Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2021 10:48:02 -0700
Reply-To: Mark McCulley <markmcculley@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark McCulley <markmcculley@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Propex 1600 blowing fuses
In-Reply-To: <CAFdLW6mBPFfme2LPyGFgLWJXW3fHtu1RNqag3D3vofQMoGRMBA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Thanks all for the lubrication suggestions. I'm at a bit of an impasse now,
when I removed the armature the seized bushing came out of its retainer.
Getting it back in place is going to involve removing part of the bushing
retainer that wasn't designed to be disassembled. You can see the bushing
retainer in these photos:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0QJ0DiRHJtI2mL;752DD1FD-0B92-4B8F-9ACE-ED5304E77B01
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0QJ0DiRHJtI2mL;FD01879A-EFB3-4B61-891B-69B42133D385
I'm thinking I may be able to drill out the 6 holes with the rivets to
remove the retainer and then reassemble using small bolts and nuts. Does
that seem reasonable?
I learned that the newer Propex HS2000 would require me to drill more holes
in the floor of my van and I'd really like to avoid that if possible. I've
reached out to a Propex dealer (Van Cafe) to see if they can get a new
motor from across the pond. My other options are to find a used working
1600 heater or a broken one that has a good motor. All of these options
seem fairly unlikely, repairing the motor may be my only choice.
-Mark
On Sun, Oct 31, 2021 at 10:32 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> I use this to lubricate small bearings and eliminate creaking/squeaking
> noises.
>
>
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BYEE0RU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>
> On Sun, Oct 31, 2021 at 10:24 AM David Beierl <dbeierl@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I like Zoom turbine oil (Amazon or appliance parts house).
>>
>> Yrs,
>> d
>>
>> On Sat, Oct 30, 2021 at 5:19 PM Mark McCulley <markmcculley@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Progress! The two halves of the motor case were held together by the
>> > magnets and were easily separated. Pulling the armature out was a bit
>> > difficult, the bushing was seized to the shaft and came out with the
>> shaft.
>> > I carefully removed the bushing from the shaft with pliers and polished
>> it
>> > and the shaft with emery paper. It will now spin freely on the shaft.
>> >
>> > More photos here: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0QJ0DiRHJtI2mL
>> >
>> > Any suggestions on what kind of lube to use? I'm surprised that the
>> > bushings aren't made of brass.
>> >
>> > Once the motor is back together I'll test it on the bench. Then I will
>> have
>> > to decide how comfortable I am with reassembling this thing and hooking
>> it
>> > up to a propane line. What could go wrong eh?
>> >
>> > -Mark
>> >
>> > On Sat, Oct 30, 2021 at 1:33 PM Mark McCulley <markmcculley@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > > Dennis, how would I get to the bearings? I've disassembled the heater
>> and
>> > > removed the fan motor. Do I need to disassemble the motor?
>> > >
>> > > Some photos here: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0QJ0DiRHJtI2mL
>> > >
>> > > See the photo showing the end of the shaft, I wonder if that piece
>> > > surrounding the shaft is scored so that it can be removed with some
>> > special
>> > > tool to get to the bearings?
>> > >
>> > > -Mark
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Sat, Oct 30, 2021 at 9:33 AM Dennis Haynes <
>> d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> > > wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> It has been some time since I had one of these apart for repair. Gas
>> jet
>> > >> clogging is another common problem. In general DC fuses are sized and
>> > >> coordinated to protect the wiring, not appliances themselves. Maybe
>> > >> carefully lube the bearings avoiding oil on the brushes-commutator
>> and
>> > up
>> > >> the fuse size and give the fans a push to get them turning. A
>> synthetic
>> > >> type light oil once the bearings spin again will work some magic.
>> > >> Disappointing is that repair services and parts are not readily
>> > available
>> > >> considering the cost and how little these units are typically used.
>> > >>
>> > >> Dennis
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> -----Original Message-----
>> > >> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
>> > Mark
>> > >> McCulley
>> > >> Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2021 10:53 AM
>> > >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > >> Subject: Re: Propex 1600 blowing fuses
>> > >>
>> > >> I did some more diagnosis, looks like the fan motor is the problem.
>> > First
>> > >> I removed the propane leak detector from the circuit, this did not
>> make
>> > any
>> > >> difference, fuse still blew. It wasn't possible to remove the cover
>> from
>> > >> the heater with it still installed so I pulled the heater from the
>> van.
>> > >> Removing the heater cover was a minor challenge as parts of it were
>> > >> sealed to the chassis with silicone RTV. Once removed I was able to
>> > access
>> > >> the two squirrel cage fans and could just barely move them. I don't
>> > know if
>> > >> the shaft rusted or what happened but it barely moves. I applied some
>> > >> penetrating oil at both ends and let it sit for a while but that
>> made no
>> > >> difference. I may or may not attempt a fix by removing the motor and
>> > >> disassembling it. Anyone have a broken model 1600 with a good motor?
>> > Very
>> > >> unlikely I know. :)
>> > >>
>> > >> Does anyone know if the newer HS2000 model has the same size and
>> spacing
>> > >> of the exhaust and combustion air inlet/outlet tubes? It would be
>> nice
>> > if
>> > >> it were a drop in replacement for the Compact 1600.
>> > >>
>> > >> I don't know what bothers me more...not having a heater for camping
>> this
>> > >> winter or having two open holes through the floor of my van.
>> > >>
>> > >> -Mark
>> > >>
>> > >> On Fri, Oct 29, 2021 at 7:29 AM Mark McCulley <
>> markmcculley@gmail.com>
>> > >> wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> > My trusty Propex 1600 heater blew a fuse yesterday when I tried to
>> > >> > start it for the first time this year. The 5A fuse blows as soon as
>> > >> > the unit turns on, both in Heat mode and in Fan Only mode. This
>> makes
>> > >> > me suspect the fan motor is the culprit. I have an inquiry in to
>> > >> > Propex but I'd really like to fix it myself if possible. Anyone
>> ever
>> > >> > experienced a similar issue with the 1600?
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Regards,
>> > >> > Mark
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> > >
>> >
>>
>
| 
