Woodstove help.

[the_Journeyman]

The blower on my wood stove is dying.  It makes weird noises, and quit once the other night.  I oiled it with what I could find, but it wasn't proper machine oil, nor something that would last at the temps under the firebox on my stove.

After oiling, the fan drum was still stiff when I'd spin it.  It would spin, but not freely like I think it should.  I still had to restart the fan by hand.  I would hear the fan motor hum, but it would just barely turn the fan.  I'm heading out to get some proper machine oil and try that. 

Replacement for the exact motor from Appalachian Stove is $88.  I'm thinking if I find a similar rated motor at my local Tractor Supply or Harbor Freight it should work. 

Input?

Thanks

JM

[Rameses]

Is the fan a squirrel cage?

It's probably just a bearing that's gone bad.

I'd check that out before replacing the motor.

[ducpainter]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?catname=&byKeyword=yes&search=room%20fan

check this place out JM...

The motors for most heating appliances are very similar.

With a different search phrase I'm sure you can find more.

[MendoDave]

Make sure theres not a dead rat or something in there. I had to clean one out of my fan once. It turns much better without the rat.

[the_Journeyman]

Thanks for the input guys!

I pulled the motor & fan assembly.  Fan is fine, it's one of those squirrel cage drum fans, but it's not in a blower housing like DPs link shows.   I did a bit of a rebuild on the motor from the windings up.  The motor itself is fine too.  The issue lies in how the drive shaft goes through the motor housing. 

Rather than a bearing or bushing, there's this weird ball and socket type thing.  Soft metal ball not quite as big as a marble slides down over the shaft.  Then, there's a space riveted into the housing that consists of a weird little tension ring that holds the ball against the conical opening in the motor housing.  Thats where the issue is.  That assembly is badly worn.  Most of the parts in there fell out in my hand once I separated the two halves of the motor.  I reassembled everything after cleaning the broken stuff out, balanced the fan and plugged it up hoping I didn't see smoke, fire or sparks. 

It runs, but is really noisy now.  I checked dp's link, but there's nothing that would work without fabricating a new mount.

Here's the actual motor w/ brackets
http://cgi.ebay.com/Appalachian-4N1-XL-Stove-3-Speed-Blower-Motor-/370340671134#ht_979wt_905

I supposed I'll order one and have the old as a spare since the motor itself is fine.  It's really noisy though or I wouldn't replace it ~

JM