Re: any way to resurrect a weak fan?

On Sat, 21 Jun 2025 23:08:20 -0700, John Robertson <jrr@flippers.com>
wrote:

On 2025-06-21 3:12 p.m., micky wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:58:01 -0400, Bill
Abers <none@anywherenet.com> wrote:
 

So my refrigerator evaporator fan has become too weak to turn.  Well, it
turns, but very slowly maybe 1 RPM when the normal speed is 3000 or so.

 
How old is the refrigerator?  I had a similar problem about 10 years ago
when my Sears Kenmore (Whirlpool?) was 37 years old.  The fan wasn't
turning at all, for 2, probably 3 months, because I didn't have time to
fix it.  I figured it would overheat and ruin the fridge.
 
Since I fixed the fan, it's been 10 years, and everything still works
fine.  It never stopped being cold even when the fan was stopped.
 
I did have to defrost the frost-free refrigerator last week, first  time
in 42 years (plus 4 years before I bought the house.),  There was about
4 softballs worth of frost.  The freezer is a trifle colder now I think,
for the same setting.
 

I have a new one on the way but, before my food spoils, is there any way
to perhaps resurrect this existing fan, just to keep it going for 2-3
days until the new one arrives?  I wiggled it once or twice which
initiated full speed, but it didn't last.  I also tried lightly oiling
it but no difference.

 
I'm surprised that didn't help.  maybe you need an even lighter oil.
Does WD-40 have some sort of solvent effect, that might dissolve
"sludge" on the shaft?
 
  Thanks in advance.

>
WD-40 is terrible to use on anything you want to be still working in a
year or so's time. It reacts with the oils and turns to goo...
>
The stuff is a good Rust Preventative! Everything other claim is
marketing hype.
>
John :-#(#

Applied on a frozen bearing, it can get things going, well enough for
real lubricant to take,over.

Also useful on 'frozen' screws, lock mechanisms etc. ditto real
lubricant.

And when things really get sub-zero, it will lubricate bike chains
and deraileur gears long enough to get there.

It's not a permanent lubricant.

I wouldn't count on it as a preventative for anything - effect too
short-lived.

RL