Date:         Fri, 4 Feb 2000 12:55:48 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Heater fan
Comments: To: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@SWIPNET.SE>
In-Reply-To:  <000501bf6efc$67ec0c00$3d9297d4@swipnet.se>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed

At 11:41 AM 2/4/2000 +0100, Calle Fallberg wrote:
>But before I start ripping the dash apart I thought IŽll ask you guys
>1 this is because of the fan and not the swich right ??
>2 is there a way of changing the bearings in the fan OR change it for some 
>other not so vulnerable out of the

1) It's the fan
2) If you split the blower case you can remove the motor.  It's a two-part 
operation: first release the catches (metal or plastic) that hold the base 
of the motor in the case half and shove the blower fan in so the end of the 
motor passes the catches.  Takes three or four hands.  Then set the case on 
a vise with jaws open to clear the motor, and drive the motor out with a 
hammer and drift.  This will release the motor from the blower fan and the 
case half.  When you're putting the blower fan back on later, support the 
end of the motor shaft to take the load off the bearings.  Don't drop the 
motor, the brush plate isn't very strong.

Now you can thoroughly oil the bearings and the felt pads that feed oil to 
them, and gently work the motor shaft until it turns freely.  A syringe and 
needle helps.  Don't get any oil on the commutator or brushes.  I oiled, 
then ran the motor for a while, oiled again, ran it, let it sit overnight, 
oiled again.

Of the three blowers I've taken apart, that's been the only 
trouble.  Commutators were clean, brushes barely worn, bearings still 
tight.  It would be *really nice* to be able to drip oil into the bearings 
from outside, but the fan design pretty much precludes this for the nose 
end, anyway.

david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"