Machine whining

I've been on CPAP for 16 yrs. The first machine (Can't remember brand) was completely manual. After 12 yrs, it started having a high pitched whine. Dealer said it could not be repaired. Through insurance at the time, I got new Resmed S7 with electronics, etc. (Much easier for me to adjust my own pressure).

After only 4 yrs the Resmed is whining much louder. I took it aparty and I can see a bearing in the blower housing and there is black stuff around it. I might be able to source the bearing from a local industrial bearing supplier and replace it but the blower appears to be sealed. I'm not sure if cutting the blower housing apart is a good idea. The unit still works but the noise is bad.

I'll take it into a dealer tomorrow but I'm pretty sure they're going to tell me it's dead and to buy a new one. (I don't have insurance now either)

What's the deal with these things? How long are they supposed to last?

Is there an outside chance you can buy just the blower housing?

FYI, This is not vibration or air escaping. It is definitly bearing noise.

jayman13 wrote:I've been on CPAP for 16 yrs. The first machine (Can't remember brand) was completely manual. After 12 yrs, it started having a high pitched whine. Dealer said it could not be repaired. Through insurance at the time, I got new Resmed S7 with electronics, etc. (Much easier for me to adjust my own pressure).

After only 4 yrs the Resmed is whining much louder. I took it aparty and I can see a bearing in the blower housing and there is black stuff around it. I might be able to source the bearing from a local industrial bearing supplier and replace it but the blower appears to be sealed. I'm not sure if cutting the blower housing apart is a good idea. The unit still works but the noise is bad.

I'll take it into a dealer tomorrow but I'm pretty sure they're going to tell me it's dead and to buy a new one. (I don't have insurance now either)

What's the deal with these things? How long are they supposed to last?

Is there an outside chance you can buy just the blower housing?

Jayman13

Yes the blower assembly is sealed & it is not worth the trouble of cutting it open. It would be cheaper to buy a 2nd hand S7 unit (the blowers are interchangeable between the various S7 shaped machines but perhaps look for an elite or spirit (I have actually tried a spirit blower in a VPAP III & vica-versa & it worked).

Now if you do decide to chop it open pls can you take some pics & post them

Cheers & good luck

DSM

PS Those S7 blowers where prone to a high pitched whine but it was usually a lot worse on the VPAP III models

Some other thoughts. Whilst it seems probable it is a bearing. Is it possible that tissue or other material has been ingested & has caught on a blade ?

Just a thought.

DSM

At least there are a couple people here not afraid to service their machines!

DSM, it sounds like you have had some experience repairing these machines.

Unless they glued together everything later, they somehow had to assemble the blower. So, there should be some way to get it apart.

Is it a ball bearing or a sleeve bearing? Or something more exotic?

I wonder if the bearings in these blosers have a special lube that is not harmful when vaporizedmand inhaled in the normal course of using the machine. So if you do find where you can get a bearing, be aware of what it is lubricated with. I do not know enough about bearings to make a recommendation.

I guess I’m one of the few not afraid to service my machine. I come from a long line of do-it-yourself family. Being frugal (cheap), I don't like to throw things away or pay someone for a job I am capable of doing myself. If I could stand the pain, I'd even drill my own teeth. Since I don't expect any pain working on the CPAP, (if I don't cut my hand), I am going for it.

As for looking for a 2nd had unit, I suppose that is an option but what's to say anything I get won't have the same problem eventually? However, if someone has a line on a S7 elite or spirit, please let me know. Although I can't sleep with out my machine, I do have a spare from a family member who had surgery and went off CPAP. It is an older Remstar, not a ResMed.

By the way, there’s no foreign material in the fan blade. I can see the black dust, etc around the bearing. It is definitely the problem.

Some background as to why things don't last as long as they used to: I spoke with my son-in-law who services high end sound systems, etc for cars. He told me many manufacturers outsource devices China. Apparently China builds them to specifications, but gets their own parts, often from much less quality suppliers. Is a bearing a bearing? Depends on what the tolerances are. ResMed probably only stated the size (#mm x #mm). Who knows if the round balls inside the sealed bearing are made of steel, plastic, lead or rat droppings?)

When it comes to electronic components, they use a knock-off copy and actually shave off the marking and re-stamp it with a US component manufactures marking! Sneaky ba###s! The also don't provide replacement parts so the only choice is to buy new.

Bringing it back to the bearing, I had a problem a couple years ago with a sealed bearing on a German car air conditioner clutch pulley. The dealer wanted $600 for a new clutch assembly. I sourced the bearing from a local industrial supplier and was able to get a replacement bearing for $15. Luckily the AC had a dedicated belt so I was able to take it off until it was fixed. The car is 10 yrs old and the AC still works great.

I'm not sure if I can get a replacement bearing when I open the housing, but I'm going to try. As for the housing, there is a seam and it appears to be put together with heat like plastic welding. I plan on using a razor type knife and hope I can get it apart without ruining it. I will take some pics and posts them if I am successful.

If all else fails, I'll stay with the spare for a couple months until I turn 65. I'm thinking of going with an advantage program and the cost of a new CPAP will more than outweigh the premium. Depending on what happens, I may even push for a VPAP or even a Bi-pap but that will come later.

Gotta go now and take a nap. Turkey triptofins from yesterday and lunch are kicking in.

jayman14 wrote:
I come from a long line of do-it-yourself family.

You're not alone. I too would be inclined to at least TRY to replace the bearing.

Please keep us posted on your efforts.

I once replaced a bearing in a Bipap Pro II - but it was still noisy, just not as bad as before.

Here are some links to what these machines look like inside.

Happy exploring

DSM

Choose the 'Look Inside Cpaps' menu item
http://www.internetage.ws/cpapinfo

#2 Corrected faulty link

As previously said, if you do cut open the S7 blower please send some pics

I personally don't believe it worth the trouble but I am curious enough to want to see the results & qualify this comment by saying I never had a damaged S7 blower else would have had no reserve at all about cutting one open.

DSM

The cost: a little time

The education: priceless

(Yes, share the education/photos--- and "Thank you")

letchworth

dsm wrote:I once replaced a bearing in a Bipap Pro II - but it was still noisy, just not as bad as before.

Here are some links to what these machines look like inside.

Happy exploring

DSM

Choose the 'Look Inside Cpaps' menu item
http://www.internetage.ws/cpapinfo

#2 Corrected faulty link

Have fixed the above link - one 'n' to many

DSM