This old version of telescoping mechanism uses a cam (or arm) to push up the vent unit. When lowering, the cam rotates and the unit lowers simply by its own weight. If it is left in the up position for long, it might be stuck to the cook top because of grease built up for long time. During the lowering process, it may not move for a couple of seconds then breaks off the gum and drops passing the cam and causing out of alignment. My serviceman removed the motor from the box and plugged into the power to rotate it to lower position. Re-install the motor.
We had the same problem - After watching the video and reading other comments/solutions, my husband followed what others had done and BINGO - vent works great.
I had the same problem. If you remove the four screws holding the plate that the motor is attached to, you will see an arm with a disc on it. The disc should be BELOW the rim/edge of the vent, not ABOVE it. Somehow, the disc slipped so it went above the rim/edge, so instead of pushing it up, it's pushing it down. The arm rotates clockwise so since it is above the rim and pushing it down, it gets suck at 5 o'clock and can't get down to 6 o'clock to make a full rotation. That's why you see the motor plate pop out slightly...it's getting stuck. So the solution is to remove the motor plate so that you can get the disc BELOW the rim/edge and you're good to go.
Thank you all in the comments for helping fix my problem. It took about 30 minutes to get in, do it, and get out. The best part is that my smoke detectors don't go off anymore when I stir fry. You are all aces in my book!
Still having issues with this. Motor works. Vent is down and motor keeps turning. Unplugging power and pressing brass switch unwinds motor. Not sure what’s missing to get this fan lifting device working again?
Anyone who is having the same issue where you hear a buzzing sound, I will explain how I was able to troubleshoot it. Unplug the power cable. Above the fan, is the motor Shield. It is held on by four screws that might require you to remove the fan first, also attached by four screws and you would have to cut any sort of duct tape that attaches it to your venting pipes. Luckily, the last repair guy left the bottom screws out so I didn't have to remove the fan. You can also just bend it down like the guy in the video. Once you remove the motor Shield, the motor assembly is held on by four screws. Remove them. Pull out the fan motor which is attached to a control arm with a black wheel on it. What happens is the black wheel slips above the bottom of your vent and actually keeps pushing down rather than pushing up. Have someone pull up the downdraft vent as you reinstall the motor. Lower your vent down slowly and now it will sit properly. Hook everything back up and you will be good to go!
Thank you for this detailed information. I was able to fix my downdraft stuck in bottom as it slammed down as it was stuck in channel on down cycle. I did not need to remove the fan blower motor and I could access the downdraft motor cover above it without any issues and disconnected the quick disconnects to be able to move the cover away from the motor mount. Exact description so thanks. The only thing different was once I opened the motor, it was connected to a short arm which ended in a black plastic roller. Pulled the whole assembly out, raised the vent by hand and installed the motor back and slowly lowered the vent down. It was a little raised up then flush but running the up/down cycle got it down to flush and then viola back in business. Thanks again
Fixed my vent after watching video and reading comments.The gear motor could be defective and can be replaced by removing 4 screws holding the assembly after removing wires. GE part no. is WB26x10050. The lifting arm must be tightened after installing on motor shaft and should be in horizontal position for installation. Be careful not to drop lift arm into opening where gear motor mounts. If that happens, you would have to remove fan motor assembly including mounting plate and exhaust vent to recover. Do not attempt to remove fan motor mounting screws, but the whole assembly.
is there anyway you can send a picture of the wiring going to the gear box? I removed the gearbox on my unit and thought I remembered how the motor was wired...but didn't thanks
Anyone who is having the same issue where you hear a buzzing sound, I will explain how I was able to troubleshoot it. Unplug the power cable. Above the fan, is the motor Shield. It is held on by four screws that might require you to remove the fan first, also attached by four screws and you would have to cut any sort of duct tape that attaches it to your venting pipes. Luckily, the last repair guy left the bottom screws out so I didn't have to remove the fan. Once you remove the motor Shield, the motor assembly is held on by four screws. Remove them. Pull out the fan motor which is attached to a control arm with a black wheel on it. What happens is the black wheel slips above the bottom of your vent and actually keeps pushing down rather than pushing up. Have someone pull up the downdraft vent as you reinstall the motor. Lower your vent down slowly and now it will sit properly. Hook everything back up and you will be good to go!
Thank you! It worked. Simplified steps: - remove motor cover - remove motor out of the hole - pull vent system all the way up and hold it there - put motor back and screw it in place - slowly down vent back to place - screw cover back in place Don’t forget to unplug, plug power to work on it.
