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Universal fan motor??

4K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  Doc Holliday 
#1 ·
My fan motor recently blew and I am going to attempt to find a replacement and fix it myself. I am having a hard time finding the exact motor as the original.

My friend asked his HVAC buddy and he said I could use a universal fan motor.

Has anyone ever tried one of these? Are they any good? I'm just skeptical as to how great it will work with my ac unit seeing how the voltage and other things vary from machine to machine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#3 ·
I live in Calvert County MD. I have been able to find supply houses that say they have the part but will not sell to me because I am not HVAC certified.

The guy my friend talked to was able to find one for cheap and much closer but it's universal.

Sorry, perhaps I should have explained a little better:)
 
#10 · (Edited)
yup yup. Thing about replacement motors is you can go up in hp and keep the same rpm. You can go from a 1/5 to a 1/4 or 1/3 and as long as the total amp draw of the condenser is within breaker (max fuse) range it will work. Usually you can gain one, two amps without any problems.

rpm should stay the same but even than you see 1075 replacements on 1100 without any problems. Happens daily but that's only 25 rpm, not 100 or more which could lead to severe high head pressure, compressor failure, etc.
 
#9 ·
I think it has to do with insurance reasons, why they're so strict around here. Now those are the big supply houses that sell American Standard and Trane and Rheem and Ruud, Lennox and Goodman etc., etc., but there are a few mom and pop hvac shops that will sell any refrigerant or whatever to anyone off the street.
 
#13 ·
Motor.

I bet you wish that you call someone instead try to save money on labor. I seen other posting you put up about trying to do it yourself to save on labor. Trane will not sell or redeem warranty part to public. I work for a Trane dealer. Good luck. PS Trane will void warranty on that motor you took apart. There is a seal in the inside of the motor that shows if it been took apart or rebuild. :thumbsup:
 
#17 ·
Around here supply houses only deal with contractors who have a business license and State issued tax ID number on file,or their employees. If Joe Blow wants to become a handyman LLC and open a line of credit then they'll sell him the motor. If they don't want to jump through all the hoops to buy wholesale then Graingers or an electric motor retail place will be happy to take their money. IMO saving $50 on a motor or $8 on a capacitor once a decade isn't worth the hassle of filing taxes four times a year let alone paying the business fees.
 
#18 ·
Around here supply houses only deal with contractors who have a business license and State issued tax ID number on file,or their employees. If Joe Blow wants to become a handyman LLC and open a line of credit then they'll sell him the motor. If they don't want to jump through all the hoops to buy wholesale then Graingers or an electric motor retail place will be happy to take their money. IMO saving $50 on a motor or $8 on a capacitor once a decade isn't worth the hassle of filing taxes four times a year let alone paying the business fees.

That's what I was meaning to say! They always ask for your employer and varify that they are on file as legit hvac contractors. I myself have tried to purchase while not on a company payroll and no dice, and everyone here knows me. :huh:

Thanks Marty, well worded.
 
#19 ·
i have never had a problem purchasing anything from johnstone supply. i don't get the wholesale discount, but that's fine with me. they always ask what company i am with and i tell them i'm not with any company. they are always helpful and are willing to answer any of my questions and i have never had a problem purchasing any non-refrigerant items there.

i'm not sure if johnstone's is considered "big", but they are great to me. i'm in san antonio, texas if that matters.
 
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