AEtheron Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 I recently purchased an antique Thompson forged co blower. It's about 100 years old and I restored it. After using it for about an hour it has started randomly vibrating and when this happens there is a huge amount of resistance' I have to stop cranking and start again. Any ideas what is causing this and what I can do to fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 When you restart does it go back to the original amount of force needed? If so it sounds like something is creeping out of alignment and falling back into alignment when you stop/restart. Check to see if any of the bearings have caps to adjust where the shafts ride in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 That sounds quite similar to a blower I got for Christmas. In the end I took it all apart, cleaned it up, polished the shafts on the buffer, put a thin layer of grease on all the shafts and put it back together. After I did that the vibration, noise, and extra resistance went away. I put the appropriate amount of oil in the case after that and haven't had any more issues with it, but I've only used it for a few hours. My impression was that one or more of the holes for the shafts were worn a bit to allow a small amount of movement. That coupled with a dry shaft essentially allowed for a chatter effect of sorts. Without hearing your blower I can't tell for sure if it's exactly the same thing as mine, nor am I 100% sure that my diagnosis is correct. All I can tell you is what I did and that my problem went away as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AEtheron Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Yes when I stop it works normally again. There is no bearings, it is brass bushings, and there is no adjustments. I will take it apart again and see if anything moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 this may sound a tad daft but.......... Does this type of blower work cranked ether way, or do you have to turn it in a specific direction? If it works either way, you could try turning it the other way to what you have been doing and see if it still binds up, worth a punt, easier than dismantling it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 They work cranked either way, though my intuition says turning it so the impeller blades are moving towards the outlet would be more efficient. I've never tried to gauge flow or psi so . . . Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AEtheron Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 On mine the oulet is perpendicular to the axle so it makes no difference which way you spin it however it runs better one way and I think that has to do with wear on the gears. Taking it apart now that I have done it a few times is easy, it's only six screws\bolts and four gears. I took it apart yesterday afternoon but apparently my reply didn't post (spotty internet in the middle of nowhere) there was some play in the bushings so I greases them all and my tests so far have run smooth, however I did not do an extensive test, that will likely be Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Then either something is running out of alignment due to play re Thomas' reply, or it is binding up likely due to heat expansion of the bearing surfaces. Not being able to inspect it makes an evaluation impossible, unless you find exactly what the problem is I have only two suggestions.......use a different lubricant (thicker/thinner as needed) or .......... give it a shorter work cycle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Since it has brass bushings I'd guess that the wear on the bushings and the shaft are sufficient to cause the them to develop a harmonic chatter. I had a similar problem in a blower. I bought a piece of oilite bronze and had a friend turn it down on a lathe id/od to fit. I was able to get away with not repairing the shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frozenforge Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I agree with Charlotte, loose bushings. Instead of the shaft rotating in the bushing the extra clearance allows the shaft to roll around the i.d. of the bushing causing the chatter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navaja Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 For what it's worth it might be worth balancing the fan, I got hold of an old forge with a hand crank blower that doesn't even have bushings, it sounded like a hand cracked air raid siren because of the badly out of balance fan "chattering" like crazy. After balancing it is relatively quiet & good to use even though there is no difference in wear. I just made sure the removed fan when balanced on a couple of flats edges didn't have a heavy spot that settled at the bottom each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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