Kirby 518 Fan Removal

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kirbytex85

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Messages
22
Location
Houston, TX
I’ve been trying to get the fan off the 518 I’m restoring and the sucker is so rusted in there it isn’t budging . I sprayed it down with PB Bkaster for now. Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Hey

I know the opening on 518 is a little smaller than d50 but it's the same concept. The pic of the armature is a hole. You put an ice pic or something in that slot to keep shaft from moving. I recommend spraying and leave over night. You make sure armature doesn't rotate pull fan upwards by hand and while armature is secured spin fan in counter clock wise motion should pry loose and spin Right off.
Les

lesinutah-2019021801185200145_1.jpg
 
Kirbytex85

Dustin,

Like Les just showed you in his reply, you will need a special fan locking tool (an ice pick can be used as a substitute) which is to be inserted into the hole where the armature is, in order to prevent the armature from moving when you attempt removal of the fan.

The fan is spun on in reverse, meaning to get it off it needs to be spun in a clockwise direction.

~Ben
 
Fan Removal..

Dustin, Yes Ben is correct. You need to turn the fan belt shaft CLOCKWISE (to the right) to remove the shaft. You may still need to pry the fan off after removing the shaft.


 


~Stan
 
I'm not familiar with the fan design, but if possible, set it up so the threads stay immersed in PB blaster for a couple days. I would assume you could point the belt shaft straight down, perhaps situate it in a bottle, and spray between the motor and the blade so a puddle stays there for a couple days. Even then, if it's really stuck, it will take some force.

Not sure of the best way to grip the fan.
 
Assuming this is a metal fan and awl or fan lock is inserted into motor shaft hole...

Best way to grip the fan would be with both hands pressed/held tightly around the rim/lower blades. Do not concentrate much force on too few blades, esp up top as they could be broken. Give some sharp turns clockwise to try to break it loose. The motor unit can be held in a vice or with your feet or legs if needed if a helper is not available.

This is a similar method that I had to use with my mom's original D50 unit a couple years back - it was a bear to get off.
 
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