Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tx Firefighter · 01-31-2006, 10:11 AM

I was fixing the heater on my beater this weekend and finally pinpointed it as a bad blower motor.

I removed the motor, which is a pain, as the hood hinge had to come off.

After removing it, I noticed it was stiff to turn.

I put it face down on the bench and drilled an 1/8 hole in the very tip of the housing. This exposed the very tip of the motor shaft and allowed me to lubricate the bushing. Then, I squirted light oil down into the housing using a syringe. After a few minutes of turning the motor by hand, it had noticeably loosened.

After reinstalling the motor, it worked. I put it on low speed and sprayed a few more drops of oil down into the housing as it was running. After a minute or two, the motor was working and sounding just like brand new.

Finish up with a tiny dab of silicone to keep dirt out of your new lube hole.

That's 40 bucks saved, to be put towards more sexy trucks parts.

boundstaffpress · 01-31-2006, 10:38 AM

Love to hear about cheap fixes. Nothing beats good old fashioned farm thinking.

MrC1 · 01-31-2006, 12:14 PM

Sounds like this access hole could be drilled without removing the blower. Is that true? Could you post a pic of the finished product?

Tips like this are great - thanks for sharing!

70c10 · 01-31-2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the tip!

Tx Firefighter · 01-31-2006, 02:10 PM

Yes, you could definitely drill the hole and lube the motor with it installed.

In my case though, the motor was too seized up to even turn over electrically. I had to remove it to allow me to turn the squirrel cage by hand to free the motor up.

I'll get a picture, but it will be Friday till I'm back at work and have internet access tp put it up.

DangerBoy · 01-31-2006, 04:22 PM

Its a good idea to check all the fuses too. I just had one go out and aside from the motor just bein bad in general both my ac and heater fuses were blown.

Longhorn Man · 01-31-2006, 04:27 PM

I've done this a few times too... I like graphite powder instead of speay lube, although it wouldn't have helped much with alocked up motor like in this case.

PanelDeland · 01-31-2006, 06:39 PM

I've used this fix for years.It usually works but I have had to replace the motor a couple times even after doing it.I guess they burn up electrically from not running after a while.

Fred T · 01-31-2006, 06:48 PM

That's what we used to do before these trucks were classics. We didn't have silicone sealer then, we used a piece of clay to cover the hole. It comes off easy, and can be re-used. One of those things stored in the back of my brain. Now if I could remember them without prompting like this and write them down....

bluec10 · 01-31-2006, 07:00 PM

Great tip. I had to replace the heater core in my truck and the business with the hood hinge was a pain.

69TowRig · 02-01-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluec10

Great tip. I had to replace the heater core in my truck and the business with the hood hinge was a pain.

I am SO not looking forward to doing that soon...

GMC AMI · 02-01-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I was fixing the heater on my beater this weekend and finally pinpointed it as a bad blower motor.

I removed the motor, which is a pain, as the hood hinge had to come off.

Just remove two of the fender bolts that hold the hinge and loosen the 3rd
one and pivot the hinge out of the way to remove the motor. In case you do not wish to remove the hinge. Good tip Kevin!

Tx Firefighter · 02-01-2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Files

Just remove two of the fender bolts that hold the hinge and loosen the 3rd
one and pivot the hinge out of the way to remove the motor. In case you do not wish to remove the hinge. Good tip Kevin!

That's what I did, removed the two rear most bolts and pivoted the hinge forward and laid it on the fenderwell right behind the battery.

It really wasn't too bad. I probably spent 15 minutes on the whole job, including cleaning the leaves and crud out of the heater box behind the blower motor.

bluec10 · 02-01-2006, 01:23 PM

This thread is why I love this board. It just goes from good idea to great idea. Thanks guys.

01-31-2006, 10:11 AM	#1
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful I was fixing the heater on my beater this weekend and finally pinpointed it as a bad blower motor. I removed the motor, which is a pain, as the hood hinge had to come off. After removing it, I noticed it was stiff to turn. I put it face down on the bench and drilled an 1/8 hole in the very tip of the housing. This exposed the very tip of the motor shaft and allowed me to lubricate the bushing. Then, I squirted light oil down into the housing using a syringe. After a few minutes of turning the motor by hand, it had noticeably loosened. After reinstalling the motor, it worked. I put it on low speed and sprayed a few more drops of oil down into the housing as it was running. After a minute or two, the motor was working and sounding just like brand new. Finish up with a tiny dab of silicone to keep dirt out of your new lube hole. That's 40 bucks saved, to be put towards more sexy trucks parts. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

01-31-2006, 10:38 AM	#2
boundstaffpress Jamie Hyneman is my twin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Junta, Colorado Posts: 705	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Love to hear about cheap fixes. Nothing beats good old fashioned farm thinking. __________________ Justin SOLD 1967 K10 Fleetside, 283, Front and Rear Posi SOLD Color Wiring Diagrams Now in High Resolution V8 and Cab and Cab and Chassis

01-31-2006, 12:14 PM	#3
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Sounds like this access hole could be drilled without removing the blower. Is that true? Could you post a pic of the finished product? Tips like this are great - thanks for sharing! __________________ 1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! Last edited by MrC1; 01-31-2006 at 12:15 PM.

01-31-2006, 01:23 PM	#4
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Thanks for the tip! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

01-31-2006, 02:10 PM	#5
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Yes, you could definitely drill the hole and lube the motor with it installed. In my case though, the motor was too seized up to even turn over electrically. I had to remove it to allow me to turn the squirrel cage by hand to free the motor up. I'll get a picture, but it will be Friday till I'm back at work and have internet access tp put it up. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

01-31-2006, 04:22 PM	#6
DangerBoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Springville, Ca Posts: 270	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Its a good idea to check all the fuses too. I just had one go out and aside from the motor just bein bad in general both my ac and heater fuses were blown. __________________ 2002 S10 ZR2 for the dirt. 1968 C10 shorty for the street. She said the truck would be the end of us. I still have the truck!

01-31-2006, 04:27 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful I've done this a few times too... I like graphite powder instead of speay lube, although it wouldn't have helped much with alocked up motor like in this case.

01-31-2006, 06:39 PM	#8
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful I've used this fix for years.It usually works but I have had to replace the motor a couple times even after doing it.I guess they burn up electrically from not running after a while. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

01-31-2006, 06:48 PM	#9
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful That's what we used to do before these trucks were classics. We didn't have silicone sealer then, we used a piece of clay to cover the hole. It comes off easy, and can be re-used. One of those things stored in the back of my brain. Now if I could remember them without prompting like this and write them down.... __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

01-31-2006, 07:00 PM	#10
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful Great tip. I had to replace the heater core in my truck and the business with the hood hinge was a pain. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

02-01-2006, 01:23 PM	#14
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Blower motor tech, not sexy, but useful This thread is why I love this board. It just goes from good idea to great idea. Thanks guys. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.



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