TURTLE wrote:
"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message
...

Stretch wrote:

Sounds like the fan bearings are shot. When it starts to squeal, It is
usually too late to oil it. However, you can try if it has oil ports
on the side of the motor. Add 20 drops of 20 or 30 weight
non-detergent motor oil to each port. DO NOT use WD40 or sewing
machine oil or penetrating oil. Use a squeeze bottle with a small
nozzle on the end to get the oil in.

If that doesn't help, you are looking at $200.00 to $350.00 depending
on rates in your area. Should take 1.5 to 2 hours to diagnose and
replace the motor. You will pay more if the fan blade cannot be
reused.

Stretch


A squeal doesn't necessarily mean the bearing is shot. And, $200 to $350 for
a motor is a rip off. What is to diagnose? it either continues to squeal after
adding oil or it doesn't. Replacement, at least in my unit, shouldn't take
more than 1/2 hour start to finish no matter how klutzy one is--unplug the fan
wires and remove a few bolts.

If the oil doesn't fix the OP's fan and the OP has any mechanical skills, he
ought get the model number, go to a parts place and order the motor (and fan
blade if needed), and replace it himself.

Glad I don't live where you are. It only cost me $50 bucks to have a tech
check the gas pressures and voltages/amps, add a little bit of gas, and oil
the motor. Took about 20-25 minutes, most of which he spent talking to me and
answering my questions.


This is Turtle

George , I have never changed a fan motor , from start of figuring out what it
is to driving off , in 30 minutes in my life. in most cases you will spend 2
hours travel time , changing the motor, and writting the bill but you might be
faster.

Now George did you hear the words Carrier condenser unit fan motor which can be
about 15 years of age. That would be the carrier Condenser fan motor with wing
ears on it and cost me about $120.00 + Tax, and capasitor. So Figure about
$145.00 atleast. Then the truck , me, the help will get about $100.00 out of
this. So your looking at $245.00+ atleast if i give the motor to you at
wholesale. If not your looking at $345.00 + here.

George , I live in the Depressed income area and these are the prices here and
you must be Super Depressed to say Less than $200.00 for a Carrier wing Ear
motor.

TURTLE



Ah yes, but that 1/2 hour estimate assumes the
home owner does it not a repairman. He is already
there, tools are there, and he doesn't spend any
time writing a bill. I'm probably full of it, as
I said replacement, but I really meant removal
only. Removal of 6-8 screw would get the top off
in 2 minutes; I can't imagine not removing the fan
motor would take 28 minutes. I've looked at my
Carrier fan motor and never saw anything
particularly magnificent about it. Seems to be
about the same as any sub $100 motor.

It really doesn't make any difference how you
distribute the costs, $350 to change a fan motor
is ridiculous. $145 wholesale for the fan motor
is ridiculous. Lots of things are ridiculous,
including $20 a pound for steak, $300,000
automobile, $5000 TV, etc. Somebody(s) along the
line are getting a rakeoff as equivalent motors in
other machines are much cheaper, probably just a
price upgrade because it is AD. Heck it might
cost $3000 to change the fan if you live on a far
off island, that doesn't make the $3000 not
ridiculous. The simple fact is that a good motor
doesn't cost $145 even if some cost $300. My
attic fan (although less powerful) is the
equivalent of a $50 fan (housing and all, probably
a $30 motor) today and runs a lot more than my AC
fan and continues to work just fine after 29 years
since I change the thrust washers.

BTW, any business in my town can get to my house
in less than 20 minutes, more than likely between
10 and 15 minutes as long as they don't stop for
coffee. So I would suspect that changing the fan
motor would take less than 1-1/4 hours from shop
to shop, but why would he go back to the shop, the
next call is just as likely only 5-10 minutes away
or don't they preplan the maintenance route?. If
the customer is 2 hours away, tell him upfront
that travel time will cost a bundle, so he might
want to consider other options.

No, the area is not depressed, it is actually one
of the fastest (way to fast) growing area in the
U.S. Why? Do you charge less in depressed areas?
My experience is that stuff costs much more in
little towns and backwater areas than they do in a
growing city. Just the taxes seem to rise fast.