The Cart Fan (DTS-CFAN) was announced in January 2024 and started shipping from the Vernier offices in May 2024. It appears that some of the early Cart Fan units did not have the propeller properly seated on the motor shaft. In this poor position, there is the possibility that the propeller will be thrown off the motor shaft when the motor is running.
In October 2024, customers who received these early Cart Fan units were shipped a propeller spacing tool. This tool is used to press the propeller farther onto the motor shaft, so that it is in the proper position. Using the tool is simple:
- Slide the tool through the center of the propeller cage. It will only fit through the cage in the correct orientation.
- Continue to slide the tool until it is centered on the propeller. The “fingers” of the tool will reach around the propeller hub.
- Press on the tool until it bottoms out. As you press on the tool, it will apply force on the propeller hub, pushing it farther along the motor shaft. Once the tool fingers make contact with the Cart Fan body, the propeller will be in the proper position, i.e. you cannot use to tool to push the propeller too far onto the motor shaft.
- Remove the tool and use the Cart Fan like normal.
If, for whatever reason, the propeller does free itself from the motor shaft, contact Vernier customer support to set up a repair.