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Need Blower Motor and Capacitor

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I posted here several months ago about intermittent furnace wouldn't start up problem. Well, whatever it was the furnace mostly worked fine since then.

Now the blower motor won't run. It buzzes but won't spin. Tech said we need a new motor and should replace capacitor at the same time. That was about 2 weeks ago and the service company seems to have lost interest.

I spent some time trying to find a new blower motor and nothing. Nobody has ours and they can't cross reference a replacement.

Based on the following can anybody help me find a motor and capacitor. And if so is there any reason I can't replace it myself?

label.jpg motor.jpg capacitor.jpg motor 2.jpg

Any help offered is GREATLY appreciated.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    did you try just replacing the cap? that is usually the cause of it humming but not turning. if you get it spinning in the right direction and turn it on it will usually sort of run although if it is capacitor run it won't get up to full speed. get the made in usa caps like the titan hd.

    if it says 5mfd under the clamp this is the right cap:

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Titan-HD-POCF5A-5-MFD-Oval-Motor-Run-Capacitor-440-370V

    does it spin freely? is there play in the motor shaft up and down or front to back?

    if it is the motor we can help you match it up but we will need to see the motor ratings plate and the shaft size and how it it mounted. there are universal parts that will let you mount a new motor in there.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,035

    Agree. Try replacing the Capacitor first. That is easy! Turn off the power to the equipment before touching any wires!

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    OK will try replacing capacitor first. If that doesn't work can still buy new motor right?

    And the motor does spin freely. I will do some disassembly tomorrow.

    Thanks!

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    unless there is something very unexpected inside that blower housing it is just a standard motor.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,024

    You need the information off the actual motor.

    HVACNUT
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,410

    Show the label on the actual motor. A standard Rescue motor would probably work, as long as its not a welded frame to motor.

    GGross
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,035

    To get to the label of the motor you usually need to remove the motor, which can be a project.

    1. power off appliance
    2. take a picture of the motor wire connections
    3. disconnect motor wires from the appliance
    4. Remove blower from the appliance
    5. loosen the fan set screw from the motor shaft
    6. remove mounting screws/bolts that secure the motor mount to the blower housing
    7. remove motor from blower housing

    Now you have the motor in hand with the bracket that may be covering the motor information and specifications. You may need to remove the mounting bracket to see the information.

    If at any time during step 1 thru 7 you can see the motor specification as to the Horse Power (HP) revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and voltage, you can stop there and order the replacement motor with that information.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    OK new Capacitor came today. Simple installation. Motor still buzzes but doesn't spin. Tomorrow I will begin attempting to extract the blower motor.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,410
    edited February 14

    If you don't have a wheel puller, or even if you do, make sure the shaft is clean and smooth. If not, use emery cloth or steel wool and get it clean. No debris in the hub. Then spray penetrating oil (WD40) where the shaft comes through the hub. Sometimes it pulls right out easy peasy.

    Sometimes pushing the fan towards the motor first will get you a better counter pull. No Channel Locks. 5/16 wrench on the hub set screw.

    Mark the motor mount locations on the blower housing. Mark position of the motor in the housing so the wiring is in the same location and reaches where it needs to reach. Measure the distance from the top of the motor bracket arms to the top of the motor so you know where to adjust the bracket on the new motor, as long as the new motor is the same depth.

    And if you had to pull the blower assembly just to test the capacitor, move the capacitor to the front. A 1/2" long zip screw won't hit the fan.

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,515

    Its always good practice replacing the wheel with the motor , then you know it is true and balanced…

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,902

    You must use the capacitor that the new motor calls for, not what was used on the old one - even though it may be new.

    A lot of the newer motors use larger capacitors than the old ones to achieve higher efficiency or cover a wider horsepower range.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    mattmia2
  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    Got the blower housing out and the fan is stuck solid to the shaft. Per a video I saw been using an impact drill to try and knock it loose. No way to support the motor to impact on it except to let the fan rest on the motor side of the blower housing with the motor dangling underneath. So I am concerned about possibly unbalancing the fan.

    Also saw this in a video, For $60 it's worth it if it works. Plus I'll have another piece of unused stuff to clutter up my garage.

    https://sensibleproducts.com/ultimate-puller/

    Anybody have any experience with this tool?

    HVACNUT
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462
    edited February 16

    could just buy a new blower wheel too. there isn't much to them. i'd be very concerned that an air chisel would turn the blower wheel in to a pile of slats of steel.

  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    No matter what I have to get the fan off. I looked at a new blower housing assuming I can find a match or workable replacement but that's where I draw the line cost wise. A new fan and motor are OK.

    Regardless I drilled a center divot in the motor shaft and am using neighbor's electric impact drill not a chisel. There are undoubtedly more powerful impact drills out there.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    you could probably clamp a hose clamp and something to hook with a standard 2 or 3 jaw puller around the hub after you remove the setscrews. Unless it is rusty it will likely com free pretty easily once it moves a little.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    looks like the supco branded version is much less expensive. if it works or not depends on how stuck it is.

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Supco-FBP100-Fan-Blade-Puller

  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    Ah, maybe 2 hose clamps a couple of steel rods and one of my pullers. Might work.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    maybe clamp 2 bolts on there and use a yoke type puller if you have one of those

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,410

    You used an impact gun on the hub? I guess you need a new fan now, too. Did you read my Valentines Day ❤️post to you? There were a few pointers in there along with the love. But nothing I wrote involved using an impact gun. I don't know you that well.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,410
    Big Ed_4SuperTech
  • kadini
    kadini Member Posts: 45

    I saw the impact drill on a Youtube video. It worked great there. Not working for me. Guess I didn't understand what a wheel puller was in your post. Regardless, whether the fan is good or not I have to separate it from the motor. Do you have a link for the puller you pictured above?

    Is this one OK? https://sensibleproducts.com/ultimate-puller/

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462

    i think it is the same one. if you do some searching you can probably find one used on ebay. there appear to be 2 designs, that one with the narrow body above the hub and one that is a tall cylinder with a nut in the middle

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,085

    In addition to what @HVACNUT mentioned I like to take the set screw completely out and shoot some WD-40 in the set screw hole. Try knocking the fan "on" just a little . clean the shaft very well and hit it with wd-40 again.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,462
    edited February 17

    try some penetrating oil like kroil or pb blaster, far more effective than wd40.

    if you hit the end of the shaft without protecting it you likely mushroomed it and will have to file that off to get the blower fully off.

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,547

    If you use that puller shown you want to be sure that one of the 3 set screws on the puller do not go into the opening for the hub screw(s).

    This might mess up the threads of the wheel hub.