I installed a 52" ceiling fan in our family room on a 2 foot long downrod. It has a very slight wobble, but nothing of concern since I assumed there would be some wobble due to the length of the rod. However, whenever the pull chain is used on the fan, it tips to the side of the pulling and the rod moves in that direction. The ceilings are sloped and the slot for the downroad "ball" is facing the upward direction of the slope, not the downward direction. This is because the ball will tend to hang down in the direction of the slope.
Is it normal for the fan to "tip" to the direction of the pull chain when it is pulled?
The clevis pin is completely inserted with the cotter pin securely fastened to the clevis pin. Also, both set screws are completely tight. It just seems there is a little play between the motor housing collar where the fan is located and where the downrod is inserted. I looked at the old fan I pulled down that also had a long downrod and it had some play too.
Is this because I am using a longer downrod instead of a shorter downrod?
Best Answer
Fans are mounted in a ball and socket type joint, both to allow them to self level and to allow a slight movement to reduce vibration being transmitted back up through the mounting hardware to the ceiling. Slight shifting when you tug on one side of a pivoted fan is likely not a concern.
Also, 2 foot downrods (of the proper type) are not at all unusual in standard fan setups.