All readings should be drawing zero ohms. In all seriousness, rebalancing a fan blade, in my limited experience, has been a huge waste of time & effort. Remove the shaft glaze with 'wet' sandpaper of 600 grit by holding the sandpaper in a loose wrap around the shaft and rotating the shaft. Lubrication usually helps. That's how to clean a fan - no rejuvenate. This is tedious and you will feel like cutting corners. and,costs just pennies. 3 years ago. Fan troubleshooting, repair, and service manuals. Apply one or two drops to each oil port. Many people throw fairly new box fans out well before their time. on Step 7. Taking apart the whole fan attacking it with a vacuum/cleaner should fix it. Again, depends on the model. Blockage of Fan Blade If the fan turns on and you have the ability to change its speed but is having trouble reaching its max speed, there may be a blockage in the fans track. Could be the switch as well as an internal fuse on the fan. on Step 7. Just a few tools, though you can use many more for cleaning depending on the gunk level. There are a number of potential reasons for this problem, including mechanical as well as electrical. Remove the needle, the rubber will seal itself. Through continued use, table fans tend to collect dust and debris. Remove the other switch leads and insert the second probe into the terminals. You can replace the motor by unscrewing the motor parts, taking the old motor to your local electrical store, purchasing a new motor of the exact same model and installing the new motor. Look for evenness doing the spin test. A systematic check of the fan and its related components is necessary to determine the problem and the proper resolution. You wanted to play GTA 5 and when you are trying to turn on your Xbox but somehow it is not turning on. Pull the fan’s electrical cord out to keep it from turning on randomly while you’re working on it. If the fan stops turning but the motor continues to hum, you probably have a damaged or broken flywheel. If they aren't, you will have to either replace the terminals, or if you can't replace them, you will have to replace the fan. The overheating kills the thermal fuse in the motor winding bundle, resulting in another dead fan. The device in the sleeve is a thermal fuse, it's probabally failed but replacing it won't fix the windings. Try to clean them, look for small breaks in the plastic, etc. 5 years ago a bit diffrent that my metod... i found a box fan in the sumpster with a locked up motor... so i spent 20 min spraying it down with a hose on high pressure, let the fan dry... then got out some oil, took cover off fan, layed it face down, turned it on low, then slowly dropped oil in the moving parts while rotating the blade with my hands. Lets fix it! Is your fan a small 8-inch desktop? Spray lubricant into the connection between the fan blade unit and the bearing. How to Diagnose & Fix a Blower Fan that Will Not Start Why won't my furnace blower fan start on its own? I occasionally vacuum that filter. Typically, pushing the knob down activates the oscillation feature. Reattach the grills, the feet and align the power cord collar. Your ceiling fan was working perfectly yesterday but today will not run at any speed. Never work on a box fan without unplugging it first. I find that some blades resist degunking and a scrubbie pad is useful to remove the stuck on gunk. Reply I never have to this. Most of the time it is a result of lousy bearings with so much play that the shaft rattles. then spray with a degreaser/cleaner and then scrub with a nail brush or other firm bristle brush. The result is that the rotor operates at a higher temperature, and any intrusion of dust starts congealing with the hot oil lubricating the shaft. scout around for replacements - you want short and fat threads. I have often picked these up on trash day, and gotten years of use from them. Then wipe with paper towels. Each auger is attached to the auger driveshaft with a shear pin. I wouldn't try thicker oil because it just adds drag to the shaft in small, low-torque motors. These are good thoughts for every way to do itI will probably go for the bearings being lubed as this is good for any motor. Our cool master box fan just quit working it’s clean. A project like this normally doesn’t involve doing any electrical wiring—most fan motors simply plug into a receptacle mounted inside the housing. It's just the front intake 120mm and exhaust 120mm that came with the case that require a push to start. Clean as directed above.Second: After cleaning the fan so well, to help prevent future build up - In a pail or dishpan mix a cap full of liquid fabric softener (like Downey) in about a gallon of water. I do this every season to my own fans and these $20 box fans last a lot longer then the manufacturers want them too. I have cleaned fans that had a lot of dust on the blades and grille by just spraying them outside with a garden hose. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. If you have more than one fan to do, leave the 2nd until the next day. Press Esc or F10 and select “save and Exit” press Enter and allow your system to restart then check … I let it dry several days in the sun outside before using. I have a fan that the fuse blew on the plug how can i replace that. Please help I don’t want to throw it away. The motors and bearings on box fans have a tendency to go bad. There are several very small coarse-thread screws from the back that hold the front to the back half. You will need a new motor and a new fuse, but the fan speed capacitor should be … The knob triggers the internal oscillating motor into motion. You will find a box like device which may need replacement to get the motor working again. The fuse is gone. There will be a small fuse that needs replacing, this happens when the power gets too high for the fan. Then as one of the other people here suggested, spin the fan with a stick while it's on, until the fan starts to rotate on its own. Fan noise usually comes from vibration. but you NEED the top and bottom tightly screwed down of the vibration will make a hell of a racket. Reply Another cause of noise is pressure - usually caused by dirt in the grill, but also by flattening of the blades. Reply Wash each blade individually on one side then flip the fan and wash the other. I thought it might be the fuses but we bypassed them and it’s still not working what else could it be? These screws are usually very small. 2 years ago, 5 years ago 2 years ago If your impeller will spin but the augers will not, and you have confirmed that a broken shear pin is not causing this issue, there is likely a problem with the gearbox that is stopping it from turning. Spray that with some WD40 and it will fix the issue (this fixed it for me). 2 years ago Is there any way to make it quieter? )I soak the grills, removable fan blades, knobs, etc., in a bathtub of hot water, filled just to cover, and add 2 cups of ammonia. 5 years ago on Step 7. Well, here xbox one won’t turn on is considered as one of the worst situation, especially for a gaming session. If all else fails, check to see if there is a problem with your air conditioner’s physical fan. The motor is basically trash, they are not worth re-winding. Yup, it's the start / run capacitor that is bad. Discover Green Science Fair for a Better Planet. If you have more than one fan to do, leave the 2nd until the next day. Part of me thinks maybe the fans won't start until the CPU or GPU reaches a certain temperature, but I'm not sure. A single phasing motor wouldn't rotate at all under electric power. Take apart the fan by removing the screws on the front panel of your fan and lifting the blades off … The antistatic property, will REPEL dust and dirt, requiring cleaning less often.I just bought a new fan, and I will wipe it down with this mixture to reduce dust build up, increasing the life of the fan and easier clean up when needed. Whenever I see the towers of box fans for sale, I always wonder what happened to the ones people bought the year before. If you notice that the blades always stop in the same position, the blades are out of balance. No disassmbly, left the motor in. I have had them last decades. Unplug the fan and either unhook the blade guard or unscrew the pin. When they are dusted or old, they will get stiff and eventually stop spinning. Test the motor to see if it is working. I've been able to keep my cheap Aurora fan alive for years by catching the signs of slow startup or quick wind down, or squeaky bearings, and shutting down the fan until I've ripped it apart and cleaned and lubed it using regular 30-weight motor oil. Start off spraying a little light oil into the hole and let the fan run for 20 minutes. Did you make this project? However, some users report the GPU fans not spinning issue. It's cheap and easy and even saves energy. The fan should take 10 seconds to wind down to a stop if it is a 15-inch fan. Fortunately, this fix is relatively simple, and doesn't even require a screwdriver--all you need is a … Turn it on, if the fan was not old to begin with you will find a world of difference between the speed of the fan blades before and after the cleaning. The grids are NOT straight but beveled, and may appear clean if you look at them straight on, look at them from an angle and you will see they have four sides, you don't need it spotless, but get the area in front of the blades reasonable clean. Remove all the material surrounding the motor, avoid spraying it with any cleaners. You CAN do these in the shower, and use a long handled scrub brush, but you will still need to use paper towels to get in some crevasses. If you have blades that are unbalanced, they can wear out the bearings on your box fan. You may have to unhook the power cord collar and remove the feet. If you open the fan up, take the motor apart, there is a bearing that spins the fan. Depends on your model, but I would unplug it and find a way to disassemble the fan to check the wiring to the fan motor and switch. on Step 7. Like most small appliances, people don't take the time to clean them, even though it will make them last much longer. Thanks, Question This will normally be … Use a brush for the solid matter. Wait 10 minutes. Test each terminal one at a time. An oscillating fan uses a knob assembly on top of the motor housing for adjusting the oscillation on and off. Rarely I may have to replace a knob, but usually they are functioning, but the blade speed is about half of normal. Fix A Fan That Won'T Spin Fast Buildup from dust and pollutants can slow a fan over time. While inspecting the fan, first check the bearings. Here is how to fix a box fan. then spray with a degreaser/cleaner and then scrub with a nail brush or other firm bristle brush. Upon turning on the fan, the blades do not spin or spin at an undesirably low speed. Reply You can play a game for a long time and the GPU fans should start up. Then measure the individual points to where you have power and where it stops. Does anybody know the customer service number for cool master box fan? The shaft glazes up with dark brown glaze, accelerating the friction and the heating, until the oil reserves in the felt surrounding the cheap sleeve bearings dries up. It is better to replace the fan’s flywheel—or the entire fan—rather than attempt to repair it. How to Repair a Bathroom or Kitchen Fan Motor. You can either use a multimeter to check for continuity or call an electrician to help you check the power. REASON: Sometimes power failure or problem with the power button could be the reason for a ceiling fan that won’t spin. Box fans work by having a set of fan blades attached on the shaft of a small motor. Reply Delete Check for Power to Your Outlet. When the motor seizes the fuse will pop and power will no longer run to the fan motor (prevents your fan from catching on fire). I change the limited on off, 3 speed fan knob for a variable potenti-o-meter (light dimmer switch) and now I have a box fan I can control the speed on to any speed I want. too lazy to clean like this. Yes, you can skip a few, usually you can leave off a side screw without TOO much noise factor. Participated in the Discover Green Science Fair for a Better Planet. SOLUTION: Thus you must make sure the fan is receiving power to function. Feel around the sides of the blade guards for clips that are holding the 2 parts together. If there are clips, unhook them and remove the front half. Sometimes a few can be missing OR the hole has grown too large to reseat tightly. Hi,I know this is an old, old post...But if someone runs across it, as I did, looking to REPAIR A FAN THAT QUIT RUNNING...Here are 2 tips I am adding.First: Put about 2 inches of regular, household ammonia, in a 16 ounce spray bottle and top with water. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The fan on my Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo also starts up no problem every time. Keep your fan dry to prevent electrical hazards. Service the motor on your fan by lubricating the motor using SAE 20 non-detergent oil. Wipe the whole thing down inside and out. Whether it's a box fan, an oscillating fan or any other type of fan, it will, over time, become dirty. 9 years ago after another 20min i had a lasco box fan from the 80's that moved alot more air than my dads lasco from 2014. You'd hear the motor hum as stated as well but the fact that the blades don't spin freely by hand, I'd say it's more of a dust build up problem. I have a new fan that is very noisy. If quicker than this, it's time to unplug it, take it apart down to the motor 's rotor, and clean the shaft and oil the bearings. After only one season a fan may be covered in enough gunk to give the illusion that the 'motor' is worn out, when really all that is needed is a good cleaning to keep it running for a lot more hours. Check the power. Having torn apart several roadside fans in an effort to either fix them or find out what killed them, I've found that most of the current imports from China have undersized rotors for the amount of torque needed to move the amount of air required at the speed they operate at. I was concerrned about water in the motor but no problems years later. if the feet are missing you will have to dummy a replacement, or just make sure the fan is propped up, like in a window. 5 years ago on Introduction. Turn the blades and spray again, do this several times. Use this to wipe all surfaces. Replace the ceiling fan capacitor. If not, toss it. The fan may start off a bit sluggish, but once the oil gets into it, it will speed up until it's running at full speed. To determine the cause of the fan speed malfunction, follow the steps below: Clean and lubricate the ball bearings. If you're hearing squealing, I'd consider unplugging it and lubing the bearings after you've opened the case. It will run if I give it a "spin" My gas heater isn't working correctly. Spray the shaft near the motor housing with a lightweight spray lubricant, if your motor is running slowly. Soak a clean cloth in it and wring it out. Put plastic sheeting below the fan to avoid any oil getting on furniture or carpet and using a step ladder locate the "add oil" hole. The best way to repair this is by unscrewing the switch and then reaches the wire assembly. How to Fix a Box Fan. Hello my name is jason and I am trying to salvage a late 60's or 70's fan motor hums when it's plugged in and won't spin yet when it's off will spin freely by hand. Another reason for ceiling fan motor defects is failure of the switch. Returning it to the store or manufacturer will make it a lot quieter. on Introduction. Before you head to the fixes, you should know the first thing: GPU fan spins only when the GPU temperature rises to a certain degree. Fan won't start on it's own, but will spin if you start it by hand. Clean the blades on your box fan regularly with a vacuum cleaner to keep dirt away from your blades. Then stop the fan and add ceiling fan oil until the reservoir overflows slightly. Vibration at high speeds will make the fan walk and possibly fall. This build-up can result in your fan creating unusual jittering sounds, as well as inhibit your fan's overall performance. also wipe the struts. If you’ve tried both of these steps but your fan still won’t work, try … Press the center cap into place, plug the fan in for a brief moment and test it. High moisture can be another reason for ceiling fan motor failure. My thermostat signals the heater correctly and the burner ignites, but the fan doesn't always turn on. Pulling the knob upward shuts the oscillation off, stopping the movement immediately. (The best degreaser for dirty stoves,etc. Use a brush to remove the hair and gunk. Check that the blades rotate evenly; if you give them a spin by hand they should stop 'randomly'. I guess it is easier to put it out for the trash and spend another $20-$30. Repair guides and support for all household mechanical fans including ceiling, box, tower, and stand fans. and I am very lazy. - Fan Replace the motor on your fan if your efforts to clean the motor do not work. When your air conditioner’s outside fan is not working, inspect the fan itself. You *can* counterweight them with small pieces of tape, but once they are out of balance its almost impossible to rebalance them. If your fan blades still do not work then the internal bearing has worn out and you need to replace the fan. on Step 7. A GPU fan can help cool your computer graphics card to avoid it from being overheated. Insert one of the probes into the terminal. Put your box fan back together the same way you took it apart. Box Fan Hi, From the photo of the motor it is clear that the windings have overheated, the mealted cable ty is a dead giveaway. The bearing make it possible for the fan to spin. Do you think canola oil would work lol thats all I have. Not only does but … You want to end up with smooth clean plastic blades, where things slide off. Is there a reasonable fix to this I appriciate ur tme and help. Screw driver Paper towel Dusting Brush All Purpose Cleaner/degreaser Finger Nail Brush green kitchen scrubbies steel wool. Use a brush for the solid matter. Xbox won’t turn on Errors. Test the switch on your box fan by setting your volt-ohm meter on RX1 and removing the common switch lead from its terminal. The fan should be good for about another year. Over time, fans in your home may start to run slow. Then wipe with paper towels. put them in your pocket or somewhere SAFE. Share it with us! If you leave it gunked and only remove the visual material, new stuff will quickly latch on and you will be just as bad off. After an extended period of time, you fan can break or stop working. If the above does not resolve the issue, continue to the following steps to check for over-heating. So laptops fans are mostly brushless type fans. Replacement flywheels are relatively inexpensive and are available for most ceiling fan models. Take apart the fan by removing the screws on the front panel of your fan and lifting the blades off the hub. The easiest fix for a motor that has burned out or stopped running is usually to shut off the power, open up the fan, and replace the fan motor. Never operate your box fan near a sink or bath tub. Unless it is a window fan, don't leave a fan in an open window while it is raining.