my AC is making a loud noise

gr8white · 03-30-2015, 05:47 PM

So my AC started out just making a noise when I turned it on at the beginning like the fan was hitting something. I tried to turn it on yesterday and now its loud all of the time with the same noise. Its to the point where I cannot run it because the others in the RV park will complain. I opened the AC and after getting chased around by a bee on my roof I realized that the blade isn't hotting anything. You will see a round cylinder in the pic where the sprocket goes into. It is coming from there somewhere but I cannot even figure out how to open it. Any ideas what this can be? I need to get it fixed asap as I am on the gulf coast of Texas and its hot. You can camp for free on the beach here and I plan on doing so in 2 weeks and prefer to fix this first.

gr8white · 03-30-2015, 10:21 PM

Uh oh. No replys means this will be difficult. Anyone?

TURBS · 03-31-2015, 06:23 AM

I don't have an answer.
Anyway to take a video?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre

Filthy Beast · 03-31-2015, 06:46 AM

If you can't make a video maybe you can mark up the photo where the noise is coming from. I don't understand the "sprocket" part. I always thought a sprocket to be a toothed gear like on a bicycle.

onetonford · 03-31-2015, 07:08 AM

Well I see the first pic is the condenser fan then the motor the sealed side of the motor is the squirrel cage housing that fan. I had another air cond. where the squirrel cage fan had slid back against the housing causing a buzzing sound. Maybe that is your problem? You access the fan by removing the housing screws on the covered part and the fan has a set screw in it loosen it and slid the fan where it is not hitting and tighten it and it should be good to go.

TURBS · 03-31-2015, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetonford

Well I see the first pic is the condenser fan then the motor the sealed side of the motor is the squirrel cage housing that fan. I had another air cond. where the squirrel cage fan had slid back against the housing causing a buzzing sound. Maybe that is your problem? You access the fan by removing the housing screws on the covered part and the fan has a set screw in it loosen it and slid the fan where it is not hitting and tighten it and it should be good to go.

This is what I'm thinking .
Blower motor either bad or fan blade has moved.

On a side note is that a blue medical rag in the one pic?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre

**Herk7769** · 03-31-2015, 07:49 AM

So, that motor has two fans associated with it. The big propeller one is the compressor coil cooling fan. Inside the foiled enclosure is the interior blower that moves the camper cooled air.

Just because the propeller one is not hitting anything does not mean the inside one is free. There may be a wire or something hitting that fan. MAKE SURE that fan does not make noise when you turn it.

The bearings in the motor could also be bad. If your motor has an oil fitting; try lubing it with 3 in 1 oil to see if that quiets the motor. If not, (or there is no filler) then you may need to replace your motor.

**Flybob** · 03-31-2015, 07:54 AM

You description is not clear to me, but I think you are referring to the fan motor. Hold the shaft gently with a fliers then with the other hand, try moving the fans. The fan blade and squirrel cage should not move. They will sometimes work themselves loose and cause noise. Oiling the area you show, will most likely not help much as these motors usually have sealed bearings that do not need (or accept) oil. They need to be replaced if they fail.

gr8white · 03-31-2015, 08:17 AM

Wow great feedback back and so much appreciated! I will be taking a video today and posting it. I do have the ability. I didnt know it had 2 fans.

DAISY BOYKIN · 03-31-2015, 08:35 AM

You may have to remove the bottom of the A/C (where the filter is) and up inside is a squirrel cage blower. There may be something hitting the squirrel cage. Dirt dobber nest, wasp nest or your squirrel cage is bad. You will have to get access to it from the top also to see what is hitting. The squirrel cage can be accessed
through the top. It is located on the opposite end of the motor of the fan.

Good luck

**Herk7769** · 03-31-2015, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybob

You description is not clear to me, but I think you are referring to the fan motor. Hold the shaft gently with a fliers than with the other hand, try moving the fans. The fan blade and squirrel cage should not move. They will sometimes work themselves loose and cause noise. Oiling the area you show, will most likely not help much as these motors usually have sealed bearings that do not need (or accept) oil. They need to be replaced if they fail.

I know about the sealed bearings but my motor has a felt washer to keep dirt out of the bearing area. The oil was put there to "wet" the dry seal in the photo. His AC looked old and my have an oil filler like my home oil furnace blower motor.

gfarmcafe · 03-31-2015, 12:16 PM

I had the same thing happen to ours last year and found mud dabbers had made nests in the cage where the fan is housed. Took forever to get them out! Just a thought.

gr8white · 03-31-2015, 12:22 PM

I opened the AC from the inside of the RV as you can see from the pic and I didnt see a fan. I did see one mud dabber nest but it isnt effecting anything. I am not sure how to get to this other fan. Any advice? Also, if there are more mud dabber nests if I can find the other fan, do I need to worry about them coming out and stinging me?

B and B · 03-31-2015, 12:38 PM

FTR As long as the motor bearing is not scorched too bad you can dissemble the motor, clean the shaft, clean the bearings with some solvent reoil and reassemble. Might get a season or two out of it.

The squirrel cage is inside the white Styrofoam box. I bet a mud dabber has made a nest in there.

gfarmcafe · 03-31-2015, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gr8white;

I opened the AC from the inside of the RV as you can see from the pic and I didnt see a fan. I did see one mud dabber nest but it isnt effecting anything. I am not sure how to get to this other fan. Any advice? Also, if there are more mud dabber nests if I can find the other fan, do I need to worry about them coming out and stinging me?

Mud Daubers usually don't sting humans unless you pick on them. They won't attack like paper wasps or yellow jackets. They prey primarily on spiders leaving them paralyzed inside the mud cones for future meals.

gr8white · 03-31-2015, 01:40 PM

Thanks for the info. I just found out that a friend passed away so I wont be able to post the video until tomorrow. Im going to go down on the Gulf and have a few beers and cook some burgers in his honor. Thanks!

saltyman · 03-31-2015, 08:26 PM

I had same problem, Dirt Dobbers (Wasp) had built a nest in my AC on the turning blades and cages. It throws the turning elements off balance, hence the noise.

bob caldwell · 03-31-2015, 09:38 PM

From the op's post and the volume of noise emitting, those suckers must of made their nest out of granite!

saltyman · 03-31-2015, 10:03 PM

As a drag racer you must know what an unbalanced engine sounds like. Electric motors at 3600 RPM sound off the same.

bob caldwell · 03-31-2015, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltyman

As a drag racer you must know what an unbalanced engine sounds like. Electric motors at 3600 RPM sound off the same.

The only time I get an unbalanced condition, I just put it on the driver as I sent him off with a PERFECT motor!!

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