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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / February 2008AC problem
Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my RV's AC. At the beginning of last summer I turned on my AC to find it didn't work. After a little investigation, I found the squirrel cage/fan not turning. I tried to move it and it wouldn't move, it was froze up. With a little coaching I got it to move freely and the AC worked flawlessly thru summer. I asked a person at a dealer and he said I needed a new motor. I also emailed a letter to Duo-therm to see if they have had this problem before. They said I needed a new motor also. I went out yesterday to start my engine and generator to move oil around like I do about once a month in the winter. I thought I would try the AC. Again the fan was stuck. Again I freed it up and it worked great. The motor runs fine. I think the shaft grease/oil just gets dried out or the Duo-therm company used the wrong oil/grease adn won't admit it. Also, a friend had the same problem on a BRAND NEW Monaco. What do you think? Has anybody else had this problem? Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) REPLY: Glad you got it going again Hank. Im in the hvac trade and i run into this all the time. On some non oilable motors, it is possible to run some oil down the shaft of the motor so it at least reaches the one bearing. It often prolongs the operation of the motor quite a bit. Dave. >> Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my >> RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > REPLY: Glad you got it going again Hank. Im in the hvac trade and i > run into this all the time. Ask alt.hvac posters to verify his credentials. "Hack" was the word used I remember. He's a troll and a liar:. > On some non oilable motors, it is > possible to run some oil down the shaft of the motor so it at least > reaches the one bearing. It often prolongs the operation of the motor > quite a bit. Dave. Paraphrased: Oil a non-oilable motor. > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) Step One is to forget everything you hear from dealer service "techs". The RV industry is so depressed, and has been for years now, dealers can afford to hire two categories of "techs": horrible and clueless. The same goes for many customer service reps as well. If freeing up the shaft makes the AC run fine, obviously the problem isn't the motor. Relube it with some heavy duty lithium grease and it should be good to go. > If freeing up the shaft makes the AC run fine, obviously the problem > isn't the motor. Relube it with some heavy duty lithium grease and > it > should be good to go. I'd think that depends on the shaft bearings/bushings??? Tom J > > If freeing up the shaft makes the AC run fine, obviously the problem > > isn't the motor. Relube it with some heavy duty lithium grease and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Tom J Most are called.."Sealed for life" bearings anymore. Like my deal dad used to say..."as long as you don't live too long.." :-) In article <e8453483-0dc9-4ba7-8b36-bd01dc40f4c9 @n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>, ninebal310@aol.com says... > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) I had this issue with the A/C in my 2004 Cougar. Year 1: No issues. Year 2: Fan stuck but was able to get it operational and worked fine during the season. Year 3: Fan froze and had to be replaced. Thank goodness for extended warranty. Recouped 1/3 cost in that one incident. Year 4: Have run the fan a couple of times with no issues. I need to hook it up to power again to make sure it is still Ok before the season starts. > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > RV's AC. im also in the hvac industry (http://BighornRefrigeration.com) fwiw. you could have a bad motor or a bad capacitor. without the capability of testing them properly, spend the $50 and replace them both. eventually its not going to start for you and it will most likely be on an otherwise great vacation where the last problem you want to deal with is replacing a fan motor.  SignatureNathan In Montana http://BighornTactical.com http://ConcealedCarryForum.com http://1911Talk.com http://HiPowerTalk.com http://GlockCarry.com http://p99sw99.com http://PPStalk.com http://P7talk.com Hank, While both Illbe and Nathan were not wrong, I would advice that you look carefully at the motor on the next warm day (<30?). This has been a joke of mine for years. Most of these motors have oil feeds. If you look at the two end castings (called end bells in the electric machine trade) you will probably find a little plugged hole or capped nipple. That is were the oil goes in. On many window (miniture for me) units there is a tag in (used to be green for GE and yellow for Emerson) that says "Oil motor bearing twice yearly with SAE 10 ND (Non Detergent) oil.) How many people do you think take out the unit out of the window and remove the 50 sheet metal screws twice a year to do that. If you find these, then try to find some oil. Engine oils will not do and I don't feel like writing long enough to explain why. You didn't say how old the unit is, but that almost doesn't matter. Some may say that it could be the capacitor that goes with the fan motor, but by your description, it is more likely gunned up bearings. New oil will fix that. Good Luck Matt Colie > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) > SNIP > > Yes, I know it is winter here in Ohio, but I have a problem with my > > RV's AC. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > > > Hank <~~~uses the AC in 17 degrees weather :-) The bearings are most likely bronze "oil impregnated" sleeves. The bronze has some sort of lube in it that releases as the bearing warms. When it sits, like over the winter, they dry out. Spinning the shaft breaks it loose and running it lubes it up. That said, it is going to need replacing eventually but, I have run one for more than three seasons just by getting it turning and then hitting the outside of the bearing with a few drops of 3 in 1 oil. 3 in 1 penetrates (wicks) into the bearing lubing it for the season. Of course, YMMV. SignatureMatt Delete nospam for email "Where did you say we are going again, Dear?" On Feb 4, 1:16�pm, HD Matt <nospammb...@multiprintinc.comnospam> wrote: > The bearings are most likely bronze "oil impregnated" sleeves. The > bronze has some sort of lube in it that releases as the bearing warms. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Delete nospam for email > "Where did you say we are going again, Dear?"- Thanks for the info. I found out saturday that they do have sleeves and not bearings. I'll just run it more often to "lube" the sleeves. I'll also do as you say and use a little 3in1. Hank <~~~got the cheap model, but aren't they all? :-) On Feb 4, 1:16?pm, HD Matt <nospammb...@multiprintinc.comnospam> wrote: > The bearings are most likely bronze "oil impregnated" sleeves. The > bronze has some sort of lube in it that releases as the bearing warms. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Delete nospam for email > "Where did you say we are going again, Dear?"- }}Thanks for the info. I found out saturday that they do have sleeves and not bearings. I'll just run it more often to "lube" the sleeves. I'll also do as you say and use a little 3in1. Hank <~~~got the cheap model, but aren't they all? :-) {{ DO NOT USE 3in1 it is NOT an effective lubricant for this application as it contains paraffin. As a last ditch on such problems I've used air tool oil. I usually apply it twice a year occasionally three times a year. The bearing eventually give up but typically not for several years. On Feb 4, 1:16?pm, HD Matt <nospammb...@multiprintinc.comnospam> wrote: > The bearings are most likely bronze "oil impregnated" sleeves. The > bronze has some sort of lube in it that releases as the bearing warms. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the outside of the bearing with a few drops of 3 in 1 oil. 3 in 1 > penetrates (wicks) into the bearing lubing it for the season. My 10-year-old A/C wouldn't start up after sitting for a period of time. I took a stick and moved the squirrel cage a little and it started up, but sounded like it was hitting something at first. I thought maybe the limb that fell on the trailer might have bent the housing to where it was hitting fan, so I took off the cover and started checking clearances. Nothing wrong. Turned out the bushings were so badly worn that when the fan stopped, it settled against the housing. Once started it ran fine. New motor solved the problem for less than $100. Paul Johnson On Feb 5, 9:48�am, "Paul and Karen Johnson" <thejohns...@frontiernet.net> wrote: > My 10-year-old A/C wouldn't start up after sitting for a period of time. �I > took a stick and moved the squirrel cage a little and it started up, but [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > motor solved the problem for less than $100. > Paul Johnson I am just cheap enough that I will keep it turning until I absolutely have to replace it. Beside, $100 is half a tank of gas. :-) Hank <~~~expert saver "Hustlin' Hank" }I am just cheap enough that I will keep it turning until I absolutely }have to replace it. Beside, $100 is half a tank of gas. :-) Small tank? > "Hustlin' Hank" > > }I am just cheap enough that I will keep it turning until I absolutely > }have to replace it. Beside, $100 is half a tank of gas. :-) > > Small tank? LOL....I filled my f150 up yesterday with cheap gas that was 2.85 per gal. I was on a quarter tank. $53.37. And that was CHEAP! Hank <~~~has small everything >Thanks for the info. I found out saturday that they do have sleeves >and not bearings. I'll just run it more often to "lube" the sleeves. >I'll also do as you say and use a little 3in1. No!!! Not that multipurpose sewing machine stuff! Use 3-in-One SAE 20 Motor oil!! or some other SAE 20 non-detergent oil. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00065VGUC/ref=nosim/affsoftware2-20 That's what we use on our central furnace/AC blower motor; and it only takes 3 drops per year. You are going to have to orient the motor vertically so the oil will run down the shaft into the bearing. Running the motor will help work the oil into the bearing. If there is some kind of rubber plug on the rear bearing housing, it could probably do with a little as well. If not, you will need to drill a tiny hole to admit the oil. |
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