Noisy outside fan

[wvbaker]

:confused: Have a Trane XE1200 and need some advice. I noticed yesterday, that the fan on the outside compressor unit was making a slight taping/clanging (best way I can describe it). While checking the unit, I noticed the entire unit was off balance, I balanced the unit and restarted it. Fan is not hitting anything I could see.

For awhile it sounded better. Got up this morning and noticed it was doing it again. Please, what could be causing this noise and what should I check? Should anyone know of anything please, also describe how to get the part that needs to be checked.

I could press down on the top, where the motor is attached and at some points, while applying pressure, the noise would stop. All nuts on the top outside are tight.

[Ed Imeduc]

With power off to the unit spin the fan by hand and see if you can find it that way. Like is one blade down or up more that the others? look and see if the fan blade has moved up or down on the motor shaft any. Do you mean the fan blade is off balance??

ED ;)

[wvbaker]

With power off to the unit spin the fan by hand and see if you can find it that way. Like is one blade down or up more that the others? look and see if the fan blade has moved up or down on the motor shaft any. Do you mean the fan blade is off balance??

ED ;)
Ed:

Looks like the blades are all in line. As far as the shaft, it’s hard to tell if it’s moved up our down. Any suggestions on how to check it correctly?

In regards to the balance, I was just wondering if that could be the case and how could you tell?

[scottg]

Look at each individual blade and see if there are any marks that would indicate that a small metal clip 1" square was there.
Also chcek to see if any of the blades are loose on the bracket.
Third check to see if you have any excessive play in the shaft up and down and side to side. :)

[wvbaker]

Ed & Scott...
Thanks for the advice. Checked everything you both mentioned and could still not figure out the problem. Had to call for service. The service tech started it up, because I had it turned off thinking it may be doing more damage by running and when he did, of course the noise was not there. Always the way right. Well, he let it run for awhile, gave it a little nudge and it started making the noise again. Right away, listening to it, he said it was bad bearing in the fan motor causing the noise. He advised that the motor could last 2 minutes, 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years. Gave in and had it replaced.

Another question for you. I had never noticed this before and never looked or listened for it but, as the heat pump is running and when the temp. inside drops, the Aux. heat light comes on. Normal I know but, is it normal for the fan on the outside unit to stop when this occurs? The outside unit still “buzzes”, but the fan is not spinning during this time. Is this what they refer to as “defrost” mode?undefined

[Ed Imeduc]

Yes when the unit goes into defrost thats like an AC. So the compressor outside will run but no fan. The inside fan will run . As its like and AC for now the AUX heat will turn on so it dont blow cold air into the home.

ED ;)

[mattison]

Sounds like defrost. When it does this go out and feel the skinny copper line it should be hot to the touch and you may even have some steam rising out of the unit.