Directional chimney cap squeak is making me nutz!

[tomplum]

So I have this directional chimney cap that doesn't know how to behave. I have no clue how old it is , though it seems to be in good shape- or at least I can't see the defect. It was virtually noise free for the first year or two that we've been in the house. Then the squeak began. It has a s shaped kind of bracket which is made out of some type of bronze- which I think is where the noise comes from. The top of the stainless shaft rides on a single ball- like a single ball bearing. I put some pics here of something similar.

Once it blew off the house in one of our many winter gusts and when it did, we'd get smoke blown back into the house. So I need it or something up top to deal with the wind. When the roofers had it off I took the initiative a cleaned it all up , polished the bracket and shaft and put a small copper pipe cap over the ball at the top of the shaft thinking it may help in case that's where the noise came from. Nope.

So the question is, has anyone dealt with a noisy one of these or is there a better alternative to maintaining a draft in the wind?

 

[oosik]

A farmer down the road has a beautiful weather vane - it was made for him by some artsy/fartsy type over in Montana. Its a cock rooster. I stoped to look at it and talk to him about it. First thing I learned - I'm will not be having one - $360. He said after about three years his cock began squeaking and he made a heavy felt washer for it. He soaked the felt washer in grease and installed it. The bird has a central cross that rides on a shaft coming up thru the middle of the bird. The grease saturated felt washer sits on top of the shaft and keeps the shaft/cross bearing spot lubricated.

Sorry - that's about the best description I can give you. Not that familiar with the terminology regarding weather vanes/etc.

I began slipping there at mid-station but was able to finish in style..............:laughing: :shocked:

 

[RNeumann]

Anyplace that two surfaces move over each other with need lube. The trick will be to find a lube that won’t attract too much soot etc and can handle the temps. Hopefully it’s an easy up/down since I assume you will try a few over the winter before you land on one that works. I’d personally probably start with motor oil in a squirt can and see how that did- that’s assuming you can’t access all the movement points with it installed/assembled. Then I’d try a dry lube. But asking which lube is best will create more controversy than asking who’s kid is smartest!
My guess is something happened when it blew off (bent) or the cleaning you did removed some lube.

 

[4570Man]

What’s wrong with a regular chimney?

 

[tomplum]

A farmer down the road has a beautiful weather vane - it was made for him by some artsy/fartsy type over in Montana. Its a cock rooster. I stoped to look at it and talk to him about it. First thing I learned - I'm will not be having one - $360. He said after about three years his cock began squeaking and he made a heavy felt washer for it. He soaked the felt washer in grease and installed it. The bird has a central cross that rides on a shaft coming up thru the middle of the bird. The grease saturated felt washer sits on top of the shaft and keeps the shaft/cross bearing spot lubricated.

Sorry - that's about the best description I can give you. Not that familiar with the terminology regarding weather vanes/etc.

I began slipping there at mid-station but was able to finish in style..............:laughing: :shocked:

Ya did well!

 

[tomplum]

The lube made it go away for a while. I'm guessing that you are right that the bracket must be tweaked, but I can't see it. I didn't think of motor oil. Too obvious. The brass /bronze bracket holds the stainless shaft. The thing really works slick in the wind though to keep a good draft.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I have a regular chimney cap and it works fine. Keeps varmints and rain out and doesn't squeak. Only rarely, when the wind blows really hard, do I get any smoke back in the house...and here in Oklahoma, we do have some wind from time to time.

 

[Oldpath05]

So thats what those things are for, the squeak must really be loud to here inside a house,,,,,, Rotating Wind Directional Chimney Cap Installed by Luxury Metals - YouTube Wind Directional Chimney Caps - Steel Rotating Wind Blocking Caps

 

[gimmodog]

I would drill out that bracket and put an oil saturated bushing between the stainless rod and the bracket.

 

[Deere Dude]

What about a Teflon type washer? I don't know it the heat will hurt it, but I would feel the same about oil.