<VV> Blower Bearing

[airvair]

It's not uncommon for even "new" blower bearings to need relubing, as 
lubrication can dry out over time. I'd recommend that any new bearing be 
lubed upon installation, especially if it's known to have been sitting 
on the shelf for any length of time.

I've found that contrary to some opinions, blower bearing CAN and DO go 
bad out without much, if any, warning. I've only had two go bad on me in 
my 35 years of driving Corvairs, but one of them DID begin squeeking 
without warning on a trip to Detroit (two hours out on a three hour 
trip). By the time I nursed my car to our destination, it was screaming 
like a banshee.

My cure is to use an easily REPLACABLE bearing design from Orville 
Eiason. While Orville is no longer in the business, American Pi sells a 
replacable cartridge bearing that accomplishes the same goal. Both 
designs use common alternator bearings, and allows the bearings to be 
replaced without having to gut the top of the engine. In fact, only the 
air cleaner and throttle cross shaft have to be removed. This is, of 
course, AFTER the bearing unit's initial installation, which, like the 
stock unit, requires that the top of the engine be gutted. So if you are 
going to have to replace the bearing anyway, or have the engine gutted 
in the first place, I highly recommend the stock bearing be replaced 
with a REPLACABLE design, such as American Pi sells.

-Mark

aircooled6@prodigy.net wrote:
> I had a new one from a vendor start to howl almost immediately after
> install.  I leave the belt loose as heck and dont have them pop off.
> Anyhow, I took a hint from someone on this list and used one of my wifes
> insulin syringes to inject some mobil 1 into the bearing.  Aout 10 cc s all
> told.  That was 2 years and probably 20000 miles ago and not a peep since.
> 
> Beat the heck out of removing it again.
> 
> Everett Wilson
> North Richland Hills TX
> 
>>
>>My vote is that your fan belt is installed too tight, this will bind the
>>bearing and cause premature failure.
>>
>>A belt should be installed only by a finger tight pull on the idler.
>>You should be able to spin the alt/gen fan blade with a single finger
>>while the belt slides over the pulley.
>>
>>As the belt heats up from use it actually gets tighter.  If it's too
>>tight while cold it only gets tighter putting extra stress on the
>>bearing.
>>
>>Rick Loving
>>
>>There IS a tool to lube the fan bearing, but your failure rate would
>>indicate something else is going on - unless the replacement bearing
>>just
>>had not been lubed at the factory?
>>
>>Attachments are scanned with anti-virus software.
>>
>>Later, JR
>>
>>
>>I replaced my second fan bearing in two years. I drive the car about
>>two
>>thousand miles per year. That can't be normal. I guess sitting around
>>all
>>winter
>>harms this bearing as well. Can this bearing be lubricated some how?
>>Thanks
>>Brian