heater motor - how stiff should it be to turn?

[rami]

I'm getting my newly acquired 02 ready for the safety inspection

so I get it on the road. So far, just a few bulbs here and there

and the wires for the reverse light switch at the tranny were disconnected.

Very simple. However, more concerning is my heater motor doesn't

blow. I'm fairly certain there is power to the motor, because

when I turn it on, the dash lights dim and about 15 seconds later you

can smell that "burning electrics" smell by the fan. When I first

started working on the fan, it wouldn't budge at all, but with lots of

lube sprayed (as best I can) into the fan and motor, and pushing the blades

around with a long screw driver, I can rotate the fan blades myself.

My question: how stiff should the fan be to rotate? It still has a fair amount

of resistance to it, so should I keep spraying in lube and rotating?

Otherwise I guess I'll have to grin and bear a heater box refurb

on my new baby..

thanks

Graeme

1969 2002, VIN 1665785

[esty]

there should be no resistance...it should spin freely

[jerry]

Do NOT apply power to your motor in this condition. Consider yourself lucky that your motor brushes have not suffered a melt-down, yet.

these motors are not free-spinning new, however, they should freely rotate. these motors use bushings, not bearings and that is the weak link. once they seize it's typical that the thermal protection circuit does not save them from meltdown.

best that you at least remove the box and work from your workbench to ensure enough oil seeps into the bushings. Remember, there's another bushing on the other end of that armature (the end your not seeing from the air plenum chamber).

interestingly, i recently opened a box from a '68 1602 to find an entirely different motor from the previous 2 types i'd seen. this particular motor actually was much easier to rotate than the new one i purchased. i attribute this to the probability that it actually used BALL BEARINGS. after 38 years it was still functional. this particular motor is a definite keeper and one i'd prefer over my new/unused motor.