How do these GE box fan motors come apart?

[Evan Atkinson]

I found this very gently-used aqua GE 3 speed box fan some years ago. Picked it up, ran perfect on a test. Next time I put power to it, it wouldn’t turn at all. Bearings completely seized. Put it away and forgot about it, and just now got it out again to see what’s wrong. Blade and insulator came off easy. Removed the field bolts, but can’t see how the motor disassembles further. Any advice would be welcomed!

[Nicholas Denney]

Motor has to come out, open the rear bearing area however you can, rotor has a seeger/C clip

[Tom Zapf]

NICK IS RIGHT, THIS IS A SINGLE BEARING MOTOR AND THE SHAFT AT THE REAR HAS A C-CLIP HOLDING IT ALL IN . DONT TAKE ANYTHING ELSE APART YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE MOTOR FROM THE BOX, AND THERE IS A METAL PLUG ON THE BACK WHICH HOLDS THE OIL WICKING . YOU HAVE TO POP THAT OUT AND REMOVE THE CLIP 

******* AN EASIER METHOD IS TO LAY THE FAN ON ITS BACK .  AT THE BASE OF THE ROTOR "FINS YOU SEE SMALL RECTANGULAR HOLS AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE BEARING HOUSING . YOU CAN DIP OIL DOWN IN THERE AND LEAVE IT FOR A TIME PERIOD AND LET THE OIL WORK ITS WAY BACKWARDS TO THE REAR OF THE MOTOR. ALSO IF YOU TURN THE ROTOR COUNTER CLOCKWISE (AS YOU FREE IT UP) THE SHAFT HAS OIL PASSAGES (SQUIGGLY SHAPED) THAT WIL WORK OIL BACK TO THE REAR OF THE MOTOR.  YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT THE SOAKING METHOD TAKES TIME 

 

[Tom Zapf]

MAKE SURE AS YOU ARE DRIPPING OIL IN THOSE SMALL RECTANGULAR HOLES IT IS GOING INSIDE THE BEARING HOUSING AND NOT OVER THE OUTSIDE AND OUT THE BACK OF THE MOTOR. MAKE SURE THE OIL GOES WHERE THE SHAFT GOES IN THE BEARING 

[Evan Atkinson]

Thanks Tom. I was dribbling oil in there for a bit, but I had no way to see whether there is an opening in the bearing housing itself to allow the oil I was dribbling to be absorbed by any wicking material. I’ll give your suggestion a try and be patient 👍🏻.

Is this an oilite sleeve bearing motor?

Edited June 25, 2024 by Evan Atkinson

[Tom Zapf]

ITS A GE IN HOUSE MOTOR NOT SURE IF OIL LITE BEARING THOUGH. IT IS A LONG SINGLE BEARING. WITH THE FAN ON ITS BACK PULL THE FINNED ROITOR "UP" ...THERE SHOULD BE JUST S LITTLE BIT OF PLAY WITH THE SHAFT ...IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO SEE THE OIL DROPS HITTING THE SHAFT WHERE IT GOES IN THE BEARING. THE OIL WILL WORKS ITS WAY AROUND THE CIRCLE TO THE WICKS (IN 12 3 6 9 O CLOCK POSITIONS) ... THE FACT THAT IT WAS GOING AND THEN BECAME STUCK MEANS IT HASNT BEEN STUCK FOR YEARS WHICH IS GOOD. OF COURSE YOU CAN POP THAT PLUG OFF THE BACK IF YOU WANT ALSO  BUT IT IS MORE A JOB .

GOOD LUCK WITH IT THAT IS A SOLID FAN 

[Greg Calmly]

Yeah GE is known for making motors that arent meant to be taken apart. I dont know if it was mentioned, but when you put the motor back together, tighten the bolts evenly to prevent misalignment. For all we know things might be okay (or better than you thought) and it was just a few loose bolts. 👍

[Evan Atkinson]

Worked great @Tom Zapf, thanks!

 

Edited July 14, 2024 by Evan Atkinson

[Tom Zapf]

GLAD TO HEAR IT AND YOU SAVED YOUR FAN FOR ANOTHER DAY ! ++++++!!!!!

[Evan Atkinson]

Here it is, all back together. Now, one question: the fan runs nice and quiet with a fantastic spin-down, but the grates rattle a bit. Both front and rear grates have two rubber grate bushings apiece, set on opposite corners. That seems correct in that the grate needs to flex for removal, which wouldn’t work out if all four corners had bushings. Is there some trick to minimize the rattling though? How many bushings should each grate have?

 

[Nicholas Denney]

Each corner gets a little bootie. The guard must flex to install and remove. 

[Tom Zapf]

ALL FOUR CORNERS HAVE THE RUBBER CAP. YOU CAN PIT A GROMET OR RUBBER WASHER IN PLACE OF THE MISSING RUBER CAP 

[Evan Atkinson]

Thanks. Funny, I guess the grate is supposed to flex more than I realized. A bushing boot/cap on each corner’d be the way to go.

[Tom Zapf]

THE 20" WEERE MUCH EASIER TO FLEX THAN THE LITTLE 14" LOTS OF PINCHED FINGERS THERE