Date:         Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:18:12 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front Heater Blower opinions
Comments: To: TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAJRLdXYBjuzH=XmYuNDvkJMYbfUn2K_JCtDne00OoYap7Wb1XA@mail.gmail.com>
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On Mon, Apr 15, 2019 at 1:47 PM TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:

>   Can anyone vouch firsthand about the replacement heater blowers
> performance/longevity that most of our vendors carry vs the OEM? Quieter?
> Faster? More efficient? Any hard data? Seat of the pants opinions?
>

Meyle blower (2 samples years apart) is noisy at two bottom speeds.  On top
speed the air noise covers it.

A/C blower works and has very heavily-constructed motor, but gives more
noise for less air because the motor compromises the air intake.

There's a BMW motor out there that is supposed to be an excellent
replacement if you cut off one end of the double-ended shaft.


>
> dash I'm wondering if I should preemptively replace the blower. I know I
> can clean and lube the OEM one, but it's a toss up between "if it ain't
> broke don't fix it" or "strike while the iron is hot".
>

Fix the flap seals and the suspension for the hanging flaps if necessary.
Inspect the motor brushes -- if in good shape and the commutator isn't bad,
oil at least the felt inboard of the rear bearing and the bearing itself.
Preferably drive out the motor from the blower wheel and do the same on the
front bearing.  Glue a cap of some sort over the end of the rear bearing to
protect it from grit.  Be careful of the little clips put on to balance the
wheel.

Yrs,
d