Unit will only hum and won't start up on its own unless I spin the squirrel cage ( with unit off ) by hand. After spinning cage for varying amounts of time it will free up the resistance and I will turn the unit on - give it a few more spins by hand (being carefull of my fingers getting caught ) and the cage will start spinning on its own. If the unit is turned off the problem occurs again and I have to start all over. (Whirlpool Air Conditioner Model Number ACQ122XK1) Any hints will be appreciated

follow this steps and fix it. God bless you

1. 
   
   
   
   
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     1
     
     
     
     Turn the electricity to the air conditioning unit off at the
     service disconnect box. Follow the wires from the AC unit to the
     disconnect box, usually located next to the unit. Open the disconnect
     box and, depending on the type, either pull the buss-bar or flip the
     disconnect switch.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     2
     
     
     
     Open the air handler\'s access panels with the correct size of nut driver, usually 5/16- or 1/4-inch. Save the screws.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     Remove the control panel\'s cover, if equipped, with a nut
     driver. Some models have a flat metal cover over the electronic
     controls, and some control panels butt up to the unit\'s access cover.
     Save the screws and access cover.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     4
     
     
     
     Follow the wires from the blower motor. Two wires will go to
     a capacitor located on the blower\'s housing. The rest of the wires will
     go to the control panel.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     5
     
     
     
     Cut the wires leading into the control panel with wire cutters. Leave the cut wires connected inside of the control panel.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     6
     
     
     
     Remove the retaining bolts with either a nut driver, usually
     3/8-inch, or an adjustable wrench. The retaining bolts, found on the
     mounting brackets that the blower\'s housing slides on, keep the blower\'s
     housing locked into position. Save the bolts.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     7
     
     
     
     Slide the blower motor\'s housing out of the AC unit. The housing will slide straight out along the mounting brackets.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     8
     
     
     
     Disconnect the two wires going to the capacitor. They will pull straight off the capacitor\'s terminals.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     9
     
     
     
     Unscrew the squirrel cage\'s locking-screw with an adjustable
     wrench. The squirrel cage, the bladed wheel, connects to the blower
     motor\'s shaft inside of the housing. The locking screw holds the
     squirrel cage to the shaft.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     10
     
     
     
     Unscrew the blower motor\'s mounting screws with either a nut
     driver, usually 3/8-inch, or an adjustable wrench. These screws hold
     the motor to the housing and are found on the opposite side of the
     squirrel cage, the same side that the wires leave the motor.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     11
     
     
     
     Pull the motor from the housing. A drop of oil on the shaft
     will aid in removal. If the squirrel cage sticks to the shaft, then hold
     the shaft still with an adjustable wrench while spinning the squirrel
     cage on the shaft.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     12
     
     
     
     Slide the new blower motor into the housing. The blower motor\'s shaft will slide into the squirrel cage\'s hole.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     13
     
     
     
     Tighten the blower motor\'s mounting screws.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     14
     
     
     
     Spin the blower motor\'s shaft until the flat part of the
     shaft lines up with the squirrel cage\'s locking screw. Move the squirrel
     cage in or out until it does not touch the housing or the blower motor.
     Tighten the locking screw.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     15
     
     
     
     Connect the blower motor\'s capacitor wires, usually brown or
     brown with white stripes, to the capacitor. Direct replacement motors
     use the same color-coded wires as the original.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     16
     
     
     
     Slide the blower motor\'s housing into the AC unit along the mounting brackets. Install the mounting bracket\'s retaining bolts.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     17
     
     
     
     Connect the new blower motor\'s wires in the control panel
     one at a time. Disconnect one old wire in the control panel. Determine
     its color and connect the new wire, of the same color, to its place. Do
     this for all wires.
     
     
     
     
   
   
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     18
     
     
     
     Replace the control panel\'s cover, if equipped, and the
     unit\'s access cover. Turn on the power to the unit at the disconnect box
     and test the blower motor.
     
     
     
     
   
   

Check the blower motor capicator. It should be mounted close to the motor with 2 wires to it (brown,brown/white).
Turn the blower on the thermostat and spin the squirrel cage by hand and see if it runs after by itself. If it does then definitely the capicator is bad .If it still doesn't run then check to see if there is voltage going to motor.
If thermostat is calling for fan and there is voltage present at the motor terminal then the motor is bad

Hello, air conditioners will freeze either due to low airflow.....such as dirty filter, dirty evaporator coil, weak or not running blower motor. Also, a low refrigerant charge can cause the unit to freeze up.

You may need a new start capacitor or fan motor.I would have the capacitor checked by a electrician and changed if needed. Good luck and thank you.

There is. Unfortunately it is on the main circuit board. To check pull the circuit board out and examine the bottom in search of a scorch mark where the circuit has overheated and burst. If so, replace the board.
Usually if I hear that hum it means the motor itself has burned out and needs to be replaced. since the squirrel cage spins free, it's possible that the motors capacitor isn't right, which caused the eventual burnout. be sure to check that if you replace the motor, just read the motor for the number and use a multimeter to check the capacitor. best of luck to you.

Howdy,

Absolutely should be positively "locked" to the motor shaft. There should be a set screw in the collar of the squirrel cage mount. Either it is missing of has loosened. Please tighten (or replace) this set screw. Also, it is very IMPORTANT to make sure that if there is a flat machined surface on the motor shaft, that you align the squirrel cage (and set screw) so that the set screw will seat firmly and squarely against this flat surface. This design ensures that once properly aligned and set, that the squirrel cage will follow the motor shaft faithfully. Also, it is recommmended to apply some thread sealant (Locktite) to the threads of the set screw so this will not happen in the future. Vibration can be the cause of this.

Good luck,

J

Sounds like you have a bad capacitor for your squirrel cage fan , now as for the a/c unit sounds like you have a direct short in compressor to ground or leg to leg , check all wiring to make sure that it is not grounding out or melted together.

silly question, did you verify voltage to the unit? It sounds like the compresoor is coming on but not the fan motor...a quick check is TURN OFF THE POWER, remove the front cover and CAREFULLY reach your hand into the area where the squirrel cage is, give the cage a push, see if it spind freely, there may be some packing material lodged in the cage, if it spins freely give it a spin and while it is still moving, apply power and see if it continues to spin, if so the motor is bad, I would not recommend going any farther as dismatling it could void your warranty. good luck

If the blower is made of plastic it does not have a set screw. You most likely need a new squirrel cage. They are formed to the shaft and have a compression ring that holds them in place.

It fixed itself; when I bought the unit (used) the rear lower panel was missing due to ham-handed movers. This part has the exhaust port. While inspecting the unit, I tipped it fowrard and backwards; the buzzing stopped when tipped fwd.
Once I installed the new part, whatever was causing the interference or harmonically upset.. all is good.
I DID receive the parts manual from a friendly parts department; I'll try to post that here somewhere.