Re: any way to resurrect a weak fan?

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2025-06-21 23:02, Bill Abers wrote:

On 6/21/25 4:21 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-06-21 21:58, Bill Abers 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. 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.  Thanks in advance.

>
You did not say if it turns smoothly when you move it with your finger.
>
(I do not know what is a weak fan, though)
>

 
Sorry, yes it does turn easily with finger.

 
 
I have trouble understanding what is a weak fan. I have seen fan fails
for two reasons: either they don't turn easily: possibly lack of oil,
maybe a combination of oil/grease and dust/hairs making the axis stuck.
The other reason, on big fans, is that the condenser fails. Wire
breakage seems rare.
 
If a small fan doesn't have strength to turn, it turns easily, and there
is no capacitor, I don't know what it is. On DC type of fans, with a
permanent magnet, that magnet may have lost the force.

A lot of small fan motors are shaded-pole types and don't generally
exhibit an electrical failure mode that doesn't manifest itself as
smoke.


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