pulsating fan noise in flex-6500

Gene - K3GC

I have a pulsating fan noise in my 6500.  It is constant from the time I turn the radio on.
I removed the cover and disconnected the large side fans.  It made no difference so the problem is clearly coming from the small internal fans.
The pulsating noise is the only problem other than driving me nuts listening to it all the time .  It is the same sort of noise that you get from a twin engine aircraft with the props out of sync.  

Dan -- KC4GO

Suggest you contact the Help Desk... 
helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/

James Del Principe

or sync the props......  

Cal N3CAL

Gene I would contact the help desk.  I had the same problem with fan noise on my 6500.   After a trip back to Flex all is well.   I know how it can drive you nuts! 

Cal/N3CAL

Brian Morgan VK7RR

I have had the same problem with my 6500 since day 1. Sending the radio back to its birthplace is not so easy from VK  land. My "solution" was to put the radio on a foam mat. This reduces acoustic coupling and makes the noise much easier to put up with.

Gene - K3GC

thanks Brian,
It works a treat.

Tim - W4TME

Gene - I have updated your HelpDesk ticket with the information you requested.

Tim - W4TME

Brian - the "pulsing" fan noise is indicative of one of the two CPU fans starting to malfunction.  It is either running at a lower speed that the other one or the speed is oscillating.  If the fan speed drops too low to cool the CPU properly, the radio will throw a thermal error and shut down the radio as a protection mechanism.  If you get these errors, even if they go away on a subsequent restart, you should have the radio serviced.

Norm - W7CK

If it is just one of the fans, can't he just get another and throw it in himself?

Tim - W4TME

No.  The CPU fans are not user serviceable.  Attempting to do so will void the radio's hardware warranty.

Brian Morgan VK7RR

Thanks Tim. As I said in my original post, it has been like that since day 1. It was about day 1.2 when I put the foam underneath it. I appreciate your warning. Knock on wood I have not had y warning. Brian

Tim - W4TME

RRR.