Dyson & Sebo Vacuum Cleaner Repair & Advice Forums

Dyson Models => Cylinder & Canister Dysons => Topic started by: Deep Blue on May 29, 2017, 03:07:35 am

Title: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on May 29, 2017, 03:07:35 am
Cry for help from downunder (Australia) - really hoping someone can help?  Stuck! >:(  :'(

Accidentally sucked up water into DC23 (called a DC32 in the UK I believe)!  Left to dry out for a few days and then took it partially apart and dried with a hair dryer.  Turned on a few days later to see how it was and it now emits a very high-pitched squeal with a slight burning (friction?) smell!

Decided motor or moving parts might be damaged in some way after water contact so stripped it down.  Now, looking at buying and installing a new motor (YDK  YV-16K24B   1A14  ~240V).  The problem is I can't separate the small fan (white plastic) sitting on top of the motor.  I try levering the fan up and off the shaft to separate it from the motor but there is a small black fastener that secures it to the shaft.  The fastener locks on to the motor shaft that goes up through the fan and I can't budge it.

The only way I can see that I can remove this fastener is to physically destroy it in some way and then I can lift the white plastic fan off.  There seems to be no easy way of prying the fastener off?  However, what do I do when I want to put the old fan on to the new motor (yet to purchase)?  Do I need to destroy the fastener to remove the fan and then buy a new fastener to secure the old fan to the new motor?  Where do I buy the fastener from - not sure what it is called!

Thanks in advance for any advice. ;)

Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: beko1987 on May 29, 2017, 06:48:29 am
Welcome! That small fan is a pain. I've had one off a dc23 before, theres a rebuild thread somewhere. That black lock washer needs to come off, hateful things. Lever gently up all around and eventually one side should give. Slide it up the shaft and it will pop off and fly into a corner... Then the fan lifts off, followed by the plastic duct.

Then it all needs to go back on! A socket of an appropriate size tapped down with a hammer should do it, a 10mm will possibly do, the outer edge needs to sit around the edge of the washer. Check the fan/motor still turns by hand afterwards though.

Good luck
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on May 30, 2017, 09:04:51 am
Many thanks beko1987!

I read your strip-down/re-assemble for the DC23 (DC32) - it was excellent; only thing that has stumped me is that black fastener - didn't want to force it and potentially break something.

Okay, I'll spray some WD40/CRC lubricant on the shaft and black fastener, wait a while, then lever it up with a screwdriver one side at a time and see if it comes off.  Fingers crossed!

If I get the fan and black fastener off intact then I only need to buy the motor itself and not the encased motor and fan unit, thereby saving quite few dollars - is that right?

I assume the high-pitched squealing sound and burning smell I had would be from the water-damaged motor and not the fan - assuming I can re-use the fan with a new motor?

Anyway, really appreciate your help to this point!  Hopefully I can order a motor soon...
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: mrdyson on May 30, 2017, 10:46:42 am
As Beko said - these can be a pain, but can be levered off with a screwdriver.

I would assume your fan is fine and it's the motor making the noise. We have had performed many DC23 / DC32 motor replacements and have (touch wood) not come across a broken fan yet.
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on May 30, 2017, 01:51:36 pm
Thanks Mr Dyson. ;)  Will give it a go tomorrow.

I thought if water contacted the motor it just wouldn't work at all - short-circuit and blow the copper windings?  However it still "works" - screaming sound and smell of burning - maybe just a sticking shaft or is this what you expect after water ingress?
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on May 31, 2017, 04:35:44 am
Okay, great advice!  All done!  :tiphat:

Sprayed WD40 on the black fastener and left it for 5-10 mins to penetrate down the shaft and around the fastener.  Went and got my large flat blade screwdriver this time to get more leverage (30 cm long flat blade screwdriver - previous 10 cm long flat blade screwdriver was probably too short and didn't give enough leverage).  Gently levered up underneath the fan with the screwdriver moving around the fan base in order to raise it up as evenly as possible - this time within a minute the fastener popped off and I was able to pull the fan off the shaft!  The fastener didn't fly across the room as I had used a tea towel as a cover to stop that from happening - didn't want to lose that thing!

Everything intact - nothing broken!  Ready to purchase a motor and a HEPA filter now and put everything back together again as per beko1987's fantastic guide.

Now, just noticed, the steel shaft of the motor has two flat sides and two circular sides.  Someone said it only should have one flat side???  Need to be certain I get the right motor. 

Does anyone know about the two flat sides on the shaft?
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: MVacs on June 05, 2017, 01:20:36 am
Look here: https://manchestervacs.co.uk/Dyson/DC23-DC32-Main-Motor

There is only one type on those machines.
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on June 05, 2017, 10:18:28 am
 :angryman:  :'(


Screws holding in DC23 bucket assembly - head sheared off one of the silver Torx screws!!!  Does anyone know what type of Torx (they are T15) screw it is that holds the bucket assembly into the body of the vacuum cleaner?  There are four of these silver Torx screws and I now have to find where I can buy one to replace the headless one?
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: MVacs on June 05, 2017, 05:50:06 pm
If they are the same as the others they are probably these ones (https://manchestervacs.co.uk/Dyson/T15-torx-screws?ref=ac).
Title: Re: Can't separate fan from DC23 motor - just can't remove fastener on shaft!
Post by: Deep Blue on June 06, 2017, 03:42:45 am
Thanks MVacs, the four screws that hold the black bucket assembly to the body of the vac are silver - reckon that's them in the photo!  Much appreciated. ;)