Old Attic Fan - Bearing Replacement

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I have an old attic fan that I built a box for and use for a porch and garage fan. The bearings are bad now so I have not been able to use it for awhile. Just to look at it, I can't tell how in the heck to get the bearings out. I drilled a hole in the case that surrounds the shaft and bearings, put oil in it but that did not help. What type of service company can I take it to and have the bearings replaced? Do you think it would be worth it?

 

[American Locomotive]

Well what kind of motor does it have?

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I didn't think to mention it is a belt drive fan. I replaced the electric motor a few years ago with a quality motor. There's nothing wrong with it. It's the fan shaft bearings that are making all the noise and then freezing up. Thanks.

Well what kind of motor does it have?

 

[Infinia]

Usually oil will help noisy motor bearing
Look for smallish plugs at the ends.
ON other motors you may have to remove both the housings ends and pull the rotor out, look closer at the bearing inspect looking for the packing tucked out of the way. Use 20W motor oil saturating the dried packing material. Here are some youtube help. there's others no doubt

 

[matt_i]

A machine shop could probably replace the bearings. But you may not like the cost of the repair.

In general you have to disassemble it (somehow it was assembled, could be with friction-based "press fits"). Next locate new bearings (I assume typical single row ball bearings) measure with caliper or micrometer to determine likely metric sizes of the ID OD and thickness. Source new bearings, pressing them in, have to be careful in your strategy to press only the race which is being assembled. In other words dont drive the outer race of the bearing in to a housing by tapping it on the inner race. A lathe, welder and various diameters of pipe are quite helpful.

 

[American Locomotive]

I didn't think to mention it is a belt drive fan. I replaced the electric motor a few years ago with a quality motor. There's nothing wrong with it. It's the fan shaft bearings that are making all the noise and then freezing up. Thanks.

Post some pictures and we might have a better idea how to help.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

Let me know if these pictures will work. If not, I will take some more with a different camera. Thanks.

Post some pictures and we might have a better idea how to help.

 

[mm08822]

A machine shop could probably replace the bearings. But you may not like the cost of the repair.

In general you have to disassemble it (somehow it was assembled, could be with friction-based "press fits"). Next locate new bearings (I assume typical single row ball bearings) measure with caliper or micrometer to determine likely metric sizes of the ID OD and thickness. Source new bearings, pressing them in, have to be careful in your strategy to press only the race which is being assembled. In other words dont drive the outer race of the bearing in to a housing by tapping it on the inner race. A lathe, welder and various diameters of pipe are quite helpful.

I would do this.^^^^^^^ Consider pvc cutoffs and deep socket to drive bearings. Worst case you can buy a pillow block assembly. Repairing what you have is best direction.

 

[American Locomotive]

Looks pretty simple. Start by taking the blades and pulley off. Then look for a shaft collar or something locking the shaft in place.

 

[Infinia]

I doubt there is a serviceable bearing in an old attic fan.
If you did get oil on the bearing it's shot. You should of detected some change in noise.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I think I may be seeing shaft collars on each end. I will give this a try. Nothing to lose since the next option is to scrap it. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Looks pretty simple. Start by taking the blades and pulley off. Then look for a shaft collar or something locking the shaft in place.

 

[matt_i]

Now seeing the fan I think you need a 2 or 3 jaw puller to remove the sheave and the fan blade asm. You may get lucky and they are attached via a setscrew onto a flat spot on the shaft. However luck is not a thing to rely on when building and servicing machines .
My recommendation is to resist the temptation to beat the hubs off with a hammer, that's a surer path to the scrapyard than any ball bearing issue. Find and use the puller.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

Thanks all for the advice. Matt, I'm glad you recommended not to use a hammer because that may be the first thing I did. I think I have an old 2 jaw puller. I will rent something else if needed.

Now seeing the fan I think you need a 2 or 3 jaw puller to remove the sheave and the fan blade asm. You may get lucky and they are attached via a setscrew onto a flat spot on the shaft. However luck is not a thing to rely on when building and servicing machines .
My recommendation is to resist the temptation to beat the hubs off with a hammer, that's a surer path to the scrapyard than any ball bearing issue. Find and use the puller.