Is this sound normal? (I sure hope it is)

[scalebowler]

I was listening to my machine run today and I noticed that it sounded different. I attached a video of the sound that it is making. Is this a normal sound? I really hope I do not have to get a new compressor.

[dr galaga]

Is something rattling? Mine made something like that awhile ago and I just had to tighten one of the brackets that led the compressor to the machine. Try touching parts of the compressor as it is running, but watch that it does get hot and of course the fan can hurt!  You might want to have a glove on.

[loman4ec]

Sounds to me like the fan is hitting something. You have to watch as its easy to get stuff in the way of both the condenser and evaporator fans.

[scalebowler]

not sure. there are no screws holding the compressor down. Just some metal clips.

[scalebowler]

Sounds to me like the fan is hitting something. You have to watch as its easy to get stuff in the way of both the condenser and evaporator fans.

The condenser fan has this severly damaged MDF or cardboard thing around the blades. I think only maybe half of it is left. I allready took some off the top I wonder if there is something at the bottom. I will check

[scalebowler]

Also how bad can this fan hurt me if I accedently touch it? I am nervous about reaching into it while it is running.

[loman4ec]

Stick a screwdriver into the fan to stop it and if the noise stops then you found the problem.

[scalebowler]

How about unpluging the fan from the machine?It is a really tight spot down there and I am not sure what that fan would do if I let the screwdriver loose. Tried touching it with a glove on and it started to tear a hole in the glove. I will unplug the fan when the machine shuts off.

[johnieG]

OH MY GAWD!!! IT"S A Liopleurodon Charlie!  http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/charlie-the-unicorn/0FD9AD2AFC43025579AA0FD9AD2AFC43025579AA

[johnieG]

but seriously, unplug the machine & remove what's left of the old cardboard fan shroud, it won't effect the cooling performance of the fan by too much & it should stop the noise.

[scalebowler]

OH MY GAWD!!! IT"S A Liopleurodon Charlie!  http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/charlie-the-unicorn/0FD9AD2AFC43025579AA0FD9AD2AFC43025579AA

LOL! That is funny!

[johnieG]

I pays to keep my 11 yr old son searching Utube all night. 

[Pat Pixley]

Just like John said unplug the machine remove whats left of the cardboard and check the
fan to make sure it is tight .

    John we have to find something else for you son  I want to gut out  charlie's friend  .  .

[scalebowler]

Ok I removed the rest of the fan shroud and so far it sounds quieter and more like it did when I first got it. but I am going to wait untill it stops running to make sure.

Ok here is the video I took of it running after I took the fan shroud out. Thank you so much guys I could not have gotten this machine fixed without your help!

[scalebowler]

Ok now I start hearing the sound off and on. It only goes on for around 5 seconds or so but then stops and then maybe a little later it will do it again. Should I try tightening the fan motor to the bracket?

[scalebowler]

Tightened the fan motor and it is still doing it but it is off and on not continously like when the shroud was in there. It might be the compressor vibrating but I don't know how to tighten the compressor down. It does not have bolts

[pepsi-perk]

Ok...not sure what that Unicorn thing was....kind of disturbing really.  That's 4 minutes of my life I'll never get back   

[collecture]

Could the fan motor bearings be it....fan on it's way out?

[scalebowler]

Maybe. How much would a new motor cost?

[90grad]

Fan motors are about $30 plus shipping.  Suppliers on this site (like Funtronics) sell them.  In my case, I have been fortunate enough to be allowed to buy stuff at a local HVAC store.  They are only supposed to sell to contractors, but I went in there and explained who I was and what I wanted the stuff for.  I don't abuse the priviledge and they know I am just a guy who collects this stuff.  So, I get them a little cheaper.  You might want to see if there are any HVAC stores close to you or a Graingers.

[MoonDawg]

           To test for a noisy fan motor, unplug the machine.....insert  a rag into the fanblade
to keep it from turning....wait 5 minutes for pressure in the compressor lines to equalize, then plug it back in.  If you hear no noise....pull the rag. If it then makes noise replace the fan motor.

[scalebowler]

Ok after some more searching I really think that unfortuantly the sound is comming from the compressor. The first sound was the fan shroud but now the compressor is making some noises. I really don't want to have to get a new compressor because I can not aford that right now. You know what I did do is I put a note in one of the pepsi machines downstairs asking if the pepsi person could take a look at my machine. Not sure if they will or not but it is worth a shot.

[scalebowler]

What kind of motor should I get to replace the condensor fan motor? I had the thing out before but I did not write down the numbers or anything.

[scalebowler]

Could the machine not being level cause the compressor to make noise?

[Creighton]

Yep, and there should be some sort of rubber bushing between the chassis and compressor mount points.
Creighton
 

[scalebowler]

I just need some WD-40 and I can get the machine level again. The screws have some rust on them and need some oil so they will turn again. There are rubber bushings between the compresor and the chassis mount points and they still are intact.

[scalebowler]

Ok I leveled the machine out and that seemed to work for a little while but it is still making the noise again.

[scalebowler]

I am now thinking about saving up my money and buying a new refrigeration system or have the one I have rebuilt. Anyone know what something like this would cost? I just want to get an idea of what this will cost me. I really like this machine and I would like to get it working great. Not sure if it is anything major though with this sound. The machine cools perfectly it just makes a lot of noise.

[Creighton]

$500 to have it done right. I wouldn't worry much until it stops cooling.
Creighton

[scalebowler]

Awesome! Could the little rubber bushings be going bad? Those things look ok but who knows what they look like going from the inside out and they are proboly origional. Are those cheap to get? I would like to try replacing those.

[scalebowler]

I tried the rag test today and from what I can figure out is that it is the fan motor. I had just the compressor running and it sounded like it should and not even a minute after I plug it back in the sounds starts back up. If anyone knows where I could get a good motor for a good price let me know.

[Creighton]

Call Eric at Global Compressor for the fan. Other board sponsers may have one as well. Any hardware store should have a suitable bushing replacement.
Creighton
 

[scalebowler]

Can these motors be taken appart? I might just have to clean the whole thing out. I have an old score projector from a bowling alley and the cooling fan started to slow down and oneday quit on me but I could still hear it hum and saw it was filled with dust so I took it appart and blew the dust out with compressed air and cleaned the rest out. (actually more than I wanted because there was a bronze bushing held in with a spring that I accidently messed up which involved me getting the rivits drilled out, enlarging the holes, oiling the felt, and putting the spring and bushing back together) The thing now sounds like a hair dryer running at full power and it puts out a ton of air. Just wondering if I could do that.

[90grad]

Not sure it would be worth trying to take apart.  They are sealed motors.  You can buy them for about $30.  Eric at Global Compressors or Funtronics have them.  You also might be able to buy one at a local HVAC supply store.

[scalebowler]

Not sure it would be worth trying to take apart.  They are sealed motors.  You can buy them for about $30.  Eric at Global Compressors or Funtronics have them.  You also might be able to buy one at a local HVAC supply store.

Ok that is what I wanted to know. Since they are sealed I think I will just get a new one.

[scalebowler]

Ok I feel kind of stupid. Today I was cleaning off the fan blades on the condensor fan and I noticed that a wire was touching a refrigerant line so I moved it away from the line and when I turned the machine back on it was quieter and only had some slight noises which it has always had since I bought it but the thing is it was not the horible sounds I was hearing before. If I figured this out I am going to be really happy. I hope that I have it fixed.

[scalebowler]

How hard is it to take the whole refrigeration system out of the machine? I would like to take the whole thing out during the summer and clean everything out. Right now there are some spots I have not been able to clean because of how tight it is in there.

[90grad]

Most of the time, it's pretty easy.  Be careful not to shear off any bolt(s) that is holding the compressor deck to the machine cabinet.  Also, it helps to have a friend to hold the evaporator when you take the deck out.  You don't want to kink any lines.  Just unplug the electrical cable from the deck to the door, unscrew the evaporator from the cabinet, and unbolt the compressor deck from the cabinet.  The whole unit should come out easily.  While it's out, it's a great time to rewire and change the fans.

[scalebowler]

Turns out that it must be the compressor. Did everything I could but it is still making the sound off and on. I still have not replaced the vibration mounts though. Not sure where to get those. I also have not replaced the fan motor too but that does not seem to be the problem.

[scalebowler]

Note to self do not use keyboard cleaner to blow the dust off of the condensor coils. Still can not get that taste out of my mouth.

[collecture]

Note to self do not use keyboard cleaner to blow the dust off of the condensor coils. Still can not get that taste out of my mouth.

Use compressed air!

[scalebowler]

Use compressed air!

I will next time. Dang! Turns out this stuff has a bittering agent in it to discourage kids getting high off of it and it just turns out that once you spray this stuff it becomes airborn and gets into your mouth and nose. Next time I get some of that keyboard duster I am sticking to some cheap office store brand that does not have this.

[scalebowler]

Anyone ever used Blast-a-coil before? My welding teacher told me to use something like that to clean out the condensor. He said it was like scrubbing bubbles for the coil. I may have to try it out. I used the air duster stuff which did get rid of some dust but it did not clean the coils out completly. I do want to give it a go.

[scalebowler]

Ok I after some time I believe that I have the problem figured out. My welding teacher knows a lot about HVAC and refrigeration stuff and I explained the problem I was having with the noise and he told me that if I have a really dirty condenser then it could be causing too much high side pressure to be building up and that can cause the noise. So I spent some time cleaning out the condenser the best I could with what I had and when the machine fired back up I noticed a HUGE difference in the sound. It still is dirty in the middle of the condenser and there is still dirt on it but I am going to get something to clean that off but the thing is that was the problem. I am so happy I apprecaite your guys help and I just wanted to let everyone know that I got it working.

[bubba]

Thats great to hear.. If you have compressed air around, give it a good blast with that and it should clean it all out.. Otherwise, hose or pressure washer.. Just got to be careful about getting too much water in the fan..