Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 09:15:42 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Subject: lubricating front heater fan
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Some months ago I speculated that it might be possible to lubricate the
front fan using a small camera or something like an endoscope ("Fred
Hesterburg" suggested a proctoscope).
Shortly after that I had to go "no mail" and lost touch for a while,
but I had to try something when my fan stopped squealing because it had
seized up completely. Using a small camera (more info in next post) I
have had reasonable success.
After removing the main grill and the screen from the air inlet, you
have to go up and over a metal barrier that is part of the body. Mount
your camera on the end of a stiff wire that you can bend to various
shapes. Viewing the van from the front, you go in to the right of
center and point your camera to the left to "see" the end of the motor
and its squirrel cage fan. By aiming the camera at various angles I was
eventually rewarded with the view I was hoping for.
Since my fan had stopped completely, I first used a long piece of
1/8" steel gas welding rod, bent into an artist shape to push on the fan
blades until I got it to move a little. I was then able to get it to
run slowly with loud squealing on the high setting.
It is possible to lube the motor because the rotating end of the
shaft is exposed; of course if it wasn't exposed to the weather, maybe
it wouldn't fail in the first place. Anyway, I have a 3 ft piece of
tubing that came with a can of tuner cleaner from a previous lifetime.
I plugged it into the nozzle on a can of Tri-flow lubricant and taped
the other end to the end of my welding rod. I eventually got it in
position and gave the bearing and the end of the shaft a good squirt.
Turning on the fan, I heard it slowly pick up speed and the squealing
gradually went away as it warmed up. Eventually it would run and start
reliably even on low. Using a Q-tip on the end of my welding rod I
added a few drops of chain saw bar oil and finally a dab of CV joint
grease in an attempt to protect the bearing from the weather.
It has now been a few months and it continues to run an all speeds
although it has a slight ticking or scraping noise which is different
from the previous squealing. Overall I am pleased with the result and
glad that so far I have not had to remove the dash.
I will discuss some camera options in another post to follow shortly.
HTH
Larry A.
Chicago, mild winter so far
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