Repair of 220v welder fan motor

[joshuabardwell]

This is what my welder's fan is doing:

I would love any suggestions on steps to troubleshoot or repair it. I have a very basic theoretical understanding of how electric motors work, but not enough practical application to proceed. A new one will cost me around $70, and I have other things I would much rather spend that money on.

Thanks!

 

[kenmac]

Looks like your in for a new fan motor. What brand welder. I've got a lincoln from the 70's & never had to replace the fan motor

 

[dex3361]

You could likely fix the motor with new bushings. The problem is finding parts to make the repairs. I would take the motor out and see if it has a name and model # and try google to see if you can locate a replacement. You could likely go back to the welder manufacturer for a replacement but the cost may be high. What is the voltage on the fan? Wonder if you could use something like this? Surplus Center - 198 CFM 115 VAC FAN

 

[dex3361]

Show some good pics of hoe it is wired. You need to know if the fan is 120V or 240V.

 

[kenmac]

I don't hear any noise indicating a bearing . In dealing with HVAC motors. I would say the windings are bad

 

[joshuabardwell]

What is the voltage on the fan? Wonder if you could use something like this? Surplus Center - 198 CFM 115 VAC FAN

The fan is 220v. I have considered whether it would be a bad idea to buy a cheap 120v fan and wire one lead to one of the hot legs and the other lead to the grounding lug. A new 220 volt motor from the manufacturer runs around $70. On the one hand, jacking around with the internal wiring of appliances can often get a person into trouble, but on the other hand, this isn't exactly rocket science, you know?

Looks like your in for a new fan motor. What brand welder. I've got a lincoln from the 70's & never had to replace the fan motor

It's a Montgomery Ward / PowerKraft. I bought it used a couple weeks ago and only just now got a 220 outlet put in to start playing with it. I noticed the fan didn't work when I bought it, but I blew it out with air and sprayed some lube into it and it livened up. Turns out it didn't liven up by much.

 

[kenmac]

you could buy a step down transformer 220v to 110v for about 25 bucks then, wire in a 110 fan motor. Never heard of a power craft brand

 

[joshuabardwell]

Show some good pics of hoe it is wired. You need to know if the fan is 120V or 240V.

Sorry I didn't indicate this; I thought it would be obvious. My inexperience with welders is showing. It's definitely a 240v motor. It has a red lead and a blue lead that connect to the two load-side poles of the main on/off switch. Also, it has a little label indicating that it's 230v. :laughing:

Now that you know it's 240, do you still want pictures?

I don't hear any noise indicating a bearing . In dealing with HVAC motors. I would say the windings are bad

I have tried to go at it with a multimeter to examine this possibility, but it's a little hard, in part because the wiring is not very accessible, but also because I am not very educated about how 220v motors are wired up. I can tell you that there is continuity from the red lead to the blue lead, and 33 ohms of resistance between them.

I agree that it's not a bearing. I don't have this on video, but when the motor is disconnected from power, the fan spins totally freely. The "binding" that it is experiencing feels magnetic in nature, in the way it binds up then releases suddenly, and also in how it feels if I try to turn the fan backwards while it is bound.

 

[joshuabardwell]

you could buy a step down transformer 220v to 110v for about 25 bucks then, wire in a 110 fan motor

Not to be glib, but for $20 I could just wire a 110 fan to a single hot leg and the ground. What's the advantage of the transformer?

 

[Paul N]

That type of fan is very common for many welders and bigger battery chargers. Since there is no white wire going to it, I would say it's 240 volt, but you'll have to check that to be sure. I'm sure you can find one online for less than $70. Check out Grainger.com. They have EVERYTHING, even the kitchen sink. They are a bit pricey, but it's a good place to start because they also list all the specs. Then you'll know what you need, and you can search the web for the best buy.