Which bearings to check - Intermittent rough sound

[DLB]

Clarification: The OP said "The sheaves are also moving in and out nicely." (Emphasis added, the plural form.) When I said the fan sheave should not be moving it was in response to that. The fan sheave should not be moving in and out on the shaft.

I'm happy to be corrected on this, but I don't see the spacer sleeve as a wearing part normally. It seems to me that something else would have to be wrong for it to wear. And something else would have to be wrong for the fan sheave to move closer to the motor housing because once it is assembled the set screw should hold the sheave to the shaft.

Suggestion: A photo of how close the fan sheave is to the motor housing would be helpful. If you take a photo from the bottom we can also see how close the fan blades are to the other part of the motor housing. If there has been contact anywhere it should be visible.

Needle nose might work, but the taper toward the tip tends to cause them to slip even if they are small enough to fit in the holes. Also you're trying to push the pliers open to release the snap ring. Snap ring pliers are tapered both ways and intended to capture and control the ring, and squeezing them opens the ring for removal.

- David

[epodietz]

I was able to remove the spring clip with some old hooked dentist's tools, although I will have to get snap ring plier to reinstall..

I am hearing a consistent squeak as I rotate the motor shaft..doesn't feel rough, but maybe it is the motor bearings...?

How does one remove the fan sheave?

Here is pic of fan sheeve. Drill bit shown is 7/16"



Thanks everyone...the feedback is so helpful for me doing this the first time.

Eric

[DLB]

On the bottom side of the motor not shown there is a large air exhaust port between the fan housing and the plate as shown in your pic. If you look through that port and rotate the shaft you will see a set screw in the fan portion of the fan sheave. Just back that off a turn and the sheave should slide off. The set screw also holds the key in place so go ahead and take the key off too and put it with your other loose parts. Then the spacer follows.

It would be a good idea to check for that noise as you are removing parts.

- David

[DLB]

Any perceptible movement (other than rotation) of the shaft relative to the motor would also indicate a bad bearing. Try pulling in and out as well as side to side. My thinking is a squeak by itself, though abnormal, is not really consistent with your original problem. Keep those pics coming!

That gap looks correct to me, but I hope 7/16 was a typo. Somehow the first time I read it I 'saw' 7/64.

- David

[epodietz]

yes I meant 7/64!

I see the set screw through the hole, but getting to it is another story. Do you happen to know the size of that set screw? I only have the general use T-allen wrench that came with my 510 plus a lot of smaller allen drivers, but so far I haven't had any luck. Had to enlarge the casing hole a bit to get my driver handle through. I like my 510, but it's making me feel really dumb.

I thought I saw a video of Jacob Anderson doing this and he made it look real easy.

[DLB]

It is 5/32, so your general purpose SS allen wrench should fit. I don't know that you can generate enough torque with it though. I usually use a driver that mounts on a 1/4 inch drive extension and ratchet.

I don't understand the part about enlarging the casing hole. There is a lot of room... Just had that 'a-ha moment,' have you removed the motor from the motor pan? You should do that. I didn't notice, but now it's obvious, that your pic still had the motor mounted to the pan. Four screws in the bottom of the pan need to come out, #3 Phillips on at least newer MVs.

- David

[epodietz]

I tried to remove the pan it but the 4 screws are really stuck. I'll hit them with some more penetrant and try again.

[epodietz]

Channel locks got three of them out but number 4 is not cooperating. So far this is the hardest part of the teardown

[epodietz]

#4 screw is off. Let's hear it for vice-grips!

Fan sheave is off along with key. Here are pictures. All pretty clean, I don't see any evidence of sheave hitting the housing. Squeak is gone, too. Can rotate shaft smoothly (doesn't catch).

But now a new problem. Switched on motor - away she went! Switched off, then on again - just humming w/no action except for some twitch in the motor shaft. Tried several more times, same thing.

[wa2crk]

Sounds like the centrifugal switch is hanging up. The motor should be torn down and completely cleaned and then re-assembled. If you are not sure of doing it yourself a good local electric motor repair shop can do it and the cost should be minimal. If you decide to take the motor apart for cleaning I would change the bearings at the same time. They are not costly but would eliminate the question of the bearings being bad. That looks to be an Emerson motor. Correct? If you do take the motor apart clean the dust from the winding air passages with compressed air to improve cooling. After I work on the motor I strap the motor to the workbench and run it and polish the shaft with a piece of crocus cloth to a mirror finish. Also clean the internal bore of the floating sheave and oil well when re-assembling.
Bill V