AC blower motor bearing seizing!!!

[DOTLDaddy]

Arggggg!!!:M

This happened once last year, and it just happened again. I have a 15,000 btu Coleman Mach air conditioner in my KZ Spree. When the AC kicks on, the blower motor connected to the squirrel cage fan binds up and won't turn. It just sits there and hums . . . not good. I can just manage to spray WD40 on the bearing next to the squirrel cage when I take off the access panel inside the trailer, and that will eventually free it up enough to function.

Long story short, has anyone else had this problem? Can a dealer just replace the bearing, or are they gonna say I need a whole new AC unit? The AC works great when the blower motor functions, and blows very cold air.

[j-d]

Yeah, Mex, I really thought having Turbine Oil on board would assure victory. Even after I had dismantled that motor, washed and crocus clothed the bushings, the shaft would have a black goop on it after a few hours' running. If I blunder into a bearing house I'll see if I can get new bushings. I'm used to them being "bronze" but these were "iron" - Gray and Magnetic.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

X-2 JD! Turbine oil is great stuff. Super refined so it does not oxidize and gum like many other lubricants. I've not encountered a better lubricant for light load bushings especially oilite type.

[wa8yxm]

Never had it with a big motor but with smaller fans.. All the time.

[j-d]

My Blower Motor Thread where you can see all the work I went to and how many times I was warned.
Contains a link to the motor I ordered, based on info on the FASCO motor.

[j-d]

Ah, the Bearing Issue.
I've fixed lots of motors. Fans, starters, power tools... So, when the blower motor in our Coleman Mach started to seize (should say Failed to Start Because it was Seized...) I got up there with the Zoom Spout Turbine Oil and dripped some on the shaft. That has never not worked. OOPS, not this time. WD-40 actually got it going. So I thought OK, I'll now add some Turbine Oil now that it's free. OK. For a few hours. Back to the same thing. I inquired here and found where an OP had replaced the sleeve bearings (simple bushings) in his with Ball Bearings. Decided not to do that since BBs can be noisy and our A/C was noisy enough. Last four days of the camping trip, I was up on the roof morning and night. Got home took it all apart, cleaned everything, bench tested it in the house. Reassembled on the RV. Same thing after a day. One of the guys here said the bearings get contaminated and really can't be cleaned. They're porous and the gook keeps seeping out. I surrendered and ordered a new motor. Had it sent to the next campground and changed it there. OK since. So, you may get lucky. Your bearings may not be as fouled. You may find a bearing house that has those sleeves, and you'll also need the felt that the oil soaks into to keep the bearings wet. You'll have to drill rivets out and fasten with cap screws and nuts. It can be done. I gave up. Sometimes the Dragon Wins.

[joebedford]

On our old rig, I kept a thin stick near the AC vent to push the squirrel cage. One little shove and it was good until the next time I let it sit for a few days.

[westend]

WD-40 is coconut oil and petroleum solvent. I use it to displace water on sparkplugs and as a cutting lubricant when cutting aluminum.

I would try some light oil o loosen the bushing and shaft, followed by grease if you can get it in there.

[havasu]

Had this problem on my old Monaco. It had an oiler located on the bearing that was visible after removing the shroud. Use a thin oil to fill the housing which had a piece of felt inside.

On the newer AC the oiler wasn't there (cost saving???) and so I ordered a replacement fan unit from eBay - took about 30 minutes to replace. Hardest part is removing the squirrel cage fan - there is a cutout in one of the blades that you insert a long thin blade into to undo the screw that holds it in place.

[Ozlander]

WD-40 will evaporate leaving the shaft dry. You need to use some light oil.

[ScottG]

I have the problem almost every year in the spring. I just go up top and force the shaft to turn while using some oil to lube it. Been doing this for nearly ten years and it still works fine after freeing it up.
You may wan't to use something other than WD-40 - which is a lousy lubricant and wont last (it's not even a lube really).