Help with GE fans

[Josh Atkinson]

I have now redone 2 different GE models. One was an AOU and one was a vortalex. I have completely disassembled them and once I put them back together, the unit locks up when you turn it on. I think it has something to do with the bearings, but in both units they were running fine before disassembly.

any idea what I’m doing wrong to make the bearings go bad before I reassemble? Also, does anyone know of a place where I can purchase them instead of having to find a donor fan?

[Edward Kowalke]

Make sure the bearings are back in place securely, put the rotor shaft through and work the bearings a little and set them as close to centered as possible. after assembly lightly tap the front of the shaft with a piece of wood. During assembly check rotor for free movement every time you do something.

I am assuming you paid attention to the spacer washers and put them back in the same place they were when disassembled. If not, that could cause a binding issue. 

[Anthony Lindsey]

Check that the 2 motor halves are completely back together all the way around.    You have to use a plastic/rubber hammer to tap them to seat them.   That problem happens every time they are not seated all the way.

 

Can you take a couple pictures from the side showing the seam?

[John Landstrom]

Ditto on the above.

I’ve done a few and here’s what I’ve found:

I always coat the bearing with the oil recommended on this site.  It’s a non-detergent product.

I always keep the front and back bearings separated so I can put them back where they were when I got the fan.

Drop the bearing in, then the spacer ring, ensuring the concave side is towards the round portion of the bearing.  Next start threading the larger threaded retaining ring.   I use a small screwdriver (1/8”) to work the ring around wiggling the bearing as I go.  Don't tighten the securing ring down. Keep tightening the ring until the bearing starts to bind when you wiggle it.  Back it off slightly until the bearing is secured but moves easily.  
 

You can insert the rotor and move it in and out to eyeball where it’s centered in the stator.  Pushing it in until it stops will give you an idea of how many fiber washers to use.  Pull the rotor and slide on washers until the rotor is centered.  Now add what you think are enough washers to keep the rotor centered and slide on the motor housing.  Repeat the bearing install procedure on the front motor housing.  Slide the front housing on.  Spin the rotor often as you tap the cover in place.   You should have about 1/8” of movement sliding the rotor back and forth.  
Once done, spin the rotor to ensure it’s spinning easily. 

When my rotor is binding I’ve found the following issues:

The rotor binds when power is added but spins freely when power is off:  make sure your rotor is centered

The rotor binds up when you tighten the cover screws:  check to ensure the cover is fully seated and correctly oriented. I had this issue on one fan and finally ended up lightly tightening the screws, then tapping it down a bit and tightening the screws a bit more.  Took some finessing but it finally worked.  (Note: this was a pressed steel motor housing)

 

 

[James Lawson]

In addition to the ideas above, also check the spacer washers for wear. 

Bearings don't go bad in the blink of an eye. If they were heavily worn, you would have noticed it when you had it apart.

[John Nyman]

I agree with all the above. You may have a combination of issues like excessive wear here and there, bearings/bushings angled off center or housing not centering as it should. I usually find that by playing with the motor housing you can find a "sweet spot" where it runs at least decently...from there it's a matter of deducing what's causing THAT issue, or just getting it to run well enough for your purposes. You can have a fan that is so worn in so many ways that no matter which set of solutions you come up with will ever make things right, so you just get it close enuf and drive on...but I think I would experiment by tightening a housing screw here, loosening one there...get it to run and play with the screws and if it speeds up by adjusting one then see what else you can get it to do...jus sayin