On Sep 25, 9:54?pm, "Don Young" wrote:
"mm" wrote in message

...



Follow-up on the motel-style AC/heater (in the building that was sold
but now we're renting).

The main problem has changed and now it is that the aquirrel-cage fan
motor doesn't start spinning. It won't start at all on slow, and on
high only if I spin it a screw-driver first. It's not very practical
to keep going over and spinning it with a screwdriver, especially when
no one is there.

The open end of the squirrel cage faces into the building, and is
behind a sheet of steel that shows no easy method of removal. I
thought I could take off the cover on the outside of the building, but
I see no screws, etc.

1) Do I have to remove the entire unit from the wall? It's about 3
feet wide by almost 2 feet high, by about a foot deep, and probably
heavy. (I didn't see screws even on the inside to remove the whole
thing. I should have written the brand and model, but didn't, and the
building was locked today.)

2) The fan cage spins pretty easily in both directions when the power
is off, and sometimes the fan starts up when I spin it with a tool,
but other times it seems to be held in place magnetically and it
doesn't even want to spin when I try to spin it. Am I delusional?

Backrgound: It was making scraping noises from the fan, after running
10 hours or more. We turned it off and it was cool out anyhow. When I
restarted it so I could fix it, the scraping had stopped except once
for a couple seconds, but if it recurs, I'll worry about that then.

These units generally slide out of the case from inside the room. If you do
not see any screws in the grille/panel on the inside, it may be retained by
spring clips that just pop out. Look and check carefully where it is held so
you do not damage something.

All of the motor symptoms could be caused by worn bearings in the motor. It
is not a trivial job to remove the fan(s) and motor when rusted. The motor
bearings would likely have to be replaced at a motor repair shop.

I hope not, but you may be faced with an expensive repair and it might be
worthwhile to have a pro check it out or try to locate another unit for
replacement.

Don Young- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

is the owner going to keep heat on all over building so water lines
etc dont freeze?

you may have more troubles than just one noisey blower