| Wood stove blower stopped working Took out the wood stove blower to clean it yesterday. It was FILTHY and rattling like an old diesel truck. The stove is an Avalon Olympic from Travis industries.
Didn't use any water, just the shop vac and some paper towels.
Before I put it back in, I tested it and it worked fine.
Hooked it back up, waited for the stove to warm up, nothing.
Took it back out, the thermodisc had continuity, the plug to the motor/switch is getting voltage but when I bridge it, nothing happens.
I would have called the stove place but it's out of warranty and they likely would have just ordered a new blower anyway which is my last resort.
It's a PITA to disassemble the thing because it's all riveted together, so it's basically a throwaway.
Any helpful suggestions? |
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 John97Over The Hills And Far AwayPremium
join:2000-11-14
Southampton, PA | Electrical parts cleaner?
Maybe try cleaning it up with something like this:
»www.amazon.com/CRC-Lectra-Motive···03NTS890
Might be worth a try since it seems it's a $200-$300 part and they seem to have a price-fixing thing going on. All the places online that carry it say they can only sell to local customers.
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So put me on a highway, and show me a sign.
And take it to the limit one more time... |
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| reply to fifty nine
an electric motor repair shop. considering the cost of a new one $200 which is crazy, they use a motor similar to one in an electric can opener. you can have it repaired for much less. |
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| Looks like the variable speed control is at fault. Bypassed it and the motor works. But I'm going to build something in a metal box with a 2A fuse so no fan for now. |
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Reviews:
 ·Eastlink Cable
| reply to fifty nine
For the last 5 years I have figured I would scrap my fan for the same reason as yours.
I am too lazy to order a new one.
So 3 times a year, I take it out, pour a kettle of almost boiling water on it, spray some Fantastic cleaner on it, then rinse it off under the hot water laundry sink.
When it is almost dry I put a few drops of any old oil on the shaft, let it run down into the bearing. (an hour or so goes by, chop some wood or something waiting)
Then lean it the other way and let some oil run down the shaft into the other bearing.
So far, for the wood stove, that makes 15 or so NOT BY THE BOOK cleanings, no problem!
Same worked for one time with a bathroom fan.
Once on a second bathroom fan, but that was IT! Once, the motor was open circuit, no go-ie roundie roundie!
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 tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | When I have a seized motor/bearing, I inject it with ATF. have saved many motors this way..
Getting a good hypo syringe can be a task tho.. Luckily my sister is an RN, I got a whole box for a few bux.
Even if the motor is 'maintenance free' (ie.. sealed bearings), you can still give her a shot of ATF from time to time.. cant hurt.
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5
 ·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| said by tp0d:When I have a seized motor/bearing, I inject it with ATF. have saved many motors this way.
Interesting idea - is ATF automatic transmission fluid or something else?
/tom |
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tp0dyabbazooiePremium
join:2001-02-13
Carnegie, PA
kudos:2 | yep regular ATF... i think i`m using ATF+4, as I had some extra from my truck..
-j
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if it aint broke, tweak it!!
currently on FiOS (kick aZZ!) |
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John97Over The Hills And Far AwayPremium
join:2000-11-14
Southampton, PA | I have done something similar with a seized fan in a server power supply. A year later, the fan is still working, and nice and quiet.
--
So put me on a highway, and show me a sign.
And take it to the limit one more time... |
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Reviews:
·Eastlink Cable
| reply to tp0d
One of my professions is licensed Millwright. I just started doing that 25 years ago, so just a greeny at that.
ATF (dextron 2) or equivalent is probably the best for almost anything but eating and drinking light oil on the market, if you do not know the "right" oil to put in it.
It is a....
Hydraulic oil (specified in small and large hydraulic setups, including my 10,000 psi lifting and pulling equipment)
(Hydraulics must be compatible with seals, many types of pumps, cylinders and rotary actuators)
High and low speed ball and needle bearing oil.
Light low friction gear oil.
Bushing bearing oil.
There are anti-foam additives in there.
There are anti-moisture additives.
I will blend ATF with other oils solvents and other additives to temporary or permanently modify behavior of ATF
Did I say any thing about ATF's nice red color?
For stuff around the house that might drip on things or be put in small child's mouth, Olive Oil or Canola Oil make good light lubricants.
Vaseline is good for less regularly maintained home use items. |
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| reply to tp0d
Did a double post? I guess? Maybe I was drinking some of that red oil or something. |
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| reply to kayak2003
said by kayak2003:For the last 5 years I have figured I would scrap my fan for the same reason as yours.
I am too lazy to order a new one.
So 3 times a year, I take it out, pour a kettle of almost boiling water on it, spray some Fantastic cleaner on it, then rinse it off under the hot water laundry sink.
When it is almost dry I put a few drops of any old oil on the shaft, let it run down into the bearing. (an hour or so goes by, chop some wood or something waiting)
Then lean it the other way and let some oil run down the shaft into the other bearing.
So far, for the wood stove, that makes 15 or so NOT BY THE BOOK cleanings, no problem!
Same worked for one time with a bathroom fan.
Once on a second bathroom fan, but that was IT! Once, the motor was open circuit, no go-ie roundie roundie!
if you apply power to a motor that is not quite totally dry, that can degrade the windings, and it can short out, then open up. the water will find any microscopic cracks in the insulation. |
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Reviews:
·Eastlink Cable
| 
Only 2 of my air movers |
There is different approaches that I take, depending upon the value of the equipment and the value of my time.
Work around home, I do for fun, at less than slave labor rates. A slave at least has his or her meals payed for by the boss.
Work work ... I only bring home $80/hour including my travel time.
There are different expectations from that "boss" (both bosses the same boss)
(wana make a bet iknow misses that one too? 
Most of you folks have to pay $ for blower motors. I get them from scrap bins like this one.
Both the white one and the bigger one I cleaned with the electric pressure washer, oddly enough, they still work.
On a job site, I would not do this!
On a job site I would chuck them out. |
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 macsierraBaby NewfoundlandPremium
join:2003-11-30
Minden, NV
·Charter
| reply to fifty nine
Re: Wood stove blower stopped working said by fifty nine:Took out the wood stove blower to clean it yesterday. It was FILTHY and rattling like an old diesel truck. The stove is an Avalon Olympic from Travis industries.
I would have called the stove place but it's out of warranty and they likely would have just ordered a new blower anyway which is my last resort.
It's a PITA to disassemble the thing because it's all riveted together, so it's basically a throwaway.
Don't throw it away yet. They used to put oiler tubes on small sleeve bearing motors but if oiled they would last forever sooo, with bearing oil tubes the stove manufactures would never sell any motors..
My brother works in an electric motor shop and the ole boy that owns the place immerses the little riveted sealed sleeve bearing motors in Zoom oil completely. That oil is so pure with no additives that it doesn't eat up the winding insulation or do other damage to the internals of the motor. He leaves it immersed for a day or so and then blow dries it out afterward and viola, good as new.. He sez you can even use Zoom oil on your dinner salad.. Haven't tried that yet tho.. The object is to get the oil to soak into the sintered bronze or iron bearing.
I run two pellet stoves and the combustion blower motors have a habit of drying out the sleeve bearings because of the hot environment they operate in. I got tired of paying $175 a pop for the new ball bearing motors that are noisy as hell. Using the Zoom oil treatment annually I'm back to the original sleeve bearing motors that are quiet and move ample air to burn the pellets clean.
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Jimmy Hoffa’s dad was a shovel-ready job.
I was Anti-Obama before it was cool!
Why? Saul Alinsky was also a community organizer..
Will Rodgers never met Harry Reid.. |
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