Blower Wheel 96537

1. Remove guard from blower wheel
2. Remove old wheel
3. Install new wheel
4. Reassemble guard
Had a tough time finding replacement parts for the units 8 in total broke down.
found what I needed on your site ! thanks !!

Remove plastic covers from vac/blower motor unit. Use a nutdriver or wrench and large blade screwdiver to remove the blower wheel. You can see the bend / slightly depressed metal alloy below the washer / nut. You would think something so slight would not have much of an affect but it does. I initially used a large washer in this ar ... Read more ea and performance improved for a couple months, but then the same problem. I ordered the new blower wheel, now it is like new, strong, quiet. Should have ordered it sooner, I had to trim off some plastic debris caused by the bad wheel. Also research indicated this was a design issue and the new improved wheel is slightly smaller in size but works like new.

1. Took blower apart, as for regular cleaning, saw blower wheel was loose. Ordered new part.

2. UNABLE to get bolt off to replace wheel! Spindle has flat head screw on other end. Screwdriver just popped off. Used Liquid Wrench to loosen threads, did not work.

3. Finally succeeded by using a large *VISE GRI ... Read more P PLIERS* clamped on the broken wheel center and spacers under the bolt (much better grip and torque or leverage than the screw on the other side of the spindle), and a 7/16\" socket ratchet drive wrench on the bolt - positioned inside the vise grip pliers. Twisted them in opposite directions and bolt came off!

4. Flipped the broken inside center of the aluminum wheel off with a utility knife, put on the new wheel with the spacer/washer back on top, and reattached the bolt. Did not tighten too much, wheel is soft aluminum. (could last another 25 years...)

5. Reassembled blower and it works great! New part is slightly narrower, but power same or better (air more compressed in smaller vents?) Sears Craftsman 16 gallon shop vac with Ridgid replacement blower wheel. Blower is 25 years old and going strong. Use detachable blower all the time.

6. Saved alot of plastic from landfill.

Disassembled Blower and cleaned all parts.
Removed hex nut (took an impact driver to get it off)
Removed old blower wheel and washer (center hole on bottom was completely cut away the size of the retaining washer which allowed the wheel to wobble and scrape causing noise
Replaced with new blower wheel and (cleaned) old ... Read more washer
Reassembled Blower

My Craftsman 6.5hp/16 gal wet/dry vac with detachable blower has been used tons for multiple jobs out, in and around the house for years! Wouldn\'t be without it voluntarily. It started making noise when using the blower detached and progressively got worse. At first only if it was moved quickly or not upright, then most of the time even when it was mounted on the canister. I now know why after seeing the worn out wheel.

As a 60ish female, I\'m fairly handy and I always prefer to repair rather than replace when possible, saves $$$ and solid waste. The most difficult part was removing the hex nut. You have to hold the motor from turning and there is only a screw on the opposite end (poor engineering if you ask me). I tried everything, even had my daughter lend her two hands. No luck. My son-in-law had it off in seconds with an impact wrench/driver.

After repaired with the new blower wheel it works well. The replacement wheel (RAPID brand) is the same diameter and the bottom hole is the same size, so it fits. But it is thinner or narrower than the original (CRAFTSMAN) wheel (discontinued). I think it has somewhat less blowing/sucking power due to the narrower wheel, but is so far (I have only used it a time or two since repair) still sufficient to do what I need it to do.

1) Removed 3 Phillips screws from the filter grill.
2) Removed filter grill and cleaned filter.
3) Removed all external Phillips screws from the blower housing around the outside and handle.
4) Separated the blower housing halves, minding the wires.
5) Removed the internal Phillips screws holding the motor and duc ... Read more t to the housing.
6) Gently and firmly pulled the motor and duct out of the housing and keeping the sticky seal intact.
7) Removed the blower wheel (held by nut with washer).
8) Replaced the blower wheel and reassembled in reverse order, making sure gasket seal was in correct position and wires weren\'t pinched.
9) Plugged in and tested.