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Lee Prather · 06-06-2016, 10:55 AM

I have a 1981 Excella 31. I've done some restoration work on it, but recently have noticed that when the furnace turns on it begins a high-pitched scream. I've tried shooting some light oil on the area around where the bearings hold the squirrel cage fan in the furnace, but cannot get very close to these bearings to apply heavier oil on the exact bearing races. I can't see any easy way to extract the furnace to do these repairs. I believe the furnace is stock and as it would have come on this AS when it was new. Anybody out there smarter than me on this?

drboyd · 06-10-2016, 10:11 AM

Having removed and replaced the furnace in a '78, I will second the notion that there is no easy way to do it.
It took me about 2-1/2 hours each way for taking the old one out and putting the new one in.

truxpin · 06-10-2016, 01:22 PM

I'm going to chime in here so I can follow this conversation as my '01 furnace is doing the same thing. Lucky for me, it looks like it'll be easier to remove than the '78....

I'm guessing if the fan motor bearings are "screaming" that a replacement motor is in order?
( as in.... NOT repairable? )

drboyd · 06-10-2016, 01:36 PM

It would be theoretically possible to get some more life out of the motor by oiling it, but it wouldn't be likely to give you as long a life as a new motor.

But who knows what kind of quality you'd get in a new motor, so there's that.