How to maintain your fans, Also how to succesfully perform fan surgery

[de.das.dude]

Its common for fans to grow old and start making screeching or scratchy noises.
Their RPMs drop and so does their performance.

Its common for fans to grow old and start making screeching or scratchy noises.
Their RPMs drop and so does their performance.


So how do you fix this?

Simple.

I have used the stock AMD fan which is a dual ball bearing one.
specifications are.
max rpm = 6500rpm
voltage = 12V
Current = 0.45A
4 wire PWM fan


The patients:


First step is to remove the sticker that sits on top. In the picture below, you can see that i am peeling it off.


sometimes beneath the sticker, there is another black cap like thingy.
it can be removed easily.
its shown here


Notice the C-Clip that sits in the middle. your next task is to remove it.
note: there may be more than one washer there.


see the black dirt around the shaft? thats bad.


In this next pic you can see the clip has been removed.


The washer is a key component in dissecting the fan. It is white, but the grease-dirt concoction makes it yellow/black

You need to take the washer out somehow.
The washer is generally a C shaped ring with a cut on one side. this cut is for easy fitting of the washer onto the axle. Even if some fans have this washer, there are other round washers below this C shaped one be careful not to loose those. Loosing them will make you fan wobbly and/or unstable.

The best way to remove this clip is to use a pen point to press on the side opposite to the cut, and then use a pair of tweezers to lift from the side of the cut.

after a while you should be able to do this with your fingernails, like me.

If you are doing maintenance, stop messing with the fan at this step.
Just add two drops of lube, or use petroleum jelly or motor grease. no WD-40
Snap the C-clip back on and the sticker. thats done. If the sticker has lost its adhesive properties, just use a masking tape to cover up.
Try it now. If the screeching sound persists, continue...


now, i have removed the clip, and separated the blades. you can separate the blades by simply pulling them away from the frame. Be careful as to not drop them.

if the fan blades drop, they can break.

in case of ball bearing fans you need to tap the shaft out.



You can see the coils in this pic with the frame turned upside down. Notice the areas of maximum dirt accumulation

dont mess with anything sharp, the coils are really delicate.
I advise cleaning with a 5-10% ethanol solution or kerosene.
You may use a can of deodorant as well, its fast and quick. and makes your fan smell manly (if you use manly scents )


The blades portion of the fan, after cleaning:



For those who still have the screetching or scratchy noise after greasing, on dis-assembling the fan completely, clean the axle with ethanol(or spirit or alcohol). clean the hole with ethanol too.
Then using your fingers put some grease on the shaft. No excess please. As excess grease = more dirt.

Also put a dab of grease in the hole in a way such that the shaft will push the grease through the hole during assembly.

The above step would result in a small amount of grease at the top of the shaft like this


Dont have to clean it. Smear it around.

Then put everything back again, and put on the cap. Dont forget the tiny bits!!
here is a hint of how to put the clip back in:






Hope this helped ya fix em ol fans!
cheers

do thank / rape me!

All support is appreciated!
queries? post 'em!


here are some more pics

Spoiler

(c) de.das.dude

[AsRock]

Cool i like to say never use WD40 as it's a de greaser but is harder to remove after and what you said to use is about the best.

I find sewing machine oil best as it's thinner and will allow the fan to spin more easily. Which is all so good for CD\DVD\ players too

When moving that C shaped washer i place my finger over the hole so it don't go flying across the room lol. And i use a tiny sized screw driver those you see in small boxes.

I use Malossi lubricant, made for the CVT on scooters, but works like magic for fans..

[newtekie1]

3 in 1 Oil is what I use, works wonders and 9 times out of 10 I don't have to remove the washer.

[Bo$$]

motor oil is a wonder, my most of my fans tend to start grinding and can't be fixed

[PVTCaboose1337]

The best lubricant is the same that I use on my firearms. It is "Teflon Coating Lubricant, Medium" according the bottle it comes from. It is like oil and teflon goodness mixed together. I also recommend graphite lubricant. It is like a powder, but works well, but it is messy.

EDIT: FYI, if you don't have OPERATOR OPERATOR friends, just get this: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motor...chain-lube.htm

[Easy Rhino]

i have had a lot of expensive case fans go bad on me. i will try this out this weekend.

[Black Panther]

I use Vaseline, works fine.

Even better is Lubrimax.

[Easy Rhino]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I use Vaseline, works fine.

Even better is Lubrimax.

*cough*

[Kovoet]

Brilliant and thanks a lot for this

[wolf]

I've always used sewing machine oil personally, never tried..... Lubrimax.

[Bo$$]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

I use Vaseline, works fine.

Even better is Lubrimax.

thats the same crap as WD40 right?

if so it will wear them out faster, use an oil best and cheapest

[Radical_Edward]

I use white lithium grease on my fans. Works pretty damn well.

[AsRock]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

The best lubricant is the same that I use on my firearms. It is "Teflon Coating Lubricant, Medium" according the bottle it comes from. It is like oil and teflon goodness mixed together. I also recommend graphite lubricant. It is like a powder, but works well, but it is messy.

EDIT: FYI, if you don't have OPERATOR OPERATOR friends, just get this: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motor...chain-lube.htm

Sounds kinda cool. I use Super Lube but the one i have is too thick for fans although they do a spray too.

http://www.super-lube.com/

[Black Panther]

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

*cough*

Have a minty sweet?

Originally Posted by Bo$$

thats the same crap as WD40 right?

if so it will wear them out faster, use an oil best and cheapest

No, WD40 does make plastic/nylon bearings wear out faster because it corrodes them.

Both vaseline and that product are suggested for example for the bearing in automotive gear levers - in many case it's made of nylon and if you use normal oil lubricant it will get ruined.

[PVTCaboose1337]

Originally Posted by Black Panther

Have a minty sweet?



No, WD40 does make plastic/nylon bearings wear out faster because it corrodes them.

Both vaseline and that product are suggested for example for the bearing in automotive gear levers - in many case it's made of nylon and if you use normal oil lubricant it will get ruined.

I have never tried Vaseline, but I would worry that it would be too thick. I guess not.

[meran]

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

*cough*

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL lube

[_JP_]

It's a good guide, I might try it out with some "patients" here.
Call me lazy, but when (cheap) ball bearing and/or sleeve bearing fans broke down on me or start degrading performance, I just go buy a new fluid bearing fan. Less hassle, more performance and it will last longer. I can also go nuts and buy a maglev fan (expensive!, not available here) and never have to worry about that again.

[theonedub]

I use wheel bearing grease (lithium based). Brought my YL L12 back to life

[Raovac]

I do it the easy way, Throw the old one away and buy a new one.

[AsRock]

Originally Posted by Raovac

I do it the easy way, Throw the old one away and buy a new one.

Easy way ? , You could have the fan all sorted within a hour and for me at least would take 5 days to get a good new one which would cost any thing from $14 + postage and that to me is not the easy way.

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I'm surprised any of this is needed. I just buy nice fans and they last me forever, only exception being those scythe slipstream fans. Both I got ceased and the sticker bulged out and they leaked grease, but I wouldn't consider those decent fans anyways.

[meran]

Originally Posted by _JP_

It's a good guide, I might try it out with some "patients" here.
Call me lazy, but when (cheap) ball bearing and/or sleeve bearing fans broke down on me or start degrading performance, I just go buy a new fluid bearing fan. Less hassle, more performance and it will last longer. I can also go nuts and buy a maglev fan (expensive!, not available here) and never have to worry about that again.

nothing can stop in front of dust here in great iraq nothing can survive dust so cleaning and greasing is the way

[(FIH) The Don]

awesome guide, thanks !!!

[Melvis]

I use grease from a can with a long nozzle, works for me. Not all fans have an easy access point like the one you are showing, gotta squirt it from behind to fix this problem.

Wish my m8s would listen as both have thermaltake fans that are dieing after only 6months of use, my god there bad fans. zalman FTW. Second choice Coolermaster.