Electric Motor Question

LEGION 12

LEGION 12

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Jan 8, 2009
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I have an electric fireplace noticed the other day motor was running slow then it stopped doesn't look like its dirty took it apart and tried it have to give it a push to get it started. Is there any way to fix this or should I just chuck it ? Thanks in advance always get some sound advice here.
 
That is a shaded pole motor. a Small copper band help to move the rotor from stationary to rotating. They commonly fail due to the rotor locking up. It looks clean the other thing that kills them is heat from collecting too much dust, but that doesn't seem to be the case with your.

Check to see if the rotor turns freely on its own out of the unit. The motors are notoriously weak and will "lock-up" with very little resistance.

The motors are incredibly cheap, but they are not easy to cross-reference.
 
ron_m80 said:
That is a shaded pole motor. a Small copper band help to move the rotor from stationary to rotating. They commonly fail due to the rotor locking up. It looks clean the other thing that kills them is heat from collecting too much dust, but that doesn't seem to be the case with your.

Check to see if the rotor turns freely on its own out of the unit. The motors are notoriously weak and will "lock-up" with very little resistance.

The motors are incredibly cheap, but they are not easy to cross-reference.
Click to expand...

It does turn free and I can see the heat doing this seeing it sitting right under the heating element its stamped Fuer FEJ-A
 
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The next step would be to ensure you have line voltage to the motor. I would test that by putting meter black lead in the ground of an outlet or your power source and looking for at least 110 on the motor spade connection.

If you voltage its probably a bad motor.
 
It's getting power for sure once I get it turning it's fine you were right about it being hard to match I can't find one. I did email the Mfg to see if I can get a replacement will see kinda doubt it. Thanks a lot man
 
Shaded pole motors are simple. They work or they don't. Since they are so inexpensive, no one bothers with fixing them outside of the third world.

Johnstone has a lot of luck finding these types of motors in my experience.
 
I will check them out might pull the motor and clean it hate to have to toss the whole unit it's in great shape and works otherwise can't be safe to run it with the fan freezing like that. Would happen as soon as it starts getting cold of course.
 
The Mfg got back to me $60 + shipping for the whole fan assembly gonna see if I can find just the motor if possible.
 
I have pulled all kinds small motors out of housings that were also running slow,some were clean, some were dirty beyond belief.
It could be a high temp heat element that is bad. You could also put a little oil in the bearings on each end of the blower wheel.
I don't blame you for not wanting to buy a new assembly.
Good Luck
 
It is possible that the motor could have a tiny break in the winding and as it runs it heats up and expands causing it to quit.
I have seen this happen with motors that were fairly new.
 
N.E.Tim said:
It is possible that the motor could have a tiny break in the winding and as it runs it heats up and expands causing it to quit.
I have seen this happen with motors that were fairly new.
Click to expand...
Don't think there's a break in the winding once it gets going it runs fine. I will give oiling the shaft a shot not having any luck finding just the motor but I did find a similar assembly for half the price but it's for a different application if nothing else works I might just get it. If the whole assembly won't work for some reason I could always switch the motor's. Thanks again for the advice.
 
My experience has been failed bearing(s) - even the slightest play or resistance can keep one from spinning since they really don't have any starting torque. The usual solution is to clean it up as best as possible, but if there's any bearing play, scrap it.
 
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