Service Man Diary - Replacing the Effect Wheel

Hello everyone, good afternoon and good evening. This time, I’m going to repair this unit here. It's the H2O DMX IR that was brought in with an issue that the effect wheel is not spinning.

AMERICAN DJ / H2O DMX IR

American DJ / H2O DMX IR Water Gobo - Comes in 6 colors. It creates effects resembling patterns on water surfaces, enhancing the atmosphere of spaces. With an 80W LED and powerful brightness, it's highly effective for creating ambiance.

Let's get started right away with the work.
When I tested the operation, the effect was indeed not moving. (Although it may not come across in the images……)

Various possibilities crossed my mind—whether it was a motor malfunction, a wiring issue, or perhaps voltage irregularities.

Regardless, to investigate the cause, let’s open up the housing.

(*pop*)

From right to left, it's ordered with LED, lens, color wheel, and effect wheel.
Since the issue this time involves the effect, let's examine its surroundings.

Oh my…
It appears that one motor is connected to two effect wheels via a belt, using the power of one motor for both axes. In that case, the bearings inside these shafts are indeed suspect. I'll proceed to remove them one by one for inspection

Carefully disassembling it, I managed to remove the effect wheel safely. It has a textured glass plate that when illuminated by LEDs causes light to scatter, producing an effect resembling the surface of water.

Now, checking the bearings, it seems my earlier suspicion was correct—they were quite stiff and I was barely able to turn it by hand. With them in this condition, it's no wonder the wheels weren't spinning.

I tried various methods such as cleaning the parts, using grease, and rust remover to see if I could improve the situation, but.……

Nothing worked. Although I managed to get the bearings to turn by hand again, there's still some resistance and it's uncertain when they might seize up again. It seems there's rust or metal debris accumulated inside the bearings. In this state, I'll need to replace the bearings themselves with new ones.

Now, I'll proceed with the bearing replacement work. While I’m at it, let me introduce the tool used for removing the bearings.

This is a tool called a "gear puller" or "bearing puller." It operates in the opposite way of a wine opener, with claws on either side that pull the bearing out. Here's how it looks when actually using it:

Hook the claws on either side of the bearing, then turn the central bolt…

I successfully pulled the bearing out. Using this tool allows me to remove the bearing and surrounding parts without causing damage. With the old bearing removed, the next step is to install the new bearing by pressing it in carefully to ensure it goes in straight.

Taking my time to ensure it's aligned properly, I pressed the bearing in cautiously.

Now, it's time for a preliminary assembly and operational test.

What will happen next…?

The operational test phase is a crucial turning point in the repair process…

So, with determination, I flick the switch…

Whirrrrrr!!!

Hooray! It's spinning now! (The second attempt didn't come through in the images.)

There were no issues with the motors. After replacing the bearings, the effect wheel is now functioning perfectly. With that said, I've reassembled everything, and the repair is complete!

Unexpectedly, there were quite a few areas that needed disassembly, especially the disassembly around the bearings took more time than I initially thought. This is a daily effort, isn't it? However, seeing it now operating perfectly makes all the effort worthwhile.

Watching it create beautiful effects is quite soothing. I'm glad the repair of the H2O DMX IR is now complete, and I’m giving a thumbs up off-screen for today.

That concludes my repair diary. Until next time. Thank you again for your support!