Condenser Fan Question

[JimVonBaden]

My AC condenser fan, the one on the outside unit, is hanging up when it tries to kick in. If I bang on it hard and spin it I can get it to go, and then it runs fine, until it kicks off again. If it is not trying to run it spins very freely. When it tries to run it makes a loud buzzing noise and moves a bit then hangs up. After a few minutes of trying it stops trying for about 3 minutes, then tries again.

Does this sound more like the fan motor, or the capacitor?

Thanks,

 

[samss]

Sounds like the run capacitor.

 

[rkevins]

replace it, the start winding is most likely going out

 

[98ssuck]

Take a dmm out to the unit and test the motor windings and the capacitor. Very easy to do.

 

[JimVonBaden]

replace it, the start winding is most likely going out

It being the fan motor or the condenser? Big difference in price.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Take a dmm out to the unit and test the motor windings and the capacitor. Very easy to do.

Do you have a link to the test process?

 

[rkevins]

It being the fan motor or the condenser? Big difference in price.

replace the fan motor and capacitor most are less than $100

 

[Marctrees]

Caps are $10- $20 on the net, and at Amazon.

If you have a nearby HVAC supply house, bring the old one there.

You may see bulging on the top of your old cap.

Start with that.

The ONLY info you need is the 2 different mfd values and voltage rating.

Be aware of the voltage danger if the cap is not discharged. Marc

 

[JimVonBaden]

replace the fan motor and capacitor most are less than $100

I replaced the capacitor and the fan started, but it is rattling like crazy. I took it apart and found the bearings bad. I pumped it full of grease, but it is still noisy. I need a new motor now. Any idea how to get one ASAP? The info is here.

5kcp39mfac15as

 

[JimVonBaden]

Ordered one from Grainger for $155, plus another new capacitor just to be sure. I will pick it up this afternoon and install it.

 

[lazer50]

Let us know if your repair works

 

[JimVonBaden]

Fixed. New capacitor and a new motor, $160. Took me about an hour, most of that figuring out the different wiring from the generic motor.

 

[Marctrees]

Great to hear, thanks for reporting the end result. Marc

 

[JimVonBaden]

Typically the capacitor just goes bad, but in this case I would bet you are right.

The bearings were so bad on the motor that I could pull on the shaft and it would move over half an inch. The new one wouldn't move at all.