As a electrician I’ve done a few of these when I did building maintenance. Never ever did I consider driving the motor the wrong way to clean that rim of rust. This is fantastic Ted thank you.
I watch almost all of your videos, but don't often comment, Ted. However that was absolutely awesome for anybody who's new to the trade and also for those of us who aren't new. The idea of tapping the wheel down so that you're able to clean all the rust rather than leaving a small ridge that you can't get to, and have to fight against, is something that hadn't occurred to me before. Very nice!
I never thought I would get so much enjoyment in learning the technique for removing the motor from the shaft! And I will try the "Jack" spray. Thanks!
That's the way I was taught to do it by an old master hvac guy. Only exception was he had only one kind of spray lubricant and wouldn't use anything but Aero Kroil.
Worked perfect. Thank you! Those cages are balanced and it doesn't take much to knock 'em out of balance. This method kept the cage perfect. I had to battle a 30-yr old oven blower assembly.
Great video sir. I watched a guy years ago mushroom the top of the shaft and what he had to go thru to fix the issue and get a new motor in and I never used one. I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and sand paper wd40 and a crescent wrench is always my best friend lol. Love the videos ted keep up the hard work
I came in to endow you with my TREMENDOUS gratitude for sharing your valuable talents on the interwebs. I, (nearly 60 year-old, bout to be homeless lady) just fixed the central air system in the house I'm staying in, and may have earned myself a few more months of shelter by doing so. Yes, I'm sobbing with gratitude for the help this, and other videos, provided. You can't even know. ❤❤❤
Thank you!!!! Just pulled the blower assembly and was stuck. Told I needed to buy the puller tool. I was doing everything you said except using the wrench. Once I did that the motor fell right out. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Great video. I was having trouble taking out the motor at a job and found your video. Followed the steps and motor came out right away. You saved my behind 😂😂
A couple of things, instead of trying to get a hammer to hit that thing just right I use a 5/8” deep socket that goes right over the shaft and touches the hub (I also put a washer between the socket and the fan hub, that way it does not marr it up and change the balance of the fan) very nicely and then I can hit it that way/drive it down and then secondly I put the penetrant whatever you want to use my choice of PB Blaster (there is no smell afterwards because there is no residue or anything left when I get done putting a new motor on) before I start sanding at least into the hole where the set bolt was, that way it gives it that extra time to start working while you’re sanding the shaft. Edward H. Of “Integrity Plumbing, Septic, Heating and Drain“ in Clinton, CT
I work on cars and use JB 80 to knock “em loose. If it ain’t rusted solid that usually does the job. I’ll have to check out that jack of all sprays. JB 80 foams a lot like jack of all sprays. Thanks for the tip Ted
Once again Ted is the man! I have always done that the same way. you guys that use motor pullers and beat the hell out of the shaft, pay attention. Yes I have used a motor puller maybe 5 times in 15 years. Its about common sense and patience! Just do not knock the wheel or blade to far down because the motor side of that shaft is rusted too, and if you knock it to far down you will jam or lock the hub to the shaft and there will be hell to pay. I use KANO Aero kroil. Has always done great. Even WD40 on occasion, use what you have but combine it with patience. I will add Jack of all Sprays to my collection.
Hey Ted! love your videos. Can you make a video touring the back of your van? It looks pretty cool from the small blips we see in it. Or have you done one that i cant find? Thanks!
I just went through this today. Mine was super frozen. Could not turn it at all or force it lower. I used Kroil and it was running out the bottom. I put my unit over 3 jack stands to support the housing and let the motor hang from it. I used a rivet gun and a flat set on the end of the shaft and just vibrated it while gently pushing. It came out using this technique but had to use a punch on the end of the rivet gun to force it completely out once the shaft was flush with the blower. Tried to make a puller using chain but didn't have any on hand stout enough. Didn't want to buy a puller for sure. The vibration was key and realize not everyone has one but helpful if you do. I have also had good luck removing tie rod ends on my cars using same rivet gun and flat set. Great video with good tips, thanks!
I rarely leave comments on videos, but this was such an amazingly helpful video that I had to echo all of the gratitude for sharing your genius idea - tap the fan the other way to get started! It totally worked! And after a bit of sanding and some WD40, it came right off. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Mechanics trick, heating up the sleeve where the shaft goes through will help that oil penetrate. The oil goes where the heat is. Don't make it too hot where it could warp the metal, just enough to help suck the oil in.
Just found this video and it worked! I had already sprayed wd40 and was banging on it with no luck before the video. Then I took your advice and hit it the wrong way- ie further on. That freed it up some. Then I took my adjustable wrench and twisted it back and forth. It just about fell off at that point. So the key for me was to push it on farther so that I could get my wrench on to twist it. Originally there wasn’t enough axle sticking out to fit the wrench on.
Ted, my 2016 Ruud 3T package unit - when I took the top off to clean the evaporator coil - I could see that the blower wheel is very pitted on all the fan blades. How much efficiency is lost? Would replacing the wheel improve the unit’s efficiency? Thanks so much for your videos.
I’ve got a handy dandy puller that I picked up at a supply house that works extremely well. The Jack of all sprays is the ticket. I carry a couple of cans in my van at all times. 👍
The key to this is to push the fan hub down first and use emery paper from the corrosion-free part of the shaft to the end. Ask me how I know (LOL). Great video and thanks a lot for brevity.
Ted, great videos, Thanks! Far as penetrants go, there's this stuff that sees a lot of aerospace use called 'Mouse Milk'... you might want to give it a shot. Smells kind of lacquer thinner like, and comes in 8oz plastic squeeze bottles. It used to be hard to find, but I see Amazon now has it. Again Thanks!
You made it look easy. If you prep it well you don't need to use the puller. I had one I had to apply heat and still couldn't get it. Ended up coming back with a new cage.
I Love You Man... I really mean it ... Experience beats My stupidity all the time ... And I must stop to say thank you. Thank you thank you.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I seen you use another method were you used some type of bit to heat up the shaft. I’ve been unable to find it, would you be able to show that method and any other ways you have up your sleeve for us you guys just starting out.
Man thanks for showing me this. I had a guy come over and change the squirrel cage on mine, the motor was still good, I don't know how after watching him beat the thing out like he did. I was actually surprised that the cage went bad, I thought they were one piece. Glad I called a service man out, because I would have changed the motor and still had the problem. A true case of anti DIY.
Man I had a client yesterday and honestly I’ve never came across a rusted one so I didn’t know what to do but the blower still a little loud after I washed it and scraped all the crap off of it and I just had to work with that but now I seen this video I really want to go out there tell her no charge and do this now but I’m a small business just starting out this was my first customer
Reminds me of the old bull and young bull joke….but anyway main idea is dont rush, take your time, no need for a bunch of special 🛠 . Ted said it best work smarter not harder.
Very informatinve channel and lost the info and advice. not sure if you can help me out or not, but I have an old Leonard through wall air conditioner with the fan split in 2, the motor shaft is all rusted and pitted, the motor has no markings on it probably due to age an wear, any suggestions as to where I would find a replacement motor or would it be better just throwing it in the bin ? I wont be supprised if no one replys to this :(
You should try one on a fan from a Chicken House. All of that Dust and Amonia is rough on stuff. Luckily, We don't have to do that anymore. My Parents are retired Chicken Farmers from about 1972 until The Year 2000. Before they Retired, We had 4 Chicken Houses that were 40 feet wide and 250 feet long. They normally grew about 50,000 Chickens every 6 weeks. It was pretty easy after the Chickens learned how to eat and drink out of the Automatic Stuff, but those first 2 weeks was just like having a bunch of Human Babies. After they would get older and ready to be sold, We had 18/36inch fans to keep them from dying of heart attacks. Also water misters too. I have had a lot of practice changing belts and pullies that were rusted on like that.
I picked up a furnace blower that I want to use in my temporary shop to get the welding fumes out. My shop is in a barn on an Amish farm, so I'll need to use my generators for all my projects.
I changed one of these out on a 30 year old Day & Night unit yesterday. Sanded the shaft, used the foul smelling penetrating oil, then I just grabbed the shaft with my V jaw Channellocks and spun the blower wheel itself loose, came right off after that. Taking it off was the easy part. Those stupid belly band straps that hold the motor in are a real pain in the arse.
Mine won't budge for the life of me, i can't get it to spin with the adjustable wrench anymore, wd40'd it. Pushed the wheel deeper onto the motor spindle somehow, but hammering it off. It will not budge. Got it propped onto the blower duct assembly where motor is in free fall, and been bashing down on the spindle for an hour with a 10lbs hammer head. (Not mushroomed......yet)
I will first yank on the shaft and then pistol whip it with my mallet. A couple of sprays of WD40 and then I beat it senseless once again. Choice expletives help the process. If still no success...I work it over with a sledge hammer and then fling it out the back door of my shop, usually in a rage. Final step is to go purchase a new assembly and motor, savoring the warm feeling of accomplishment.
Been doin hvac 17 years... but ive got one on a 2015 gas pack thats so rusty i have no choice but to get a blower wheel . I tried relentlessly and it will not budge at all. Worst one ive ever seen
