Blower started making noise on Spindown

[petergriffin]

When A/C is used, in attic blower has started making squeaking noise
during spindown when outside temperature is below a certain level.

Blower appears to be a heavy motor with twin squirrelcages attached
on each side.

Does this type of motor need oil? I've never oiled in like 5 years.
Obviously it appears to be dying. How long will it last like this before
it starts making a constant noise?

Not sure how to get oil into the bearing since it would have to flow sideways.

Motor has some armored cable (steel conduit) leading from it
(perhaps per code) so I'm not sure how easy it will be to replace.

[HayZee518]

look at the motor! see if there are caps on the end bells. supply us with the frame number, voltage, rpm, amps, manufacturer and stock number. with this info we can find out what type of bearings are in it.

[petergriffin]

Not sure what "caps on the end bells" mean. It has dual shafts that are bolted onto squirrelcage blowers.

It says
FASCO V 115 HZ 60
HP 1/8 AMP 1.75
RPM 1500 (3 SPD)
CAP 4MF 370 VAC
NO 7184-0103 TYPE U184B 1 A0

It's sitting in a little mount that clamps onto both sides around each shaft.
I don't see any oil filler holes anywhere. Looking at replacements is
confusing because some of them have multiple amp and horsepower ratings.
In my case above, it says "3 spd" so is only the highest RPM and amps setting listed?

What are the others?

[HayZee518]

on the end bells of the motor see if there are any plastic caps white or yellow. if there are any these are the oiler points for the sleeve bearing inside. 3 spd indicates a three speed winding.

[petergriffin]

It doesn't appear to have any ports as you can see on one side
of the motor in these photos. Also, if I wanted to replace it,
it looks like I'd have to pull the whole blower assembly off the
box because the shafts are long and I don't think I could
just slide it left or right and get it out after disconnecting the shafts
from the blowers.

[HayZee518]

ok, then there is no means of oiling the bearings. what you have is oil-lite sleeve bearings. they are porous bronze oil impregnated, you'll need to install a replacement motor. get a frame number off the motor, the rpm-s and voltage then go to grainger supply and find a replacement.

[petergriffin]

I put all the info from the label above. Which is the "frame number"?

I'd imagine part of this line:

NO 7184-0103 TYPE U184B 1 A0

[petergriffin]

Can anyone tell me how to approach the disassembly? Which end of the
conduit should I remove to be able to unplug the blower wires? (is it socketed
at both ends?) Should i just try to remove the entire squirrelcage and shroud
assembly as 1 piece? it doesn't look like it's possible to get the motor out
without unbolting the shrouds from the box, even if I detach the squirrelcages
from the axles.

[HayZee518]

if you can remove the entire blower assembly it'll make things easier. follow the armored cable and disconnect it from its junction box. inside each squirrel cage is a hub with a grub screw. use an allen wrench and loosen this screw. use some pb penetrating oil and slide the fan off the shaft. the motor is held in place by two clamps which are tightened by a screw. loosen the screws and remove the clamp. the motor sits in a cradle in the mount.

[petergriffin]

Thanks. Looks like the closest replacement has 4 speeds instead of 3 like the
current motor. There is no speed control on the thermostat. Is it likely set up
to always turn at the highest speed? Do the speeds correspond to the four
listed horsepower ratings? 1/8-1/10-1/15-1/20?