Furnace Blower motor

Topic: Furnace Blower motor (Read 1184 times) previous topic - next topic

Furnace Blower motor

January 20, 2014, 09:22:30 pm

When my furnace come on for the first time after not being on for several days, I get a second or 2 of bearing noise when the blower starts usually just the first time. M\
My question is there a way to lubricate the bearing in the blower without removing the furnace.
Thanks.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #1 – January 20, 2014, 09:35:12 pm

Yes, you can use a light, non-detergent oil such as sewing machine oil.

BTW, they are just bushings, not bearings. Put 2 drops on either end of the motor shaft and let it wick in.

Brett

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #2 – January 20, 2014, 09:38:31 pm

Brett,

Will 3 n 1 oil work?, no sewing machine oil guess I can find a sewing shop.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #3 – January 20, 2014, 09:45:34 pm

Brett,
Would I access the blower wheel from the kitchen. I havent looked but figured you would know how to best access the blower.
Thanks.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #4 – January 21, 2014, 08:42:52 am

NO, 3 in 1 oil will not work well-- it increases in viscosity as the light/short hydrocarbon chains evaporate. Any fabric shop, craft shop, etc should have sewing machine oil.

With the Atwood furnace, the motor is accessed from the outside access panel. Suburbans from the inside, though I have not taken apart a Suburban.

Brett

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #5 – January 21, 2014, 10:48:07 am

Thanks Brett, on my list.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #6 – January 21, 2014, 10:56:42 am

Jerry, I have some penetrating oil that I used, Stoddard Solvent and Kerosene probably. Its been a couple years since I did mine, and you are welcome to use it. That little bottle would service every furnace in the FT's on this forum. It don't take much. The idea is to get the lubricant into the pads at the bushing. What I did was drill a small hole ( 1/16 or less ) Soak it a couple times and put it back together..
Gary B

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #7 – January 21, 2014, 06:34:18 pm

I replaced blower motor outside. Open furnace inspection door and pull down plastic cover.

Larry Bradley
1998 u 270

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #8 – January 22, 2014, 11:21:24 am

Larry,
Thanks for the help.
Jerry

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #9 – January 23, 2014, 11:51:37 pm

I use Tri-Flow. Light carrier gets into tight spaces and leaves heavier oil when it evaporates. Good stuff!

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #10 – January 24, 2014, 10:45:11 am

As others have said the right stuff is critical. There's oil sold in a squeeze bottle with a flexible tube on the end of it, contains Turbine Oil. Available at any industrial supply place.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #11 – January 24, 2014, 02:31:30 pm

So do you have to take the furnace out and remove the motor to lubricate it? Our back furnace has a brief squeal when it starts up? If it has to be removed, any advise would be welcome.... e.g., how to get the ducts off, etc.

George

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #12 – January 24, 2014, 02:34:54 pm

George, mine started squeekin just last week, lasts for 1-3 seconds.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #13 – January 24, 2014, 02:54:13 pm

George, Some info on Hydroflame Furnace.
Atwood Hydroflame Furnace UPDATE
Yes, You have to remove motor. Not simple, here are major steps.
Open Outer door
Remove plastic cover
Loosen wingnut to left of exhaust tube.
Pull exhaust tube out, it is just pushed into plenum, probably rusty but keep trying, just wiggle straight out..
Remove screws holding motor shroud, you will need a long nut driver to reach one in back..
Partially remove motor, then use a long shank Allen wrench to loosen blower cage from motor shaft.
Remove motor.
Also , as you go you will have to disconnect the various wiring connectors, label them so you know how to replace them.
If you need to give me a call, and no I am no expert, Gary O showed me how to do it.
Gary B

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #14 – January 24, 2014, 02:58:49 pm

You can lube it without completely removing it. Follow Gary's instructions until you access the motor. Put a couple of drops on each shaft next to the motor and some will wick in.

Gary's drilling oiling hole at each end is probably an excellent idea, but I have not done it and so can't comment.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #15 – January 24, 2014, 03:16:45 pm

Thanks Gary and Brett. Is Gary O Gary Omel?

George

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #16 – January 24, 2014, 05:05:44 pm

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – January 24, 2014, 10:45:11 am

As others have said the right stuff is critical. There's oil sold in a squeeze bottle with a flexible tube on the end of it, contains Turbine Oil. Available at any industrial supply place.

Agree with Chuck,

I use one all the time in my shop. The long tube makes it easy to get those hard to reach places where fingers shouldn't go if your oiling something that's running with a lot of moving parts .... in my case a printing press. 461354 ZOOM SPOUT TURBINE OIL - Amazon.com

Jerry aka Murph

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #17 – January 24, 2014, 07:07:16 pm

George, Yep Gary O is that one.
Gary B

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #18 – January 24, 2014, 07:21:55 pm

Most Ace Hardware stores carry the turbine oil.

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #19 – January 24, 2014, 08:17:24 pm

To take off the ducts you have to use the correct words, ie %^&%$# ^&*(B ) @#!$, not necessarily in that order. So don't go that far if there is no need.

Roland

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #20 – January 24, 2014, 09:05:21 pm

WAs that two #'s or three ?

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #21 – January 25, 2014, 08:45:14 am

Quote from: Roland Begin – January 24, 2014, 08:17:24 pm

To take off the ducts you have to use the correct words, ie %^&%$# ^&*(B ) @#!$, not necessarily in that order. So don't go that far if there is no need.

Quote from: Bill Chaplin – January 24, 2014, 09:05:21 pm

WAs that two #'s or three ?

three ### during duct removal and Four #### when reinstalling ducts to rear furnace housing!

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #22 – January 25, 2014, 08:47:45 am

Guess I missed something, no need to remove any ducts to take motor out and service. Next time I will try the words and see if they help.
Gary B

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #23 – January 25, 2014, 09:28:03 am

Quote from: Gary Bouland – January 25, 2014, 08:47:45 am

Guess I missed something, no need to remove any ducts to take motor out and service. Next time I will try the words and see if they help.
Gary B

Gary,

I do wish I had known or checked Foreforums when the rear furnace motor started squealing!

A tech at local repair shop working on a furnace problem for a neighbor camped next to me, told me you could not oil the motor when I mentioned the squealing noise and that the motor needed replacement. To remove the motor the whole furnace needed to be taken out of the coach. I decided to do the job which included removing and reinstalling air ducts by putting my arms through the vent holes located outside of closet floor area in bathroom. Thus the four "####"!.
I then brought the entire Atwood Furnace to the Local Shop and they replaced the motor. The new motor cost ~ $75 and their labor to replce in the furnace another $75.

My total labor time removing and re-installing furnace about 4 hours, approximately three of those hours were reconnecting the ducts!!!

Furnace model number: 8516-IV-DCLP; 16,000 BTU and as mentioned the motor did not have any holes for lubrication so I was satisfied I had done the correct thing till I read this post....

Re: Furnace Blower motor

Reply #24 – January 25, 2014, 10:39:08 am

Tony, All that labor will probably get you out of purgatory a few minutes early, sorry you went to all that trouble BUT you now have a furnace that will function for another dozen years.
Gary B

Affiliate Notice