Econo Convection Fan Rattling!!!

I just purchased my Econo 1 Leisure Line Stove (pre-owned) and so far so good...until a few days ago. The convection fan is rattling BAD. It is very loud, it sounds like the fan is gonna fly right out of the cage!! I think it may be the motor bearings. Has anyone encountered this problem before? Are new motors costly? It looks like it would be a nightmare to get to the motor. The fan is enclosed in the hopper with rivets!!! It looks like I would have to take the hopper off all together to work on it. Any suggestions?

With squirrel cage fans it's almost always a piece of coal or something similar - big noise - rectify immediately. Whilst you are in there clean up the blades of the fan - very important.

How do I get in there? Do I need to remove the entire hopper? This is my first stove and I've only had it a few months.

Should be mounted on the back of the stove with a couple bolts. You should have to remove the hopper.

Either a piece a coal stuck in it, the mounting bolts have come loose, the actualy squirrel cage came loose off the shaft, typcially just a setscrew holds it on. Etc...

Take it off and go thru it.

Does anyone have a diagram or schematic of the fan/motor?? I work best when I know what I'm looking at.

The stupid design has everything pop riveted together, Not a screw anywhere. You will have to take the hopper off.

Just did mine, good luck, Stan