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Old school air handler update

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EricSch1337
EricSch1337 Member Posts: 21
in THE MAIN WALL

I have an old school air handler with an existing 1 hp belt drive blower motor. An old Modine Syncronatic, it has 2 evaporator coils equaling out to 7 tons of air conditioning with 2 outdoor condensers. It also has a pretty large water coil being feed by 2 boilers. The air handler is basically just the blower motor housing with a ducted transition to accomadate the airflow. Currently the sled and housing are extremely rusted out and we’ve been limping the system along the past few years. The homeowner doesn’t want to update the air handler.. I was able to find a motor replacement. Are there any places where I can order a new blower housing, squirrel cage and motor mount? I’d like to at least replace everything and install new supports for peace of mind in future. Any recommendations are appreciated.

IMG_7030.jpeg IMG_7027.jpeg IMG_7029.jpeg IMG_7026.jpeg

Comments

  • EricSch1337
    EricSch1337 Member Posts: 21

    everyone I’ve talked to about this has said we’ll probably have to fab something out of unistrut or other materials to rebuild a new sled, others have said the manufacturer would be able to get a replacement specs/parts but we haven’t had any luck with that.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,469

    you can buy a blower. you'll have to fabricate something to mount it. what is wrong with the old blower? cleaning it, painting it, and replacing the bearings is a possibility. if it is just surface rust you could send it to a shop that can blast and paint it. i don't see much of any rust in your pictures.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,469

    sometimes there is a corrugated or slab type asbestos insulation inside the panels of a cabinet like that so be careful of that.

  • EricSch1337
    EricSch1337 Member Posts: 21

    I’ll have to find to find the other photos but basically the entire bottom of the housing is rusted out. Mostly the mounts so when it’s running it’s almost bouncing around. Yea I figured it would turn into pre fabing some type of supports. Most of the housing is in one piece. Apparently it makes loud noises while running, we haven’t heard it but it’s intermittent and it sounds like a bearing issue from what they were describing

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,228

    @EricSch1337

    Electric Motor Warehouse has blowers with blower wheels and motors. They also have rails to screw to the blower housing for support.

    Just a matter of finding something that will fit. You mentioned 7 tons of AC so you probably want 2800+ CFM.

    I would measure the height of the blower off the inside of the furnace floor and the size of the discharge. You know the horsepower. Size of the old blower wheel and driven RPM may help. And since the old one runs you can measure static pressure.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,469
    edited July 17

    you have to figure out why it rusted too, if the pan under the coil needs replacement or is clogged or if it is something else.

    or is that humidifier leaking in to it?

    EdTheHeaterMan
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,287

    Any manufacturer can build a unit to your specifications.
    Repiping will be needed no matter what gets installed.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,861

    W.W. Grainger. They carry all sorts. Worth a shot.

    EdTheHeaterMan

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