Ceiling Fan Blades Keep Breaking Off

[BigMike]

I've had my Cardinal 5er since April. Have been on half a dozen trips over the summer. We really love it. However, I have one nagging problem. Apparently the vibration and bouncing that occurs driving down the highway puts too much stress on the pot metal brakets that hold the fan blades to the fan hub on our ceiling fan. I have broken 3 of them so far. Either my dealer will have to put a sturdier fan in for me or figure something out. I was thinking a guy could put some hooks in the ceiling and then wrap some netting around the blades and fasten them to the hooks. Might look kinda strange, but I'm tired or replacing the brackets. Any other bright ideas out there?

 

[dmurdock]

try posting this at www.irv2.com ... , i'm sure someone there has run into this problem. .

 

[Doc Tinker]

It's pretty pricy, but you might want to look into changing the trailer's suspension over to a Mor-Ryde system.



Doc

 

[TPCDrafting]

Can you pull off the fan blades before heading out? I know it sounds like a PITA, but it's better than replacing them all the time. Maybe you could rig up some quick-connect type connectors to cut down the hassle. I just installed a c-fan in my house and the blades just snap on, not screws/bolts.

 

[GAmes]

Do you have a slide out that is under the fan when retracted? My fan pivots on the downrod and I think that if the blades were to come in contact with the slide that the brackets would break.

 

[D. Showan]

Does you Cardinal have shocks? That would help alot

 

[BigMike]

Yes, My Cardinal does have shocks. No, there is no slide out under the fan. Removing the blades each time out would be a royal pain in the butt. I'd eliminate the fan first.



Did get one good idea off the RV America Bulletin Board. Here's one gentleman's suggestion:





At a rally somewhere back down the road I heard a guy describe a "cure" for broken fan brackets. Since I had six bracket arms by then, I tried it. No broken brackets since then. Get a tube of epoxy or weld, and some small nails/brads. Take the fan brackets off the fan so you can get at them. Mix up the epoxy/weld, add some of the small nails as reinforcement (like rebars in concrete), and pack the epoxy/nails into the channels of the brackets. In effect, you're turning the brackets into solid metal. You'll have to let the epoxy/weld set, which takes a few hours. After that, you should be home free.



Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I'm under warranty, so I'm looking to the dealer to solve this problem. I think I need a heavier duty fan. Otherwise, I'll try the epoxy trick.

 

[GAmes]

Sounds like a good fix. Hope it works for you.

 

[Rd.Runnr]

Sounds good--however he/you did not mention balancing the blades to eliminate vibration when fan is on.

Just my $. 02

 

[Shooter]

My MFG. installs Westinghouse fans. So far no problems.

 

[DIESELMAN]

I put some swag hooks on the ceiling like you would hang plants from and put 2 'bungie cords' across the fan, hook to hook, takes two seconds.

 

[BigMike]

That's a great idea Dieselman. I was trying to thing of some way like that, but couldn't picture it until you posted. Thanks.

 

[Komik]

If your breaking ceiling fan blades of just imagine whats going on with the rest of the trailer.



Komik

 

[Terry]

Quote(If your breaking ceiling fan blades of just imagine whats going on with the rest of the trailer.



Komik)



:--)

 

[swampfox]

ceiling fan

Yuo could take a piece of cardboard cut to the diameter of the fan blades, glue a piece of foam rubber to it and fasten it to the fan motor with heavy rubber bands or a bungee cord. This should stop the blades from flexing excessively.