Air conditioner movement

[Maccsyd]

Hey All
I was just looking at my AC unit checking everything was tight and no damage, the only thing I found was fwd and aft movement on the shaft between the motor and squirrel cage. Is this normal or has something worn out. Yesterday the ac did start squealing after a couple of hours any idea what that could if not related to this.

TIA
Geoff

[TandW]

Normally, the rotor in a common AC induction motor centers itself within the magnetic field. However, there may be some pull on it if a fan is mounted and of course it would tend to pull toward the inlet end. But not so much with a squirrel cage fan. A dried out oillite bearing might squeal, but my experience is with fan motors seizing. Motors with attached gear trains are more prone to ovaling the bearings and then squealing as the rotor/armature begins contacting the field pieces. It is likely that if your fan motor was squealing because of a dry bearing, it doesn't lend itself well to being lubricated. But you can try.