Hutch Double Wall Fireplace Insert Blower Maintenance

After more than 30 years of use, it's long past time to service the blower on this fireplace insert. It seemed a daunting process to pull this thing apart until I spent some time poking around the blower to see how it's attached.

Timeline:
00:04 Introduction
00:47 Home Heating System
02:14 Housing Removal
04:31 Blower DIs-assembly
05:09 Motor Dis-assembly
05:55 Oiling Bushings
06:52 Motor Assembly
08:05 Weatherstrip Location
08:19 Thermo-Switch Location
08:40 Wiring Fix
09:58 Housing Painted
10:38 Weatherstrip Installed
11:08 Testing

The blower housing has a 1/2" gap between the open bottom and the fireplace hearth that allows debris to get sucked inside the blower wheel where it gets trapped. Time to clean that out and also oil the bushings in the motor.

Added some 1/2" closed cell neoprene weather stripping to the front and sides of the blower housing, stopping an inch or two from the firebox. This should help keep big chunks of debris from getting sucked under the housing in the future. It should also help to damp out any vibrations from the blower.

Cleaned up the wiring inside a bit to make it easier to remove and replace the blower in the future. Also, took the opportunity to clean up and repaint the housing. Ultimately I'll wire brush the rest of the insert and then paint it with some hi-temp BBQ paint. I'll try to do that in the spring or summer when I can have good ventilation in the back room:
https://youtu.be/mbPE3I-wdlc

Hutch Mfg. Co. web page with some limited product info:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170521215838/www.hutchmanufacturing.com/id42.html
Good quality product, made in the USA. Mine is still going strong after over 30 years.

Blower: Fasco 7063-6568 Type: U63B1 cross ref: B47120
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Fasco-B47120-3-Speed-1360-1100-830-RPM-180-CFM-Blower-115V
Uses about 100W on low and 170W on high speed.

Amazon links below:
Blower: https://amzn.to/3rscTF5
Bi-metal Switch: https://amzn.to/2KEDU7F

A few sources for door glass and gaskets:
https://www.fastreplacementglass.com/wood-stove-replacement-parts-by-brand/hutch-manufacturing-company-replacement-parts/
https://www.woodstove-fireplaceglass.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hutch
I think the insert came with 1/2" fiberglass gasket on the door, I replaced that with the next size up:
https://amzn.to/3bnkmPv

Fireplace in operation:
https://youtu.be/37K3pVQepaM

My home heating system is 100% carbon neutral. The heat panels are of course heated by the sun but as well, the air movers in the system are powered via PV panels, charge controller and inverter. The fireplace burns wood that so far has come from tree removal on the property. The blower in the fireplace (repaired in this video) uses about 1 KWH of energy per night when running. This is typically off the grid, but I purchase power through the local utility's green power program and it could be powered off my solar power inverter if needed.

Fireplace insert information:
https://woodheat.org/fireplace-inserts.html
This was professionally installed with a full stainless steel chimney liner.

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Intro/Outro:
Louisiana Fairytale by Austin Rogers
https://web.archive.org/web/20170402222425/http://drfiddle.com/show_tune.php?id=94