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Vitodens Fan Blade Removal

Beaver33
Beaver33 Member Posts: 24
in THE MAIN WALL

Can anyone explain how to get to the bearings in this boiler fan? To access the bearings, it

IMG_20240610_123457rev.jpg

appears that the fan blades need to be removed from the axle. There is no lock washer or set screw. The blades are made of plastic. Would using a puller deform the blades?

IMG_20240610_123557rev.jpg
IMG_20240610_123529rev.jpg

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,107
    edited June 2024

    Probably pressed on in such a way that it is not intended to be removed. You would have to support all of it evenly with a big plate or something to have any chance of pulling it off without breaking it and even then i give you like 10%.

    Sometimes the shaft is threaded and they screw on but this is intended to be replaced as an assembly.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,181

    Pressed on — if it wasn't molded on. I wouldn't even try… unless as an experiment, with a replacement assembly handy ready to go.

    If you are absolutely desperate, I'd use a deep socket just big enough to fit over the metal shaft, to support the hub, and use an hydraulic press and a punch just less than the diameter of the shaft to try and press the shaft out. And I don't think it would work.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,107
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1803732#Comment_1803732

    A socket won't help, you have to support the hub from the back and press the shaft out from the front.

  • PDTech
    PDTech Member Posts: 9
    image.png

    Maybe a fan puller like this?

    mattmia2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,746

    @Beaver33

    That fan & motor is probably sold as a factory assembly. Can't do much in the field with it except buy a new assembly.

    mattmia2kcopp
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,107

    For the super expensive and proprietary 2 speed inducer fan for my Lennox furnace I pressed the armature off the shaft with either a gear puller or a bearing splitter and replaced the bearing from that side then pressed it back on with some epoxy but I don't recommend that and it never was as quiet as it should have been. I eventually replaced it with a new inducer fan and just keep the condensate drains clean so the bearing doesn't get wet again.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,181
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1803736#Comment_1803736

    Well, yes — that's what the socket is for. Just big enough to go around the metal shaft, and bearing on the hub right at the back. Rest that on the bed of your press. The rest of the fan must be clear of the bd. Then use a punch just smaller than the shaft between the ram and the shaft.

    Make d__n sure that the punch and the ram and the shaft are perfectly square. Look at it from all angles.

    Better to use a hand press — more control.

    No guarantees. I don't think it was meant to come apart.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,107
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1803747#Comment_1803747

    But the armature and the front housing of the motor are between the back of the fan and the socket. you could put a big, heavy plate with a u shaped slot in it behind the fan and put that on the press bars then press on the end of the shaft and hope the shaft and the hub separate before the fan and the hub separates or the fan cracks.

    EBEBRATT-Ed
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,807

    I am pretty sure that is a molded hub on to shaft. Not removable nor replaceable.

  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,664

    Not meant for repairs, only replacement.

  • Beaver33
    Beaver33 Member Posts: 24

    Thank-you to everyone who commented. Given the potential difficulty of repair, I replaced the whole fan assembly with a new one I purchased at reasonable cost. Since the original fan is still functional (but makes a noise from time to time), I will keep it as a back-up in case needed in the future.

    Alan (California Radiant) ForbesPC7060
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,746

    Thanks for letting us know

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