Screeching furnace blower

[BessieB]

Spring is almost here and weather may be welcoming to get to work on our 1997 Excel. So on my last trip, the furnace before it gets ready to turn off goes into a screech. So do I consider what? New blower? And I assume that is up around the galley area.
Thanx,
That is the main one to start thinking about.

[cwf]

Replaced my motor in about 2 hours... Next time 30 minutes..

[BessieB]

So I need to think motor not blower, thanx,
Beth

[tcrum]

Mine did that as well. Can't recall the exact fix. I do remember it was minor.

[BessieB]

I also think of .... Belt?

[Lumatic]

Blower motor bearings, which means you have to replace the motor assembly.

[Jammer]

Hello Bessie

The furnace has a direct-drive blower, that is, one without a belt. There is one motor with two blower wheels, one for combustion air and exhaust, the other to circulate heated air within the trailer. Eventually the bearings fail with the first warning sign being noise.

I believe your trailer is equipped with an Atwood furnace. I believe that replacement furnaces from Atwood are available that are the same size and have the same ductwork configuration and the gas connection in the same place. Given the age of your furnace, you may want to consider replacing the whole thing.

Replacement of the blower motor is straightforward unless the blower wheels are stuck on the shaft due to corrosion.

[AnnArborBob]

I agree that your blower motor is likely failing. I also agree with Jammer's post above that suggests if your furnace is original (i.e., 1997) that you replace the entire unit rather than just the blower motor. At nearly 20 years old, it has lived a long and happy life.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I believe your trailer is equipped with an Atwood furnace. .

My 93 has a Hydroflame.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

My 93 has a Hydroflame.

Same sauce, different name.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Same sauce, different name.

Are Hydroflame and Atwood furnaces the same?

[Jammer]

Hydro Flame is, and has been for quite some years, an Atwood brand.

http://www.atwoodmobile.com/furnaces.asp

I believe they were a separate entity back in the 1960s and maybe the early 1970s.

[Siegmann]

If after inspection, the combustion chamber is solid, and expense is an issue, and you decide to just replace the motor, here is a helpful video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7YTOcSPOyI

[BessieB]

Thanx all, showed the video and rest to hubby. Will crack the whip tomorrow and gitty him onto this project.
Beth

[BessieB]

Thanx all,
Hubby just finished getting the new motor assembly installed. With the help of a few videos. The furnace now does not screech. But hubby said I didn't hear him.

[BessieB]

It has been a good year, and the furnace is now fixed. My husband got in easily over his pay grade and threw in the towel. After replacing the motor assembly, new circuit board and then a sail switch, I then called a friend in to assist. Turns out, my husband didn't wire the motor assembly properly. He always was unsure of that task.
So wahlah, bring in the big gun, and the problem is fixed.
Thanx to all who are always great at helping out. But this DIY just needed a little tweaking.