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Topic: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor? (Read 733 times) previous topic - next topic
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Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
I have a buddy out of state with an older fantastic fan  that has the quieter soup can electric motor. He’s willing to ship it to me so I can replace my squeaky pancake style motor.

Can just the motors be swapped? I’m not too interested in replacing the whole fan assembly as the squeak doesn’t bug me that much and I don’t care to reseal the top side of the fan assembly. It. Would be pretty sweet to just swap the motors and be done with it. Does anyone know?

Thanks,
Steve
Steve
2003TK
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #1 –
Hi Steve, (TK); It might be doable, but the old motor is about 4" high, and the 'pancake' as the name denotes, about 1 1/2" high. I'd have to go measure it.  Probably easier to find a complete old 'retired' assembly and replace the works.  Fortunately my old one seems good, and the noisy motor in the bathroom, my recent improvement/upgrade of the itty bitty fan won't be on most of the time.   RonB 
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #2 –
Update: I finally got the whole older Fantastic Fan from my buddy and I just swapped the motors. Actually the motor and attached fan as well as the clear plastic frame the motor attaches to. I didn’t have to worry about swapping the vent lid or any other parts. Both covers have about 3.25” of inside clearance for the motor.

The noise of the pancake motor wasn’t that bad but I appreciate the quieter soup can motor. It was a pretty easy swap.

Steve
Steve
2003TK
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #3 –
Hi Steve;  This last trip to Morro Bay I got to run the bathroom fan more. (a little warmer in some locations like Fresno) With the LiF batteries, power wasn't a problem, but the squeal from the pancake motor was. My central FFan with the soup can motor...much better. I think of people getting all new roof vent fans as if that was a good thing!  I wonder if there are any vendors selling 'renewed' soup can motors.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #4 –
We installed the new Fantastic Fan (pancake motor) in our emergency escape hatch in our 98~MB three years ago.  That fan is loud and whining, we hate it so we don't use the fan that much.  I would love to change out motors if that option was possible.  I wish I had kept a couple of those old fantastic fans I have installed into VW vans etc.

      Karen~Liam
        98 ~ MB
          NinA
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #5 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Hi Steve;  This last trip to Morro Bay I got to run the bathroom fan more. (a little warmer in some locations like Fresno) With the LiF batteries, power wasn't a problem, but the squeal from the pancake motor was. My central FFan with the soup can motor...much better. I think of people getting all new roof vent fans as if that was a good thing!  I wonder if there are any vendors sellihatng 'renewed' soup can motors.   RonB

Several years ago, our bath's FF was upgraded with a remote control kit. The new controls required replacing the old soup can motor with the newer, pancake motor. The new pancake motor had a loud, brush noise. It was quiet when pushing air into the interior and noisy when exhausting. I called FF's customer service number, complained and they sent another motor. It made the same noise.
Taking the first motor apart, nothing obvious looked wrong. Reassembled, the noise is still present.
After running a couple of thousand hours, the pancake motor still makes the same noise...sigh.

Larry


Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #6 –
Larry, do you still have that old Soup can motor from that upgrade you did?

   ~Liam
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Karen & Liam  - 
Larry, do you still have that old Soup can motor from that upgrade you did?
~Liam

Maybe, the garage contains much more than it should, a 50+ year collection of tools and stuff.
I will look around for it, it's possible it may be rebuildable, I don't remember if it used ball bearings or bushings.
Part of the reason why it was switched out to the newer pancake motor was the irritating noise it made due to the shaft wobbling on worn bearings.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #8 –
I could have switched out the old Soup Can motor in our itaska before we sold it.  I wish I had thought of it.  I did remove our TurboCool evap-cooler from the itaska before we sold it.  I will switch it with the PlaCool that has failed on our 98~MB.  Larry no need to look for that old motor, I will look for a quieter replacement and report back here if I have any luck.

                                  Karen~Liam
                                    98 ~ MB
                                       NinA
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
 
Re: Fantastic Fan - soup can motor interchangeable with pancake motor?
Reply #9 –
I should mention that the clear plastic frame that holds the motor is different for each motor type. The connection to the vent body is the same but as you might expect the connection to the motor is different. So if you do get a source for the old motor you will also need the old style clear plastic frame as well.

I thought it was interesting that our pancake motor made more noise blowing air in compared to blowing out. Seems most here on the forum experienced the opposite.

Steve
Steve
2003TK