Sorta like the basis for the plumbers high-priced bill. It wasn't the
charge for the 5 minutes for the job - it was knowing WHERE to apply the
rubber mallet to  the commode!

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 12/14/2010 10:43 AM, Andrew Martin wrote:
> Controlled application of a clenched fist should be in the Vanagon Bentley
> Manual.
>
> Andrew
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Karl Mullendore
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 7:32 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Blower motor anatomy
>
> The heater fan that I resurrected, still in the dash of the van, was the one
> where I discovered this 'easy way' of lubing the end of the fan motor that
> usually sees the most corrosion. This fan was stuck and had melted the
> switch. New switch, nothing happened. So I drilled the [3/8"] hole based on
> staring at and measuring an old heater assembly on the bench. I hung a small
> LED headlamp over the upped edge to illuminate the bearing, and then I
> delivered a dose of PB Blaster directly to the bearing via an extended tube.
> After an hour or so, I turned on the switch and thumped the dash hard a few
> time with my fist, and voila! - it started running. I then delivered a few
> small doses of Triflow to the bearing and that quieted things down to a nice
> purr.
>
> This is the story of the 'Mullendore Port'. Since then I've done a few more
> that weren't stuck, but this shows that some stuck motors can in fact be
> freed. Almost every stuck motor I have pulled has had only the exposed
> bearing stuck. Next time I remove one, I think I'll install a small tube
> that can be more easily located to deliver lubricant as general maintenance.
> It is rather odd that the manufacturer couldn't have just installed small,
> sealed ball bearings.
>
>