Early W123 blower motor issues - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

w123fanman · #1 08-06-2015, 12:14 AM

So the blower motor in my dad's 77 240D went out. The bearings are still good but the brushes are bad. The squirrel cage was bent up but I should be able to fix that maybe. Problem is that it seems that the motor itself is sealed and non-serviceable without having to pry the crimping apart (which seems like it would be rather difficult). I know the assembly itself is different between the early and late W123 blower motors, does anyone know if I could get a late W123 motor to fit into the early housing, or if the late squirrel cage fits on the early motor?

Finding the early blower motor assemblies seems impossible though I have located a brand new motor.

Any ideas, experiences, etc?

leathermang · #2 08-06-2015, 02:02 AM

Just a comment on the bent Squirrel cage.... if that is not running true you risk messing up the bearings in whatever motor you put back into it...
If you can find a good one... or have a machinist straighten that one I would suggest you do that...

pfbenz · #3 08-06-2015, 02:15 AM

I didn't know the 123 blowers changed over the model run. I thought that a blower from a later 300d would fit in an earlier 240d. I'm assuming your your 240d has air conditioning and has the blower mounted on the passenger side, more or less under the glove box. Are you sure a later 123 blower won't fit?
If by chance you have a 123 without factory AC, with the blower up under the dash on the passenger side of the console, you can find a blower motor for a small pickup that you can get to fit, I used to have a euro 300d with no AC,and I threw a blower from a late 90s Toyota PU in it, the mounting flange was just a slightly smaller radius on the Toyota blower, but I was able to fit it with slightly longer screws.
In my 1982 240d, I currently have a blower I believe came out of a 116 chassis Benz, only 2 of three mounting screws fit, but it stays up there. The Benz blowers on the models with AC are different from other squirrel cage motors I've seen because of the way the motor is recessed inside the squirrel cage so it doesn't intrude into the passenger side footwell space. I'd love to find one of similar design.
A "standard" squirrel cage heater blower motor might not extend all that far into the passenger footwell, but you wouldn't be able to mount the cover panel that fits under the dash.
I hate to throw this out there because of their terrible reputation for poor quality, but Google "URO 1238201642", I see that blower listed as fitting both my 82 and your 77 240d.
Everything I have ever bought from the URO corporation has been junk, but all I have bought from them have been motor mounts, suspension parts, and a 123 inside hood release, all junk.
But who knows, maybe URO is really good at making small 12 volt electric motors.

pfbenz · #4 08-06-2015, 03:04 AM

I may have stumbled on something pretty cool. Google Image search "Honda 700003" I'm typing this on my phone so I'm not sure how to put a link in, but if you keep scrolling down the results page you'll find a pic of a hand holding a blower motor, that image links to a jeep forum which contains a lot more info. The blower looks about the right size, next time I'm in the boneyard I'll have to snag one and see if that squirrel cage will fit the hole in my 240d.

Phillytwotank · #5 08-06-2015, 07:11 AM

Yes yes. Benz there done that. It is serviceable. You just have to deal with those little metal tangs that hold it together.

It can be carefully pried apart. Pull the guts out. Put the new brushes in then carefully squeezed back together. I put a few lil tack welds around the outside edge with the MIG just for extra strength to hold it together. It's held up fine for going on here years now.

I don't remember all that I found out from my reading up on the issue way back when I had this same problem. Seems that repairing what you've got is the easiest option.

I've got a squirrel cage in good shape from an early fan that I'll sell to you if you end up going that way.

Diesel911 · #6 08-06-2015, 08:52 AM

I don't think all of the Motors and Cages are interchangeable. The one on mine is not a Bosch Motor but a Siemens Motor with a Plastic Cage.

On mine the Brushes are on the Cage end of the Motor.

When I took Apart My Motor there was some Rivets I drilled out to get it apart. There is some threads in the DIY section on changing the Brushes on the Bosch Motors.
Repair Links
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charmalu · #7 08-06-2015, 12:03 PM

I did a blower Motor repair Google search Peachparts.

https://www.google.com/search?q=site+peachparts:+blower+motor+repair&biw=948&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIpLD2o92UxwIVCU-SCh1GYA-L

Click on ea picture will get you to that thread.

here is one about using a Volvo Motor, but for the later 123
everybody better take care of their 123 blowers!!!

The W116 may be similar to the early style W123?

Replacing the brushes on a 116 blower motor

Some good info in this thread.
everybody better take care of their 123 blowers!!!

Charlie

sent from my pos computer

Sev · #8 08-08-2015, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfbenz

I didn't know the 123 blowers changed over the model run. I thought that a blower from a later 300d would fit in an earlier 240d. I'm assuming your your 240d has air conditioning and has the blower mounted on the passenger side, more or less under the glove box. Are you sure a later 123 blower won't fit?
If by chance you have a 123 without factory AC, with the blower up under the dash on the passenger side of the console, you can find a blower motor for a small pickup that you can get to fit, I used to have a euro 300d with no AC,and I threw a blower from a late 90s Toyota PU in it, the mounting flange was just a slightly smaller radius on the Toyota blower, but I was able to fit it with slightly longer screws.
In my 1982 240d, I currently have a blower I believe came out of a 116 chassis Benz, only 2 of three mounting screws fit, but it stays up there. The Benz blowers on the models with AC are different from other squirrel cage motors I've seen because of the way the motor is recessed inside the squirrel cage so it doesn't intrude into the passenger side footwell space. I'd love to find one of similar design.
A "standard" squirrel cage heater blower motor might not extend all that far into the passenger footwell, but you wouldn't be able to mount the cover panel that fits under the dash.
I hate to throw this out there because of their terrible reputation for poor quality, but Google "URO 1238201642", I see that blower listed as fitting both my 82 and your 77 240d.
Everything I have ever bought from the URO corporation has been junk, but all I have bought from them have been motor mounts, suspension parts, and a 123 inside hood release, all junk.
But who knows, maybe URO is really good at making small 12 volt electric motors.

do you give the best advice, or what?

-put toyota or uro blower motors in your car (not Siemens?)
-use w116 blower motors on w123's (only a few screws work, but it stays up there???)

leave this thread to those who know. w123 had at least three versions of blower. some had metal cages. early gen 1 models had smaller plastic housings. later models had larger housings but same cage sizes. it is possible to swap the motor and cage from a gen 2 into a gen 1 if you can get your gen 1 cage and motor off the plastic housing, being sure not to disrupt the metal clips on the cage blades which act to balance the cage. if your cage is bent, and you bend it back into shape, it might still wobble and not be true. if you can live with that...

it's possible to replace just the brushes. it requires some patience and skill. it's easier and probably cheaper to find a used one with good brushes.

siemens makes the best blower motors for w123. please don't put a URO or w116 blower motor into this car. w116 blower motors are notorious for going bad.