Even though the blower, bearing, and belt operation don’t have a direct impact on the truck refrigeration unit, you should still inspect these pieces every so often. Cleaning the blades on a blower may take your an hour or more; cleaning larger fans, especially those with multiple wheels on a single shaft, can take quite a while.
Check to see if the blower motors are running in the wrong direction. This may not be obvious because fans can still supply flow if they’re running backwards. Clear labels on the fan housing, pulleys, the motor, and wires can prevent this problem.
Self-lubricating bearings on fans need the bearing cassette replaced when they fail. Look for lots of noise, vibration, or heat coming from the bearing. Greased ball bearings are occasionally found in packaged units; their most common problem is over-greasing, which can be as damaging as under-greasing.
Belts should be aligned to prevent wear. Maintain proper tension; loose belts slip on the pulley wheels, causing torque loss and rapid wear. Belts that are too tight put an extreme load on the motor and fan shaft bearings, causing premature failure.
