Air-X Bearing Replacement

[Jim Cate]

G'Day All,

Our faithful (?) Air-X wind generator has, after 5 years of continuous use, developed unacceptable noise in the rotor bearings. The manufacturer actually suggests replacing them every 5 years, so I guess this is no big surprise. We're currently on the central coast of Queensland and have no desire to send our unit off for this repair, so my questions relate to doing it ourselves.

1. Has anyone done this job? If so, could you tell us the following bits...
2. Are the bearings standard and readily available?
3. What is the identifying number(s) for the bearings?
4. Are they pressed on to the shaft, or are they a slip fit?
5. Any advice about doing the job?

Thanks in advance for any inputs,

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II

[CharlieJ]

Suggest you email the manufacturer: techsupport@windenergy.com

Charlie

[forsailbyowner]

Good luck emailing them. I've tried numerous times and haven't once got a return. I've had mine apart numerous times. The rotor bearing is held in place with a split ring. I haven't separated my rotor armature assembly yet but was given instructions with the circuit replacement directions, I'm going into mine again, probably tomorrow for fault diagnosis and will see if the bearing ID is visable. There's a link somewhere at SW windpowers site leading to replacement parts, but its not easy to find. Will get back post disassembly.

[Jim Cate]

G'Day forsail,

Thanks for the reply, and I await your info with interest. I just found and read your thread re Air-X failures, and since we've had pretty good luck with ours, had some thoughts.

We too have a large solar bank (240 watts) in parallel with the wind gen, but I have only set the regulator to around 14.7 volts. This does result in the wind gen shutting down when the system voltage rises, and thus we loose a bit of charging, but in practice this seems to occur when the batteries (4x T-105's) are nearing full charge, and I've not worried about the losses. So far we have had no electrical problems with the unit. Did lose a (brand new) blade that fractured during some strong winds, but they replaced it with no questions at all.

Anyhow, I'm wondering if setting the regulator wide open (despite it being a recommended practice) might have contributed to your problem?

Good luck in the new configuration... sounds interesting!

Cheers,

Jim

[Jim Cate]

G'Day forsail,

Thanks for the reply, and I await your info with interest. I just found and read your thread re Air-X failures, and since we've had pretty good luck with ours, had some thoughts.

We too have a large solar bank (240 watts) in parallel with the wind gen, but I have only set the regulator to around 14.7 volts. This does result in the wind gen shutting down when the system voltage rises, and thus we loose a bit of charging, but in practice this seems to occur when the batteries (4x T-105's) are nearing full charge, and I've not worried about the losses. So far we have had no electrical problems with the unit. Did lose a (brand new) blade that fractured during some strong winds, but they replaced it with no questions at all.

Anyhow, I'm wondering if setting the regulator wide open (despite it being a recommended practice) might have contributed to your problem?

Good luck in the new configuration... sounds interesting!

Cheers,

Jim

[CharlieJ]

Found this posting by EuroCruiser on another thread in this forum:

...a downstream problem with the Air-X (build issue, paint issue, eventually wear) is easily dealt with since Southwest Windpower offers tech advice by phone and has a slick return/repair program with quick turnaround. Having had to use this service after our unprotected 303 blew out in a storm, I must say it was an industry model.

Sounds like contacting them for info is certainly worth a try.

Charlie

[forsailbyowner]

Got that bearing ID
PEER CHINA 48 5203 RLBD.

[Jim Cate]

Forsail...
Thanks very much. Will try to source them here in Gladstone today
Cheers, Jim