Matthew West Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Hello all, Bought this refurbished fan from a seller who I believe asked for help on this very forum when originally mending it. It's a robbin and myers zeppelin one , I posted a thread about an older 10 inch one that I originally had (now gone) as I wanted this refurbished 12 inch 3 speed version instead. The fan runs great on 115v 60hz and the motor isn't making noise. However whenever the blades turn it makes this intermediate vibrating rattle noise which you can hear in the video. It's rather annoying and is the only thing keeping the fan from running whisper quiet. I am not sure what it is but it sounds like a blade problem as when the fan is turned off and the blades slow down it can be heard 'slowing down' for a bit. It sounds like either that or a potential oscillator rattle? Does anyone know what it could be and any fix? All the screws and nuts on the cage seem tight but it could be as simple as a vibrating washer somewhere. It sounds like a light rattle or like something is trapped or vibrating. I haven't opened it up and it's refurbished and was bought with new paint grease and capacitor. Thank you very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 (edited) With the fan powered down (off). Reach inside the guard and grab the blade hub checking bearing play up and down. If you feel play moving the blade up and down your bearing is shot. If no bearing play, something from the blade through rotor back to and possibly in your gearbox. Check rotor end play. I have 10",12", and 16" models. They are very nice easy-going fans with 6 pole winding. Edited June 22, 2023 by Russ Huber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew West Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 Blade bearing tight. I was hoping it would have no problems with it being recently refurbished:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jacobsen Posted June 22, 2023 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Maybe the metal tag? Try taking the cage off and tapping it, or the blade off and bumping the hub with the back of a screwdriver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew West Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 The rattle is significantly lowered (barely audible) once the oscillator is disengaged. Does this suggest the oscillator is the issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew West Posted June 22, 2023 Author Share Posted June 22, 2023 Perhaps a vibrating part (washer etc) or slipped gear which is rattles more when oscillating 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 (edited) I just rewired an identical fan Sunday and had the same noise. Honestly gave up on it as this was a favor, but can say it was not my bearing. Also used a heavier weight Royal Purple oil which I thought solved issue but not the case. The noise is in the front end. I assumed magnetic centering being off and checked for rubbing and none. The only other possibility could be the rotor has a 1” black tube that acts as a spacer and then there are three washers on the end. The chattering likely the tube spacer sliding back and forth along the shaft of rotor. I did try adding a washer but that caused resistance. Looking back probably should have used an adhesive to hold tube. You can pull the rear cover and stator keeper and pull rotor without dealing with wiring or stator. My noise was consistent on all 3 speeds. Also with oscillator disengaged and blade removed. The blade attached did slightly quiet the noise, but also slowed down the rotation. Edited June 23, 2023 by Chris Campbell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 You have my curiosity up. I have had the 10" model running for hours and so far no complaints. 12" next tomorrow. Dig into it, chief, there is something between the gearbox and the blade in the drivetrain complaining. I am not saying it is easy, you can do it! Does it do it when the fan is room temperature at start, or after it heats up? Think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew West Posted June 23, 2023 Author Share Posted June 23, 2023 Mine makes the noise from a cold start at room temperature. I don't seem to have much luck with this type of fan haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 19 hours ago, Matthew West said: Mine makes the noise from a cold start at room temperature. I don't seem to have much luck with this type of fan haha. Let's stick with the plan, chief. With the fan powered down reach in and grab your blade hub and check your rotor shaft end play. Can you pull and push the blade back and forth 1/4" or better? If there is a lot of rotor end play when the fan is doing its oscillation sweep the rotor will travel back and forth and can make funky noises. These fans are nice, but not top of the line construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jacobsen Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 I was also thinking, my parents have a 40s Hunter 10", it would rattle similarly but this was due to the front bearing and shaft having worn (I personally dont think the D10 had the best lube configuration). The shaft had slight vertical play and the shaft would actially travel circularly around in the bearing. The issue would go away if the fan aimed down slightly. Could possibly be( though I sort of doubt) it could be back and forth shaft play. Usually the blade will push the rotor back to compensate for this. Could possibly be the gearbox. Take it off or apart and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 On 6/22/2023 at 5:33 PM, Matthew West said: Blade bearing tight. I was hoping it would have no problems with it being recently refurbished:( My bearing was tight too as you mentioned. These spacers mentioned above slide easily on shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew West Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 The blades can move back and forth by a tiny amount but apart from that the bearing has no vertical movement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hoatson Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 I think you should replace the age-hardened fiber shaft shim washers (on both ends of the rotor). Maybe tighten up the rotor end play to about 1/8”. When the oscillator switches direction, the forces can push the blade forward, then it blows back. Washers that are hard from age (or missing) can let The rotor bang. A fresh washer, with a bit of grease on both sides, makes less noise. You can test this by aiming the fan up or down to increase the gravitational force on the blade. See if this makes it quieter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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