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Robbins & Myers ceiling fan maintenance


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Posted

I'm new to the group and have a Robbins & Myers ceiling fan, List# 3229. I'm performing maintenance on the fan, and I want to ensure I do it correctly. Any information on this fan is much appreciated. Thank you!20241018_154213.thumb.jpg.d01ddb686553d30d775eee9ffc799103.jpg

Posted

I'm looking for any maintenance information on this fan. What type of oil do I use? Do I need to replace the bearings, or just clean and oil? How often do I need to add or change oil in the oil cup? 

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Posted

You have an R&M 'Sawtooth", great fan. If the bearing is really worn or rough, change it. If not, reuse it, I seldom change them. Unlike desk fans, ceiling fans use ball bearings, so regular motor oil is fine, desk fans require non-detergent. I normally put straight 30wt motor oil in mine. Be careful with that switch, it is worth more than the fan. I use a bent paper clip to check oil level, you want it about 3/4" below top of oil cup.

Posted

Thanks for the information, Stan. Is it normal for a small amount of oil to seep past the seal? When I disassembled the fan there was a small amount of oil in the cup. The fan has been installed in our family cabin for almost 50 years and only gets limited use during summer months. 

Posted

Yep, it also gets dirt in there that soaks up oil.

Posted

How do I remove this brass washer, to get the bearing off?

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Russ, thank you very much for the patent drawings. Looking at Fig. 1, I'm trying to determine how to remove the rotor. Does the fixed center shaft unthread and get removed with the rotor?

Posted

Been a very long time since I worked on one of those Jeff, but if memory serves me correctly, it just pulls off.

Posted

I would think there would be some type of retainer. Otherwise, the rotor could potentially drop out of the fan housing once installed on the ceiling.

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Posted

The oil pan holds the bearing & rotor in. When you take the oil pan off, the rotor & bearings generally come off the shaft. The exception is the later Hunters which have a nut that holds the bearing. I’m thinking that thrust washer has gotten squeezed onto the shaft.

Posted

If I cut the thrust washer off, could I replace it with a similar copper washer? If not, where would I find a replacement?

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Posted

I would think any copper washer that size would work

Posted

Stan, I'm planning to use a dry paint brush and a vacuum to clean the dust off the windings. For the rotor, should I take some emery cloth and clean the plates on the rotor? I'm not sure if this is build-up or varnish?

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Posted

I would leave it alone, or spray it with a light coat of lacquer, otherwise you may cause a short in the laminations of the rotor.

Posted

What year my fan was made?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I was hoping someone with more knowledge on years could help. My guess is late teens to mid 20s.

Posted

Thanks Stan.

Posted

I’d say 1915-1925. It’s a type H. If you look at the brackets, they should have a very stylized H cast into them.

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