the blower fan sometimes sticks when the a/c turns on. if i spin it by hand, then it will kick on, run most of the day, then stick again. could it just be gummed up and dirty or going out?

Furnace blower motors are often capacitor start motors, and a bad capacitor will prevent a capacitor start motor from starting properly.

Here's what a capacitor start motor typically looks like:

http://image.tradevv.com/2008/...s-electric-motor.jpg

The capacitor, which looks like this:

http://www.o-digital.com/uploa...50VAC_330VAC_854.jpg

Will be inside that big cylindrical cover screwed to the outside of the motor.

start cap is possible. they're often overlooked, and particularly the electrolytic type will dry out in heat and not do its job.

but spin to start and no problems for the rest of the day? that says "oil" to me. the other neglect.

all these squirrel-cage fan motors are bronze bearings... a light film of oil migrates through the porous bronze, and the motor shaft rides that oil film in the bearing to spin free.

you are supposed to oil these motors through their little hole and tube oilers annually at furnace service, usually something like 20 drops. 3-in-1 motor oil is formulated for this. the TelesZoom spout oilers contain a wonderful oil for this, 20 weight turbine oil. and those oilers are easier to get to the motor ports.

when new, there are plugs in the ports. look for a white, yellow, or silver cap-looking thing at the side front and rear of these motors. lift the cap (like the end cap of a BiC stick pen,) drip in the oil, replace the cap.

I think just about all the oils that come in containers with "Zoom" spouts are pretty much the same thing. Be careful, however, as penetrating oil also comes with a zoon spout.

http://www.alan-godrich.co.uk/...zoom_oiler_large.jpg

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS shut the power off to your furnace (or trip the breaker) before you get your fingers or hair near any moving parts (like blower drive belts).

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