HVAC quits - but cheap fix

The Celiera ductless mini split I installed in 2006 has performed flawlessly until yesterday. No cold air. I checked the outdoor unit and the fan was not turning. Closer inspection revealed it was humming so I give it a spin and it spun a few seconds. Hmmm. I turned off the power and shot a little W-40 where the fan shaft exited the bearing. That helped so I added some spray oil and worked the fan back and forth. Fired 'er up and it works fine.

Of course I can’t leave it like that. I checked online and couldn’t come up with an exact replacement motor. The Celiera website lists it but no longer available. And it was $165 anyway. It’s a pretty simple mount so anything that fits the fan shaft could be made to fit but all I can come up with is 220v motors and mine is 120v.

Today is Saturday but Air Rite is open until noon. That’s the good local HVAC supply place. Alas they could not match it either as they service mostly larger commercial mini splits. Drat.

However - when I pulled the motor I noticed it was not a crimped and sealed throw away motor. It was a bolted split case so I took it apart. Yay, standard ball bearings with the specs easily read. 608Z is what I need, but it is Saturday so bearing houses are closed. But as I searched online for 608Z I noticed it was also sold as a skateboard wheel bearing. Cowabunga, Dude!

A quick run to West Side Skateboard in Lakewood paid off. The young lady had an opened box (they come in sets of 8). Two bearings - four bucks. I cleaned the coils since I had it apart and we’re good for another 17 years.

Nice! Reminds me of the time I fixed a water-damaged (I didn’t know someone in the household had spilled some water on the table that got into it) logic board that Apple said was a Tier-4 repair of $1200. I left it to be fixed (one-month old computer, but I needed it for business), only to change my mind the next day, and I got it back. A few pennies worth of rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip, scrubbing the circuit board, and, fuck me, it worked. Lasted me another seven years or so until the graphics card went. (Now, I can see things from their point of view as to not guaranteeing a repair, and all that stuff, but I was so giddy when I heard the damn thing chime up and boot.)

@mixdenny

How cool is that?

~VOW

I can relate to the feeling. Cool !!

I also suggest that you check/replace the capacitors (start and run). Or at a minimum buy the capacitor from Amazon or homedepot and keep it for when you may need it.

That’s a good idea. The cap was right where I had to unhook the fan wires and I noticed it was a 4 terminal type so maybe a combo start/run and those can be tricky to find on short notice.