Happy weekend,

I recently got a Canedy Otto, Western Chief blower. The handle does not have a counter weight, and if I spin the handle and let go, It stalls pretty fast. Is this because I don’t have a counterweight, or is it just other friction? The gears have oil up to where the casting itself says, and the shafts are oiled. If it is indeed a counterweight problem anyone know where to find one/make one? Thank you in advance.

Asa

I would probably either get a really big ball bearing or just a chunk of steel- drill/file a hole appropriate and get to work. I’m sure others have better measurements.

What are you using for oil? Have you cleaned it out real well?

My little champion blower keeps on going and going without any weight, there is no provision for one. It could be friction with your big one. Just saying. 

We had a four hour power outage the other day.  Made me seriously consider getting a hand-cranked blower as a backup.

Yeah, I don’t know what kind of oil it is. I got the blower from a friend who found it at the scrapyard. He said he opened it up, cleaned it and filled it with oil.

It may have too much oil in it,if your friend "filled it up". If I renumber right they only get enough oil for the lower gear to run in it which then uses a splash system to oil the other gears and bearings. I like chainsaw bar oil with a little STP added.

If you do a google (or your favorite search engine) search like this there are quite a few threads about them. western chief blower site:iforgeiron.com

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

This one talks about oiling them.

https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/68722-royal-blower/

 

I've only fooled with Champion blowers, but they don't have oil seals on the shafts.  If you overfilled one, most of it would end up in the fan housing fairly quickly.

Speaking of which, given the mechanical advantage, excess drag on the fan shaft or fan itself would slow the blower a lot faster than anything else.  So the first thing I'd check is that the fan spins freely.  (Because the fan turns so much faster, it also holds most of the momentum when the blower is turning.  I can't see a counterweight on the slow-turning handle -- or the lack of one -- making much difference.)

Happy New Year,

How Hot is Durango Colorado? What is the viscosity of the Oil your friend put in the Blower (Molasses in January??)  It turns, that is a good thing. Allow the Blower to warm up and gently be Cranky. Don't be impatient. Allow the Old Girl to stretch her/his Legs.

Neil

6 hours ago, MeltedSocks said:

We had a four hour power outage the other day.  Made me seriously consider getting a hand-cranked blower as a backup.

I set my whole shop with out needing power, all hand cranked, with the exception of the 30 pound Star power hammer.

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

Wow, I get busy for the day, look back at the forum, and “boom” there’s so many comments. There’s no way to really see how much oil there is, it isn’t the kind with the top that slides off. When I’m cranking it, oil does work it’s way into the shaft and by the fan blades. It does work though, and that’s what matters!