Metal clips on my vortex fan?

[Bubby]

I just bought a new 4" vortex fan, for my carbon filter..

I look inside, and I see about 6 clips (some similar, some not) on the fan blades, arranged in no particular pattern (some higher up on the blade, some lower).

I just took two out, when I realize..

Could these be for balancing the fan blades?
Did I just make my fan unstable? :doh:

Anyone know about this? :confused2:

Much thanks

 

[mendo local]

my vortex's dont have and thing like that, maybe was to hold the blades during shipping? Call the dealer you got it from and ask them. I highly doubt you hurt it. good luck!

 

[Bubby]

It doesn't hold the blades at all, it actually runs with them in there. They're maybe half an inch long.

I just noticed that they're also there on the picture, on the front of the box it came in.

Ruhroh.

 

[Pot Belly]

They are there to balance the blades.

 

[Bubby]

They are there to balance the blades.

:cry:

Guess I'll see if I can get them to balance them again.

edit: I feel too stupid. Why did I have to take those two off! :fid:

 

[mendo local]

They are there to balance the blades.

Are you sure pot? I just looked at mine(have 2-6" 1-8" and 1-12") all vortex and didnt see any clips of any kind.
Maybe there is a new model.

Just return and tell them its not balanced, maybe they replace it ? Idk

 

[Bubby]

Like what.. take all the clips off? "Hey! This one wasn't balanced!"

:hubba:

Naw. This will just have to be considered an added cost.. "research and development", I call it.

I looked up the model on the internet, and they say it's 'balanced' (ALTHOUGH THEY FAIL TO MENTION IT IN THE INSTRUCTIONS).

 

[mendo local]

lol, just a thought. does it still run well?

 

[Pot Belly]

Hey Bubby......

The factory spins the blade on a balancer just like when you get your tires balanced. The machine tells the operator where to put the clips on the blades.

So you pulled them off? :doh: Only harm is some vibration, but it will cause the bearings to wear prematurely. Don't do that again! :hitchair:

PB........

 

[Bubby]

Don't do that again!

Oh, I won't.. but my looking at my track record, I'll find another way to ruin some of my perfectly fine equipment.

That's good to know.. so each blade (because of slight imperfections?) will have the clips on different parts, so it's not like I can look at another 4" vortex, and clip the clips identically.

It runs fine, right now, but this thing cost me half of what my lights cost.. so I'd like to get it 'fixed', I want it to still be working in 10 years.