Fixing a seized oscillating fan motor

A really simple fix to a stuck oscillating fan. This sort of failure is very common and the fan usually gets thrown out. But it's so easy to fix.

Also see John Heisz's video on fixing a seized box fan:

[barbaraday]

Life saver video on today July 4th in Arkansas 🥵. This 64 yr. old cleaned up 3 fans today, 1 cheaper box fan, ....and 2 nice round WindMachine fan.

I've cleaned them for many years, but never took off the easy to remove blades.

It's been lagging for some time. I took this one apart like 4 times before I gave up 4 times. Cleaning the gunked grease/oil and some hair, no no avail. 😭😭😭

Then....before carrying it outside...I looked it up here in YouTube, yours was the 1st that I watched.

Thank you so much, ....gonna save $41 returning my pick-up order for today! 🎉🎉🎉

p.s. I only had to use the 3 in 1 oil and itsnluke brand new.

Love, and appreciate your help with the video....👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[gsp]

I was pleased to see you use the household oil after the WD-40. It took me a long time (too long) to learn that WD-40 is not a lubricant, but a cleaner that lubricates only temporarily. Once the WD-40 dries out, if the piece hasn't been properly oiled, it often corrodes and seizes right up again.

Absolutely love your videos. I'm always happy when I see you've uploaded a new one.

[BenBrandt]

I love the opportunity to repair. I figure it's not working anyway, so if you try to fix it you've got nothing to lose. If you fix it, great... and either way you've learned something in the process.

[timhyatt]

people routinely throw out things that with a few minutes of work, are still very servicable. I think the largest problem is very few people these days understand how things actually work, and things have been made to have a "disposability" to them...with the cheap plastic housings and such, it's cheaper to trash an old one, and buy a new one, that it would be to have the old one fixed. The era of the "fix-it" guy, has long passed. (my grandfather was one of those guys; I learned my way around a toolbox holding the flashlight and handing him tools)

[dMerge]

Good video for someone who might have never known this fix. I've been doing this with for mine years than I can count. Most of these kinds of fans are actually made with bushings though and not actual bearings. Thats why they don't last long. They, like most small appliances are engineered to last a short time now compared to days of old. More turn around means more profit for the manufacturers. The things I learned as a former printer tech. WD40 is good for cleaning out the gunk but it will not last long at all so be sure and do what he says and follow up with another thicker oil like 3 in 1, etc. The rear bushing is usually very difficult to get to, intentionally I believe. I actually have a large fan on my workbench right now that the rear bushing seized up so bad that I had to take it completely apart. Found out after the fact that you need a special press to get the whole thing back together. Had I known that ahead of time I think I would have just drilled a whole in the back of the housing. Live and learn... oh.. btw.. if anyone is interested. I learned from an old typewriter tech from IBM that the best thing they found to inhibit rust and lube is a 50/50 mix of SAE 30 motor oil and Marvels Mystery oil. Nothing I've found yet compares! Also, an older brother of mine has an antique fan from the 50s or 60s that has a small little port with a spring loaded flip up cap for oil and I think it is even labled OIL. lol.. it still runs like a champ and blows harder than any fan I've seen of equal size! That should tell ya something... thanks again Mathias.. love your videos!

[Lutranereis]

Well, that was disappointingly easy to fix.

[ShrimpJ]

I love how you pay attention to your fans.

[hesgrant]

Love these quick fix videos. Far too often do people throw things away that can be easily repaired!

[meaders]

WD-40 stands for "water dispersant" formula 40. As the name implies it is meant to displace water in bearing surfaces. It eventually evaporates (almost completely) and is not a lubricant at all. To "slick" something up for a short period it works fine. So does water. After using WD-40, whatever the the marketing info says, use an appropriate lube for your project. Lighter fluid is a (very) slightly heavier liquid and can do the same job if flamability is not an issue. Naptha or lighter fluid is a more concentrated mixture of the hydrocarbons in WD-40. FYI

[stephaniew]

I was trying to figure out why our fan suddenly didn’t want to spin. Your video saved the day!

[ChristopherRogers]

I have a fan which stopped working a few days ago, it is sitting here looking at me while I watch this video. Going to fix it now! Thanks!

[makano]

*I like how quiet it is, how well it works and **Fastly.Cool**, This was perfect to help air out a guest room and to use instead of AC when I only want one room kept cool. Works great!*

[TheOnlyRaceEngineer]

best quick video. no irrelevant chatter. straight up solution. thanks Matthias. you're the best

[ForeverMrZaphaell]

Hmmm... Not sure if "Great fan of this video" or "Great video of this fan"...

[lunarmodule]

Thank you! I'm getting my fans ready for a hot summer and have 2 that are now working more efficiently and rotating. So easy. Now I'll look on Craigslist for the older fans. The ones they make now are crap.

[ab_ab_c]

Good video! I've done the same fix many times.

I have cleaned & lubed my Honeywell fan multiple times over the years. It is now 15+ years old & still running great!

Btw, that kind of fix also works for refrigerator evaporator fan (shaded-pole) motors that squeak, rattle, & buzz. I just cleaned & lubricated one this month for a refrigerator that is 26+ years old. Shaded-pole motors will last for a very long time if maintained properly (which I probably do every 8 years or so...).

Thanks for sharing!

[Anonyhoss]

Worked a treat, got my favourite fan back up and running! Thanks so much.

[swvincent]

Thanks Matthias, I had a vintage metal fan that seized up after using it twice. It's been collecting dust ever since as I hadn't felt like digging into yet to try and figure it out. Followed your instructions and had it going today in 10 minutes!

[mathesar]

I was told not to use the standard red & white bottle of 3 in 1 oil because it wont last very long and instead bought the 3 in 1 oil that's labeled Motor oil (its in a blue & white bottle and has picture of a fan motor on it). Worked like a charm with getting a seized 6 year old tower fan running again (Honeywell HY-048BP).

[Blobjonblob]

An under two minute video from Mathias I feel cheated :)