Check out some similar questions!

connpat · Jul 2, 2013, 02:13 PM

Hi, My furnace blower motor is intermittent. The blades spin freely. When I switch the furnace to manual the motor hums and the blades turn very slowly and other times it will work only if I spin the blades first but not all the time.Could this be that the brushes need to be changed? The casing sticker reads Torin by Airvector DC 916-704-5 and under that C 4122. The furnace is an ICG by Keeprite.

Thanks
Pat

ma0641 · Jul 2, 2013, 02:35 PM

Sounds like you need a start or start/run capacitor. What you are indicating is common capacitor failure. Match the voltage and farad rating of the capacitor on the motor. Doubt there are replaceable brushes on that type of motor.

connpat · Jul 2, 2013, 04:07 PM

Hi ma0641, I can't find a capacitor any where on or near the blower the motor. Only the ground and 4 main wires. Is there anything else you can think of?
Thanks

ma0641 · Jul 2, 2013, 06:28 PM

If the wires are black, white and brown(typically) there is a capacitor. Trace the wires back. See something that looks like a silver or black cylinder or small box with 2 -3 wires? That's the capacitor.

connpat · Jul 3, 2013, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by ma0641

Sounds like you need a start or start/run capacitor. What you are indicating is common capacitor failure. Match the voltage and farad rating of the capacitor on the motor. Doubt there are replaceable brushes on that type of motor.

Hi ma0641, I can't find a capacitor any where on or near the blower the motor. Only the ground and 4 main wires. Is there anything else you can think of?
Thanks

connpat · Jul 3, 2013, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by connpat

Hi ma0641, I can't find a capacitor any where on or near the blower the motor. Only the ground and 4 main wires. Is there anything else you can think of?
Thanks

Sorry. I'm new at this and keep screwing up.
The wires are red,white, blue and black and they all go into the motor. There is no capacitor on or anywhere that I can see. Thanks

ma0641 · Jul 3, 2013, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by connpat

Sorry. I'm new at this and keep screwing up.
The wires are red,white, blue and black and they all go into the motor. There is no capacitor on or anywhere that I can see. Thanks

Capacitor may be inside motor. If that is the case, you need to have an HVAC person look at it internally.

connpat · Jul 3, 2013, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by ma0641

Capacitor may be inside motor. If that is the case, you need to have an HVAC person look at it internally.

Thanks for all your help.

tankco44 · Jul 3, 2013, 03:24 PM

Sounds like the motor is bad. If the Cap was out then it wouldn't try to turn at all. And not all motors have Caps.

hkstroud · Jul 3, 2013, 04:15 PM

Sounds like defective start winding. Before trashing motor pull it apart and check start winding centrifugal cut out switch.

Remove end caps, check wiring connections to switch and make sure nothing is interfering with its closing (making contact). Clean, lubricate and reassemble.

You can check windings with meter but if start switch is closed and all electrical connections are good and motor won't start it's a pretty safe bet that start winding is shot.

connpat · Jul 4, 2013, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Sounds like defective start winding. Before trashing motor pull it apart and check start winding centrifugal cut out switch.

Remove end caps, check wiring connections to switch and make sure nothing is interfering with its closing (making contact). Clean, lubricate and reassemble.

You can check windings with meter but if start switch is closed and all electrical connections are good and motor won't start it's a pretty safe bet that start winding is shot.

Excellent. Thanks. I will give that a shot before trashing the motor!!