DC 3300 - Replacing fan or motor

[charlese]

Finally! The second time was the charm. Recently I replaced the broken fan in my DC 3300. The instructions on how to disassemble the unit were incomprehensible. They were littered with (focused on) removing screws, but the numbers in the text did not match the illustration. After fighting with the screws surrounding the fan assembly finally separated the two halves - loosened the motor mount and somehow got the front half off and replaced the fan. This was the wrong procedure! But I got the new fan in.

Today, because of the noises in the dust collector, I had convinced myself I would have to get my motor repaired or buy a new one. New ones were to be on sale through the 6th. Anyway, I couldn't go too wrong by tearing the thing down again. I had until Tuesday evening to see if I could get my motor repaired.

Today, I discovered the right way to remove the fan and motor, and it is easy! Take off the manifold - remove the two screws in the back that hold the motor housing - take off the yolk at the front (4 small screws) - disconnect the wire plug from the motor to the switch (press the top and bottom of the connector and pull) - now just lift out the whole guts!

Once out, take the whole unit to the bench and you can easily remove the screws connecting the two halves and remove/replace the fan and/or motor. It is simple and quick!

In my case today, after cleaning the sawdust out of the motor and re-installing the fan and re-assembling the entire unit - it now works with no more funny noises. I believe there was nothing wrong with the motor at all. I believe the problem was; I had mis-installed the fan previously with the key not properly aligned in the shaft. Fan installation is a lot easier on the bench with the whole unit out.

My motor shaft does move laterally (in and out) about a sixteenth of an inch, however since the motor is running smoothly, I'm going to chuck this up to normal wear.

[a1gutterman]

I'm glad that everything turned out good for you, Chuck. How did you find out the correct procedure? I've seen other motor shafts with a little "in and out" play in them before. Does not seem to matter much. Now, if the play was a side to side wiggle, I wood worry more about it.:D

[dusty]

What? No Pictures?:( :rolleyes:

[eldyfig]

Let's see some pictures. Take it back apart again if you have to.:D

I am curious if you noticed if there is gap at the inlet and the housing like mine has (goes back to a previous thread of mine) after the support bracket is removed.

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/DSCF0026.b92.th.JPG

[charlese]

Ha,Ha,Ho,Ho!!! LOL!!!

The gap in the front is chinked with foam weatherstripping from the factory. It is a round foam doughnut with sticky on the back. After removing the unit twice, the foam is compressed, dirty and ripped. For a temporary fix, I covered the yolk with duct tape. The bottom of the inlet is pretty well sealed with the origional foam. One of these days I will order the seals from Shopsmith.

The hardest part of getting this thing apart (after learning how) is cleaning the sawdust from the unit first. That's the part I dread! A Shop Vac is valuable here.

I believe the inlet seal is not as important as the motor seal. At present, the sides of this seal are still in good shape, the top foam chinking has is worn and has been reinforced with duct tape.

Here are three tips to things that may be confounding. Although the instructions say there are 4 screws holding the back motor end - there are only two. These are self tapping screws that are inserted vertically (almost hidden) in between the plastic fins below the motor.

I was baffled by the plastic plug. the release is on the top and bottom of this plug.

There is a self tapping screw in the depression (bad word now-a-days) below the outlet of the fan housing.

O.K. being a softy, I'll snap a couple of shots.

[dickg1]

. . . cleaning the sawdust from the unit . . .

Tell me about it. I found that my 3300 was losing suction. Decided that the dust bag needed a cleaning. Took the bag off. The bag was full of dust and promptly cleared itsef on my garage floor. Next time, I move the 3300 outside before removing the bag! Unfortunately, you can't use the 3300 to remove the volume of dust remaining in the unit itself - somewhat of a recursive act!
Dickg1

[eldyfig]

Are you using a clear bag? Good idea to change out at least before it gets 3/4 of the way full.

When the motor seals go out, that is a problem. One of mine came out and dust would blow out the motor exhaust making a mess. I changed out the seals s few months ago. The seals are just foam tape. Cheaper to buy it at the BORG. I have an extra seal I bought. I can take measurements. I think it is about 1" wide.

One day I guess I need to go back into mine and do something to close up the gap I have.

[charlese]

Shoot!!:mad: I took it apart again today, as there are not current projects happening and had some time. Evidently I clicked the higher quality photo after snapping the first one. There are 8 photos in my computer. I can send them by e-mail to anyone wanting them.

Don't really understand the methods of reducing the pixels to make the other photos fit. To be totally honest -don't want to learn either.
But anyway, here is the first photo. It shows the inset side of the guts as the part is on the bench. Note the screw that is almost hidden in the recessed part - just below the fan outlet. This is hard to find, if you didn't know it was there.

Tony - Yes when the unit is all assembled, the yolk does not fit snug up against the front. I thought my unit looked the same as yours, but not so! A closer look at yours shows you do not have the yolk in place. There is supposed to be foam between the manifold and the fan housing intake. When you put the manifold on it protrudes through the opening and is supposed to compress the foam mounted on the inlet as shown in the my one photo photo. The yolk that tightens down the fan unit does not touch the front of the collector body. Give me your e-mail (PM) and I'll send the photos. Your situation is not harmful however. The opening just creates a bit of recycling of dust, and probably a little loss in static pressure and air movement through the hose.

Tim - I don't know if I have the correct procedure - just the one that works!:)

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