Draft-Inducer Motor Assembly

[dwall174]

Not really a garage related issue!
But I have a small work area in my basement that's close to my furnace. Being fairly close to the furnace, I'm more aware of any noises coming from the furnace.

I have a Carrier 58HDX060 furnace that's about 12 years old, I replaced the draft-inducer motor assembly about two-years ago & it's starting to make a grinding/winning noise like it did just before it seized-up last time.

I'm wondering if there's a way to lubricate the sleeve bushings in a draft-inducer motor assembly.
The replacement blower unit came as a assembly and there's no visible oil caps or ports.
It appears as though I may be able to remove the outer plastic motor cover/housing without disassembling the complete draft-inducer assembly, but I'm not really sure if there's any oil ports or a way to lubricate anything?

Doug

 

[PoorUB]

but I'm not really sure if there's any oil ports or a way to lubricate anything?

I have never seen and inducer that was intended to re-lube the bearings. And I have replaced quite a few.
Most inducers will last the life of the furnace.

 

[dwall174]

I have never seen and inducer that was intended to re-lube the bearings.

Judging by the old one & the replacement, I tend to agree with them not being designed to be oiled/lubed!

Most inducers will last the life of the furnace.

The original one made it just past the warranty!

As for the replacement I would have thought it would last longer than two years?

 

[PoorUB]

Judging by the old one & the replacement, I tend to agree with them not being designed to be oiled/lubed!

The original one made it just past the warranty!

As for the replacement I would have thought it would last longer than two years?

Yes, you are having rotten luck on inducers!

My previous furnace I never changed the inducer. My current furnace I replaced the inducer when the furnace was about ten years old, about five years ago.

 

[The Cobbler]

I lubed one a few years back that was ceased in a unit heater . the motor case was crimped so I had to twist the crimps to get the motor apart. buffed the shaft, blew the motor out with air , added lube to the felt pad and smeared the shaft . it's still going today

 

[Dagny]

Does it say jackel on it? the originals sucked but the replacement seemed to fare better.

 

[dwall174]

Does it say jackel on it?

The blower housing has this label on it.

And the motor cover has this label on it.

Doug

 

[dwall174]

I removed the plastic motor cover and as I figured there is no way to add any oil/lube.
I have a small zoom spout oiler I use in tight spaces & I was able to get a little bit of oil in the rear bushing. There's no way to access the front bushing/bearing without disassembling the blower assembly.


Adding that little bit of oil to the rear shaft/bushing did help reduce the whining noise.

Hopefully it will hold up for about another month! Once it starts warming up & I don't need the heat that often, I'll try to disassemble the whole assembly & see if I can just replace the motor.

Doug

 

[The Cobbler]

I see if I can just replace the motor.

I think the motor RPM is very critical in venter motors

 

[PoorUB]

I'll try to disassemble the whole assembly & see if I can just replace the motor.

I would say not to bother. First, you probably will not get it a part without breaking it, and second, you wont find a replacement motor.

The Fasco numbers on the housing are for the whole assembly.

 

[fitter30]

Manufacturers have these motor and control companies make a common motor theirs by changing little things shaft length, rpm, how the wheel is attached or with controls changing timing of circuits adding another terminal or two to a board.
L

 

[KenC]

Caution: I ordered a new inducer unit for my Bryant (same P/N as Carrier). when installed it ran, but didn't 'induce'. Turns out there are two versions that are identical in shape, size and connections. But, one turns clockwise and the other counter-clockwise! I never did figure out if it was mis-boxed or mis-made. Just got another and it worked.

 

[American Locomotive]

I'd try taking it apart to fix it. Those little c-frame motors are super simple, and are usually just a bushing with a felt-type material to absorb oil.

Those inducer motor assemblies are comically expensive considering they're now just injection molded plastic with a crappy cheap-nasty c-frame motor attached. I guarantee you the manufacturing cost for one is about $35 tops.

 

[Dagny]

not the one i was thinking of

 

[dwall174]

Adding that little bit of oil to the rear shaft/bushing did help reduce the whining noise.

Hopefully it will hold up for about another month!

Well so much for wishful thinking!
The oiling basically only lasted a day or so & the whining came back, so I just replaced the inducer motor/blower assembly.

I'd try taking it apart to fix it. Those little c-frame motors are super simple, and are usually just a bushing with a felt-type material to absorb oil.

Yeah, I'll probably try to disassemble the old one latter this year & see if I can figure something out.

You probably will not get it a part without breaking it, and second, you won't find a replacement motor.

The first one I tried to disassemble several years ago I did end up breaking the plastic impeller assembly!
After getting it apart I realized the impeller was either glued or heat bonded to the motor shaft.

This time around I'll pay more attention to the impeller & motor shaft connection, it kind of looks like the impeller may have been heated first & then pressed on?


Doug

 

[PoorUB]

The first one I tried to disassemble several years ago I did end up breaking the plastic impeller assembly!
After getting it apart I realized the impeller was either glued or heat bonded to the motor shaft.

This time around I'll pay more attention to the impeller & motor shaft connection, it kind of looks like the impeller may have been heated first & then pressed on?

Yep, not made to come off. I tore a few apart over the years out of curiosity. They don't want to come apart.
How much time do you want to spend to save $150?

 

[dwall174]

How much time do you want to spend to save $150?

It's not really about the money savings, but more of a why don't they make them repairable issue.

 

[bubinga]

Caution: I ordered a new inducer unit for my Bryant (same P/N as Carrier). when installed it ran, but didn't 'induce'. Turns out there are two versions that are identical in shape, size and connections. But, one turns clockwise and the other counter-clockwise! I never did figure out if it was mis-boxed or mis-made. Just got another and it worked.

I guess that is an AC motor correct?
More than likely A/C.

 

[PoorUB]

It's not really about the money savings, but more of a why don't they make them repairable issue.

You have a long road ahead of you if you are going to try figure out why things that are not repairable.

In the case of an inducer motor, they make them cheap as possible and still hold up for a reasonable time. It would cost more money to make them repairable.

 

[bubinga]

You have a long road ahead of you if you are going to try figure out why things that are not repairable.

In the case of an inducer motor, they make them cheap as possible and still hold up for a reasonable time. It would cost more money to make them repairable.

Well perhaps then he needs to try a different brand this time!

 

[dwall174]

You have a long road ahead of you if you are going to try figure out why things that are not repairable.

That's for sure!

That road probably goes back to my childhood when I use to take all my toys apart to see what made them work.

In the case of an inducer motor, they make them cheap as possible and still hold up for a reasonable time.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with a lot of products!

Doug