Solana
New member
My Air Marine windgen (earlier model not the X) apart from being noisy now fails to turn to wind due to sticking bearings. Distributor wants £200+ to service - anyone succeeded in dismantling and servicing the swivel bearing?
Anyone dismantled an Air Marine windgen?
- Thread starter Solana
- Start date
steve28
Active member
sledgehammer on a windy night count ?
sorry no helpfull advice
steve
sorry no helpfull advice
steve
pvb
Well-known member
Exploded drawing...
There's an exploded drawing of a 403 here. Looks as if the guts of it can just be extracted giving access to the bearing. Easier said than done, I'm sure, but should be feasible for competent DIY. Replacement bearing should be very cheap from any bearing supplier.
There's an exploded drawing of a 403 here. Looks as if the guts of it can just be extracted giving access to the bearing. Easier said than done, I'm sure, but should be feasible for competent DIY. Replacement bearing should be very cheap from any bearing supplier.
srm
Well-known member
I have dismantled the AirMarine X to replace the turbine bearings (two sealed races mounted on the front face). If you are opening yours up it may be an idea to replace these bearings as well, especially as you say the machine is noisy. I did not need to get at the swivel bearings so can not help with that part - the following may be of help though with opening the body. I suspect that you will need to remove the circuit boards after taking the front face off.
This relates to my Air Marine X. It had sticky bearings, entirely my fault as I left the generator up with the blades and hub off throughout an Orkney winter. Rain and salt got into the front bearing.
Its a lot easier than I expected. With the blades removed and the body on a workbench undo the three screws holding the face plate. Gently prise the faceplate forward - the spindle will come with it. It should come off fairly easily but is attached to the innards by cables. Label the cables for reasembly and disconect from the body.
If yours is the same as my model you will have the front face and coil assembly, plus the rotator and spindle. Push the rotator and spindle backwards out of the bearing. The resistance you feel is the magnetic field; magnets are in the rotator. Be careful where you put the rotator, the magnets are very strong. Mine grabbed a couple of screwdrivers from across the bench.
The front face bearings are held in by circlips, two sealed races with a spacer between them. They should push out, but you may need a bearing extractor. Remember the face plate is an alloy so don't get too violent.
Air Marine sent me a bearing replacement set, which included new O ring and thread lock, under waranty, but will no doubt supply for a modest cost given the exchange rate. The bearing races are stamped "made in China", but I dont think they had any other identification to aid sourcing them.
Assembly is the reverse.
Hope this helps, contact me directly if I may be of further help as I don't visit the forum on a regular basis.
Sean.
This relates to my Air Marine X. It had sticky bearings, entirely my fault as I left the generator up with the blades and hub off throughout an Orkney winter. Rain and salt got into the front bearing.
Its a lot easier than I expected. With the blades removed and the body on a workbench undo the three screws holding the face plate. Gently prise the faceplate forward - the spindle will come with it. It should come off fairly easily but is attached to the innards by cables. Label the cables for reasembly and disconect from the body.
If yours is the same as my model you will have the front face and coil assembly, plus the rotator and spindle. Push the rotator and spindle backwards out of the bearing. The resistance you feel is the magnetic field; magnets are in the rotator. Be careful where you put the rotator, the magnets are very strong. Mine grabbed a couple of screwdrivers from across the bench.
The front face bearings are held in by circlips, two sealed races with a spacer between them. They should push out, but you may need a bearing extractor. Remember the face plate is an alloy so don't get too violent.
Air Marine sent me a bearing replacement set, which included new O ring and thread lock, under waranty, but will no doubt supply for a modest cost given the exchange rate. The bearing races are stamped "made in China", but I dont think they had any other identification to aid sourcing them.
Assembly is the reverse.
Hope this helps, contact me directly if I may be of further help as I don't visit the forum on a regular basis.
Sean.
cliff
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
The bearing races are stamped "made in China", but I dont think they had any other identification to aid sourcing them.
[/ QUOTE ]If you can get the bearings out simply take them into your local BSL or Fenners and they will match them size for size, seal for seal or you can be really particular and ask for SS bearings once they have identified the correct size. I would go for standard sealed for life though and save the cost of SS.
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The bearing races are stamped "made in China", but I dont think they had any other identification to aid sourcing them.
[/ QUOTE ]If you can get the bearings out simply take them into your local BSL or Fenners and they will match them size for size, seal for seal or you can be really particular and ask for SS bearings once they have identified the correct size. I would go for standard sealed for life though and save the cost of SS.
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