Oiling SMC Emporer

[az2000]

I have two SMC Emperor fans. I'm curious how to oil them.

They have a small hole on the motor cover about 3/4 inch from the downrod. These aren't the kind of fans that you pour oil in the hole are they? I've taken the motor cover apart. It doesn't look like the sort of thing you'd fill with oil. I could only see the lower half (beneath the windings). I couldn't take it apart far enough to see the inside cover above the windings.

Both fans make some noise. I've improved them by tightening a lot of loose screws and balancing. They are at least 21 years old. I know they're cheap and I should replace them. But, I'm just fooling around with them. Curious how they should be oiled. (Put some oil down the shaft? Or, in that hole?).

Thanks,
Mark

[Adam D.]

That would be the fan motor housing, you don't want to to poor oil though that. you would have to take the fan apart to oil the top bearings, which can easily be done if you're handy.. the bottom bearings are located between the motor it self and the switch housing.. the motor is black, which the blades screw into..

[Cole S.]

DON'T throw them out or replace them. I can take some pics of a different fan, with the same general setup as your fan to show you how to do this if you still need help.(I have lots of time on my hands with no school these next few days) Just let me know, and keep those fans, they aren't as cheap as today's fans.

[az2000]

Thanks for the responses (Adam, Cole).

This is a photo of the motor housing:

(Click for a larger image)

I was able to separate the two halves of the motor housing, sliding the bottom half down to see the lower bearing.

But, I couldn't slide the top half up. The top of the shaft is connected to the large heavy flange shown at the top of the photo. (The top decorative motor cover attaches to that flange.)

I can't tell if the shaft is threaded into the flange, or pressed in. There are two set screws. But, removing those I still couldn't figure out how to remove the flange so I could slide the top cover up.

Also, can't I just oil it where the shaft meets the motor cover as described by "Spiffy" in this post (and the link referred to there)? Is it really necessary to take the housing apart?

Even if it's ok to oil it that way, I'd still like to know how to get access to the top bearing.

Thanks,
Mark

[Cole S.]

Oh! Adam and I misunderstood. The housing is the decorative part that you've already removed, you've already got the motor out. That's perfect, so yeah, do as described in that thread, with the correct oil of course. Just put a bunch of oil in those holes near the shaft, rotate the motor, and wipe away any runoff.

The flange screws off if you remove those set screws. I have a method for loosening these from the shaft, but I'm not going to disclose that method for the risk of damaging your fans. Someone else may have a better and safer method than me.

[az2000]

Mar 18, 2009 22:08:45 GMT -5 Cole S. said:

Oh! Adam and I misunderstood. The housing is the decorative part that you've already removed, you've already got the motor out.

I realized I was using the wrong terminology when I referred to the motor cover (which is really the motor, which has a two-piece covering over the flywheel and windings) and the decorative motor cover (the outer shell).

Mar 18, 2009 22:08:45 GMT -5 Cole S. said:

That's perfect, so yeah, do as described in that thread, with the correct oil of course. Just put a bunch of oil in those holes near the shaft, rotate the motor, and wipe away any runoff.

In that thread the original poster asked if it was a problem if oil gets into the motor (into the two-piece shell, into the winding and flywheel). I didn't see a response to that. I assume it's ok? It seems inevitable oil will go past bearings.

I picked up some Zoom Spout oil at Ace Hardware.

Mark

[Cole S.]

It should be okay, just use common sense with these things. I hope you can get your fans back up and working!

I'm going to give some terminology here:
Motor Housing-the decorative outer shell of the fan motor assembly
Motor(aka motor shell)-the inner part of the motor assembly that actually spins
Flywheel-most likely found on stack motor fans(K-55, XLP-2000, K-63), and not on direct drive(spinner) motors like your SMC's. It's usually made of rubber, but metal ones are out there as well.

[az2000]

Wow. Much quieter. I slowly put about a half-bottle of Zoom Spout through the bearings. Let it sit for a few hours to drain out. Opened the motor's case to wipe out excess oil that collected in the bottom.

Just put the fan back together and it's *much* quieter.

I think it has some bad bearings. I could feel some random roughness as I spun the motor (as I poured oil into the top, where the shaft meets the motor shell). But, the oil was enough to quiet it.

I did a couple other things that may have helped.

1- Plumbers use a rubber tape to protect copper pipes from contact with concrete. I used some pieces of that on the top of the decorative housing (where it bolts onto the flange at the top of the shaft) as insulation between the decorative housing and the flange attached to the shaft. I thought that might reduce transmission of sounds to the outer decorative cover.

2- I lined the inside of the metal socket (on the ceiling, that the ball at the end of the shaft rests in) with the rubber tape. I thought it might reduce transmission of sounds to the ceiling. (Also put a light coat of white lithium grease on the ball itself so it would move easier.).

I'm going to reverse the fan blades so the faux wicker faces upward. I get the feeling the rough, faux-wicker side generates turbulence. Maybe the smoother side of the blade pushing air will be quieter.

I'm also going to put some rubber between both sides of the wood fan blade (screw head, and metal arm). Ace Hardware sells polypropylene washers, but it's $9 for 24 washers (@ 30 cents each). I have an old rubber inner tube. I'll cut some washers out of that.

Finally, I'm going to put something between the blade arm and the motor. Ace Hardware sells some foam material for insulating electric outlets and wall switches. It's about 1/16" thick white foam. I think I may buy that and cut out pieces for the blade arm. Use a Sharpie pen to make the exposed areas black (to hide it).

Mark

[Jean Lemieux]

Whoa half a bottle is way too much. That probably why you had oil accumulated at the bottom of you motor. I wonder how you opened that motor they are so hard to open.

On the picture the bearings of that brown SMC motor seems very hard to get access. I don't see any hole.

A good way to clean the top bearings of a direct drive motor when they are dirty it to use a damp cotton swab.

BTW I updated my oiling thread.

[az2000]

Mar 19, 2009 17:52:26 GMT -5 Jean Lemieux said:

Whoa half a bottle is way too much.

Well.... These fans haven't been oiled in 21 years (in Arizona, which is dusty). I figured there was going to be excess oil anyway, so I might as well be bold.

It was messy. I did it in the garage. After cleanup, I laid out a drop cloth in the room where the fan mounts. I'll run it that way for a couple days. I've already seen 4-5 drops of oil.

Opening the motor wasn't too bad. I tapped around the lip with a punch. When it opened far enough, I used a couple screw drivers on opposite sides to rock it open. It would pop open a little one way. Then pop open a little the other way. (Closing it seemed harder to me.).

I put the rubber washers between the metal blade mount, screwes and wooden blade. Also fabricated a rubber mounting insulator for the blade mounts where it connects to the motor. I cut it out of that plumber's rubber tape mentioned previously (I sandwiched two pieces together, then cut it out in the form of the blade mount where it connects to motor).

Also reversed the blades so the smooth face pushes the air (less turbulence and the sound that comes from that?).

Started it again and it seems a little quieter.

I have a Radio Shack decibel meter. I should have thought to record sound levels through this whole process. (Maybe I'm obsessing.).

I have another SMC Emperor to do this to. But, it doesn't chatter like this one did. I don't expect as much improvement. I'll just do it so they're both maintained the same.

Mark

[Cole S.]

The cane side shouldn't generate too much noise, they normally don't unless the cane is loose or sagging. I'm glad it all worked for you, may want to use a bit less oil next time though.

[az2000]

Mar 18, 2009 20:34:52 GMT -5 Cole S. said:

keep those fans, they aren't as cheap as today's fans.

Cole, that surpises me. What about these old fans is better than modern ones?

I felt embarrassed asking how to rejuvenate them because I imagine they were cheap when purchased, and are at least 21 years old (they were in the house when I bought it then).

I don't mind saving money in this economy, but I suspect the bearings of one fan will have to be replaced soon. I'm just curious why it would be better to do that instead of getting a new fan?

Thanks,
Mark

[Cole S.]

As you may notice, we promote vintage ceiling fans here. The motors in the SMC's, while not the highest quality at the time they were purchased, are WAY better than today's Crapton(Hampton) Bay and Harbor Breeze motors. If you're going to replace them, buy something with a stack motor from Casablanca or Emerson, that's the only way you can get any better than those SMC's.

In the end, it may be cheaper to do a do-it-yourself bearing replacement, or get it done for you, than to buy a high quality stack motor Casablanca or Emerson. You could also buy other fans from us here, and you could try to sell the SMCs to someone.

[az2000]

Mar 19, 2009 21:11:32 GMT -5 Cole S. said:

In the end, it may be cheaper to do a do-it-yourself bearing replacement, or get it done for you,

The oiling fixed it good enough for now. But, out of curiosity (if/when I decide to go further):

1. Are the bearings unique? Do I have to buy them specifically for the fan? Or, just a generic sealed bearing with the same dimension?

2. I know you didn't want to describe your method to remove the flange from the top of the shaft (fearing I might damage my fan). But, I'm curious whether it's reverse threaded. At least I'll know I'm forcing it in the correct direction.

I'm thinking penetrating oil (Liquid Wrench) in the set-screw holes. If it doesn't budge after setting overnight (and a couple of taps with a hammer), then heat the flange with a torch.

Thanks,
Mark

[Cole S.]

It shouldn't be reverse threaded, I don't think I've ever seen a fan that is, especially an SMC. It's very tough to get it broken loose, but after that, it's easy. Just keep working on it, and it'll loosten up. If your methods don't work (I'm not sure about the heat, but it's worth a try if you're willing) I may have to show you mine, but you'd have to be VERY careful, and I'm sure none of the members of this site would approve of it.