Milwaukee ACA Hurricane blower suffering

I... yeah. This is self explanatory.
The audio and video are not edited or altered. Yes, this is the raw audio and video footage from my camcorder.
0:07 Alert signal
1:48 Attack signal

[@EASsirenVids01]

Ngl I have always loved the way this sounds with the siren going off when you’re not right next to it

[@footystar1GamingOfficial]

I'm not surprised the blower is dying. This siren is over 40 years old, and it's gonna end up popping its circuits just like Darien's did. Hopefully a bit of restoration could sort it out, but if they do end up replacing it, they should build a new siren right next to it to keep its legacy alive.

[@zachzebra56]

Funny you say that, they are actually gonna install an indirect replacement T-128 at the headquarters which is a few blocks from this siren. No one exactly know what they are gonna do with this siren. Some say they are just gonna keep using it until the blower finally dies and then take it down. Some say they will keep it up and put a different blower on. At this time, I'm not 100% sure what they will really do with the siren.

[@Toilet-125]

@@zachzebra56no there are not but got any proof before saying it’s real

[@finny1548]

Ouch, poor blower, it hurts to hear it like that

[@JaimeCrager]

If you were a blower belt is bad or the blower motor is bad

[@SirensTornado]

The blower is barely able to go through these 1 minute tests, imagine what would happen if the siren gets used for a real emergency warning..

[@FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

I agree that it may break down in an emergency definitely time for a little maintenance especially the blower motor needs a replacement.

[@THEEOWS612SIREN]

It has been through a tornado warning a few months ago there was a little rotation over Milwaukee

[@SirensTornado]

@@THEEOWS612SIREN Well, seeing from a recent record, the blower did not burnt out- unless the siren wasn't even on in the first place. I am not 100% sure, I don't live there, soo 💀Just don't wanna make up anything.

[@zachzebra56]

​@@FEDERALSIGNALTECHThey don't even bother oiling the motor. That's why it's in this condition. But ya, at this rate, the blower will need a new motor.

[@Matt-the-Youtube-user]

That blower is definitely seized. I can clearly hear rattling and fretting noise coming from it. Even the Hurricane itself isn't that loud, so I can clearly tell, that blower is gonna call quits any time soon. I don't wanna bring bad news, but I don't think, they'll fix that blower. Instead, the entire Hurricane will be replaced by a newer siren. I hope it won't be an ATI, alias censor beep.

[@zachzebra56]

Wow this blower is gotten so much worse. Its probably gonna call it quits within a year. And it sucks too cause this is the last hurricane installed on a system in the U.S. from what im hearing, a new T-128 is gonna be put up at the ASC headquarters not far from here which I knew about. They are gonna keep using this siren until the blower finally dies. Which then they will take it down. Also nice warnings before siren activation btw lol!

[@grovecitysirens_GCS]

I'm literally about to just fix the damn thing my self

[@joshuasmith1724]

you can't fix it, its under some sorta law, since its the last, its under protection, they you unfourtenentally can't mess with it

[@Rewritesonic2455]

My brain when im trying to sleep:

[@OmegaHellHound543]

It's honestly sad how bad this thing has gotten. Especially considering how easy the repair could be.

[@TexasRailfan2008]

Fr, all it needs is an oil change in the blower. The motor itself is fine. Also possibly a new contactor in the controls for the blower and rotator because there has been cases where the contactor has not pulled in and caused only the chopper to run.

[@murfmallow]

⁠@@TexasRailfan2008pretty sure they changed the contactor! i have a picture of the milwaukees control box insdies

[@TexasRailfan2008]

@@murfmallow yes they did. I’ve seen the picture. That was after it failed

[@JerryWick]

The blower likely needs a full rebuild. New seals, bearings. There are 5 bearings total in the blower. A full rebuild kit is about $900 from MD Kinney. You can also still purchase a brand new 4012 series blower from MD for around 7-9k depending on sub spec

[@OmegaHellHound543]

@@JerryWick Still cheaper to rebuild that than buying a new siren. It would be nice to see them do that, but I doubt they would.

[@CazicTheProtogen]

jesus i never realised just how fucked the blower on this thing was lmao

[@SignalMan9292]

Bro just install a Thunderbolt blower for crying out loud. A siren fan needs to purchase the rights to maintain it or something so it can be healthy again

[@ACAAllertor125]

I don’t want this Siren to Go!😭 This thing is too Rare!

[@SteelCitySirensandTrains]

@@ACAAllertor125 It’s just a siren. It’s there to save lives, not to be loved by an enthusiast. You can clearly see this thing is on its last legs. It needs to be replaced no matter what you say. Think about all the people that live near this thing that has nothing but cell alerts as an alternative method which is one of, if not, the worst method to be alerted. Keep complaining all you want but this thing has to go. It’s just a siren.

[@Tobias1000T]

The rarest is the square horn hurricane 130

[@pacificpational2626]

@@Tobias1000TThose Square ones are all gone I believe.

[@ACAAllertor125]

No. There is one Square Horned Hurricane left. Someone saved it. There was another but was cut up after people tried to save it. Supposedly there is one in Africa but nobody knows what happened to it.

[@thecuterosymaplemoth8107]

But MOTH Is Cute

[@MonkeyFilmProductions]

Damn that thing doesn’t sound happy

[@PalmettoStateSirens]

Fr it sounds like it has bronchitis lol

[@WJfilms]

If they can they should replace the Blower Motor with a new one, (or swap it out with a used one in better condition). I have a feeling that old Motor is gonna finally kick the bucket within the next year or so.

[@zachzebra56]

I thought I heard rumors of them replacing the blower with a thunderbolt 5M blower. According to new info stating they are just gonna keep using it until the blower dies, those rumors are false sadly.

[@firealarmexpert25]

@@zachzebra56 Thunderbolt blowers are not rated for hurricanes. It would just make it quieter so it won't happen

[@zachzebra56]

@@firealarmexpert25 I guess that makes sense. Though they did it with that hurricane in sirencon 2023 and it didn't sound any quieter. Though recordings were right in front of a ground level siren so it wouldn't be an accurate test.

[@firealarmexpert25]

@@zachzebra56 correct

[@borkluchtalarm]

@@firealarmexpert25 I could be wrong, but I believe someone commenting under a 2023 SirenCon video said the Hurricane would be louder. But I guess quieter makes more sense.

[@SteelCitySirensandTrains]

That thing sounds worse than when I was there. They gotta fix or replace this thing already

[@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B]

I heard from a couple of other people, they’re planning to install a T-128 not far from this siren so when this hurricane eventually does die, it’ll just get removed and the 128 will be put in service.

[@SteelCitySirensandTrains]

@@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B That’s what I heard as well

[@VonnaWasser]

I guess In conclusion, hurricanes were doomed from the start

[@SteelCitySirensandTrains]

@@VonnaWasser Yes. They’re very unreliable

[@vantaaax]

@@SteelCitySirensandTrains too high maintenance*

[@Godzilla20191]

Couldn’t they just put more oil or repair it?

[@LoneStarSirenProductions]

Can i use this video for my hurricane documentary? We are covering parts of Milwaukee and this will be one of the videos we intend to use to show what it sounds like from underneath. Thanks

[@CentralOHSirens]

@@LoneStarSirenProductions Sure. Include credit in video. thanks for asking!

[@FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

they used doerr emotors witch are now baldor by abb. so if I get one I'll use that brand . It was still loud. To bad they can't replace the motor with a new one with a HPM DESIGN. It sounds like a car reving up . Looks like it cot on fire judging by the burn marks. Sounds like it needs a replacement motor and a possible rebuild. I have also noticed that the pole shakes when it starts both signals. And I was wondering if I could use a FEDERAL SIGNAL RCM CONTROL on it.

[@AleronRattan]

The real reason why ACA went bankrupt Edit: this is a joke btw! So don't think I'm stupid, just play with it or cause a fight....

[@zachzebra56]

Fr

[@firealarmexpert25]

Not why but ok

[@legendarygodzilla3577]

I don't think you get the fact it's a joke ​@@firealarmexpert25

[@murfmallow]

its NOT the reason why it went bankrupt, because they didnt want to do maintenance or whatever for the cane

[@AleronRattan]

@@murfmallow Bro that was a joke comment

[@SolidSableye]

Bro that thing is on its way out lmao 😭

[@ÆEVERYTHINGER12]

I bet- if these sirens were more reliable and more better, the Greenville, LaCresent, and Darien’s, would probably be here. though that’s just a thought or a dream in our heads.

[@borkluchtalarm]

D A M N

[@mnsirens]

hysterical 😭

[@TheSleepyMechanic0524]

Still can’t believe some of the experts said nothing was wrong with it lmao 😅

[@chaulyndelatorre5121]

because the blower is broken it's always does to the siren

[@FederalSignAndSignal2T22B]

Dumb question but Cant just they use another Blower?

[@Vicente-f6j]

asc doesnt have parts for aca hurricanes.

[@FederalSignAndSignal2T22B]

@@Vicente-f6j I mean like a Thunderbolt blower, maybe it will be kinda quieter than normal but still better than nothing no?

[@Vicente-f6j]

federal signal doesnt make parts from thunderbolt.

[@Vicente-f6j]

and they could accidentally reverse wire it

[@FederalSignAndSignal2T22B]

@@Vicente-f6j I know, but there are many abandoned thunderbolts all around the country, so i guess they could use one

[@tornadosirenroubik4124]

oh my

[@mtgau2000]

Damn

[@alarmandsirenguy]

If they going to replace the entire Milwaukee system you might aswell replace this. But no keeping for historical purposes

[@THEEOWS612SIREN]

I heard they might keep the siren it's self on display not sure though

[@Mr.csworldofrandomness]

that thing is toast lmao

[@ianssirenproductions]

My question is why aren’t they fixing it? Either that or they should just replace it.

[@AleronRattan]

Or refurbished

[@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B]

@@AleronRattanthat’ll never happen.

[@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B]

The real reason its being kept in service for how long it’s been, Milwaukee is letting this be until it eventually kicks the bucket. This whole system is getting replaced anyway and even for how rare this siren is, it has also had problems for longer than a decade now. There was talk by a few people that there’s gonna be a brand new 128 not far from this siren so when it does die, they’ll just remove this siren.

[@TrainsAreReallyCool]

​@@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B They better preserve the rest of the siren once it goes.

[@VirtualSimulations-Sirens1954B]

@@TrainsAreReallyCool highly doubt it, but if you know anything about SirenCon, you never know what finale siren will come next.

[@Snowcube]

noisy ass bearings in the chopper too

[@davd_1347]

Alert and attack

[@PalmettoStateSirens]

They should've replaced this thing a long time ago

[@peefiftee6060]

From what I was told by another enthusiast, the blower is dying due to increased load. Maybe trying a new LEESON motor (since that's what I believe if not all, most MKII blowers used) and lubricating the Pneumatic unit inside should be worth a shot.

[@zachzebra56]

That would definitely fix the blower and ensure the siren would continue to operate reliably for years to come, but knowing how Milwaukee is just gonna let this thing kick it's own bucket, I doubt they are gonna bother doing any of that stuff to the siren.

[@OmegaHellHound543]

@@zachzebra56 Seems accurate. Most cities aren't interested in maintaining stuff this old when they could install newer stuff that's cheaper, more disposable and doesn't require hardly any maintenance. Sad that they just throw the old stuff away though.

[@zachzebra56]

@@OmegaHellHound543 not so much it's cheaper or more easy to dispose, rather, they are still made so if something fails, they can get a replacement part super easy and quickly. In Milwaukee's case, non of the sirens getting replaced are getting scrapped. They are being sold off to siren enthusiasts and other communities.

[@Hurricaneandthunderboltlover]

i think it needs a full referbishment

[@CadeRankin2006]

That’s sad

[@mclarensuniversethatisverystic]

goofy ahh blower

[@WarningSirensOfCNY]

what is wrong with the blower anyway, and why the hell doesn't the fire department or whoever fix it

[@zachzebra56]

The bearings on either the motor or the blower itself are shot. These hurricane blowers are notorious for eating up all the oil in the bearings. And a lot of these hurricanes including this one unfortunately were never oiled so after years of use, the bearings start to seize up and if not treated asap, the motor windings themselves will be shot and the blower is then dead. These particular sirens are not the most reliable mainly cause of the flaw with the blower. And ACA knew that, as these were only made for a few short years before being discontinued in favor of the P-50's. As to why the countys EMA doesn't simply do preventative maintenance on this siren such as oiling the bearings periodically I'm not sure. They are basically just letting this siren die rather than trying to save this siren. Which sucks because it's the last commercially operating siren in the U.S after Daren Ill's got replaced and the other 2 in Texas were disconnected and later taken down. Hope this answers the questions you have!

[@WarningSirensOfCNY]

@@zachzebra56 It did thanks!!

[@zachzebra56]

@@WarningSirensOfCNY no problem!

[@NepsterWX]

Gah damn ‼️

[@SaraKern-k9g]

Why can’t asc just replace the blower

[@SirensOfOregon]

Because ASC does not have parts for ACA hurricanes anymore

[@Vacuum_And_Siren_Expert]

​@@SirensOfOregon T H U N D E R B O L T B L O W E R