given a $100 Amazon gift card so, that paid for my new furnace motor. It should be here in a week or two.
  • PSW's avatar
    PSW
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2015
    RoadHogg wrote: I did not order the motor, partly because I didn't care for his argumentative demeanor, which I've experienced before.

    I have had that experience more than one time. I always seem to get a guy that is offended that I ask questions about something, even though I do it very politely. Candidly, I very seldom buy anything for my RV locally. With Amazon and other sources around who needs rudeness from people that don't know what they are talking about? Try calling PPL Motorhomes in Houston. I have always found them helpful and polite. They are a consignment dealer, I think the biggest in North America. They sell more than 200 units a month and are consignment only along with parts. I sold my Roadtrek 210P through them year before last and they were about as professional a bunch as I have dealt with on anything in a long time. I have bought parts and other stuff from them by phone and internet for years.

    Paul
  • RoadHogg's avatar
    RoadHogg
    Explorer
    Nov 12, 2015
    So I ran that motor, in the furnace with the fans attached, for a couple hours yesterday and it was fine. I'm not confident this is a long term fix and I'd still like to replace the motor. I called a local RV service place and the parts guy quoted me $165 for a new motor. I felt that was a bit stiff.

    I did not order the motor, partly because I didn't care for his argumentative demeanor, which I've experienced before.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Nov 11, 2015
    As it gets colder you will be glad you installed a new motor. I tried oiling worked for about 2 months. Just long enough to get cold.
    DO not get a generic replacement on EBAY as the one I bought interferes with TV when TV is on 12 volt
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2015
    Not familiar with your particular model .. lubing it is what many people do when they hear squeal. Most motors aren't very expensive and given the age you might consider buying a new one if you can afford it.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 23, 2025