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Saturday, December 17, 2011

How to fix an electric fan

I can feel that my electric fan has been struggling these past few weeks but kept on ignoring it.Then, just a couple of days ago, I woke up and found out that it already had enough. It won't turn and was just stressing its "engine" :) Fortunately, I have been tinkering and fixing electric fans at home since I was 13 so dealing with this one wouldn't be a problem.



Please watch the video to see exactly what's happening. (Apologies for the poor video quality and my horrible voice :))


As I've mentioned - as long as the motor still humms or you can still feel that it's still trying to turn the blade, then there's still hope! The problem with the fan lies on  two parts - the shaft (where the blade is attached) and the bushings. Dirt and dust accumulate on these moving parts over time leading to rust which gives your motor an extra load. Sometimes strands of hair also accumulate in the bushing and shaft (as in the case of my sisters' fan) and they have same effect as rust. If your fan's motor is stressed out long enough - it burns out and worst case is that you also burn your house :(

TIP: If the motor has already given up on you (no more humming or no more movement - NR na siya) then its already up to the professionals to fix this. Sure you can buy a new motor for around 200 to 300 pesos but wiring it and having to worry about the motor's alignment is just too much for first timers ( believe me - I've been there). As my mom usually says - its not worth the hassle.

To get access to the motor - we have to remove the blade and all the covers. (MAKE SURE THE FAN IS NOT PLUGGED IN)


Removed the blade cover - see how much dirt is in my blade - so that's why I've been having asthma attacks often.

Remove the screws here..

And here to remove the motor's cover..

This is why my motor's having such a hard time - there's dust everywhere! TIP: Don't be like me - clean your fan at least once a month by washing the blade and everything that you can remove with soap and water. Every two month, it is advisable to remove the motor's cover - and brush out the dust there. Remember - an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure!
Remove the screw which holds the oscillator (normally at the bottom) - some models have clips instead of screws.

 Remove the clip near the end of the shaft - this serves as a guide/stopper for your fan's blade.


Remove the  screws that secure your motor.


Pull it out carefully - be mindful of the wires connected to the motor as pulling out one of these wire will damage it.


The fan has one bushing in the front

and one at the back... both of these would have to be replaced.

In this model -you just pry it out with a flat head screw driver or a long nose pliers. Some models have clips that you need to pull out.

Here's what inside - the bushing, the foam pad and the lock/cover (you will buy a new set for around 25 pesos)


This is the fan's motor shaft - you need to have just the shaft replaced - the shop where you'll buy your parts will put in the new one - make sure you bring this with you. Save the spacers since you will need it when you put it back in. you could also replace this with new ones - just make sure you have the same height.

The new set and the old one.

Putting back the bushings may be a bit tricky and need's patience. I broke the cover the first time I did this - its a good thing they are cheap. Place the foam and the bushing where it belongs and place the cover on top. Push in the cover carefully using your screwdriver - you will end up with one side in and the other side still out - lightly tap it in using a small hammer (its a tight fit) and once it locks - your done!  (the same for the bushing at the back)

 See that the old shaft is already damaged and rusted.


Put it back together - make sure you check if the shaft is rotating freely before you put back the cover. What I do is to attach the blade and see if the fan works at all. If the blade is not turning freely - your alignment is off - you need to move the bushing a bit to align the shaft properly.

After everything checks out - put the fan back together.

Everythings now clean and it looks great!


YES! YOU CAN FIX YOUR FAN! :)

138 comments:

  1. xtianMarch 3, 2012 at 6:39 PM

    great guide. very helpful. do you have info on where i can buy replacement bushings? tia

    ReplyDelete
  2. ArchieMarch 6, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    hi xtian! Thanks for appreciating this post. You could usually buy replacement bushings at stores which sell electric fan blades and parts. If you are located near San Pedro Laguna, you could try out Ohms in front of Watsons. You could post where you live and some of the other readers might know a shop near you.

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  3. ArlevinDecember 21, 2012 at 6:47 AM

    hey dude... i acccidentally pushed the button together for some time,,,
    and my fan died..

    it can be fixed right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieDecember 22, 2012 at 8:26 AM

      Hi Arlevin, I'm not quite sure what happened to your fan and how it died.. but there might be a possibility that something might have tripped in the buttons or worse, the motor might have died on you completely... I will write about how motors are replaced soon :) We have several fans that need new motors and I'm thinking of doing it myself (I hope I get the time to do it hehe)

      Delete
    2. UnknownFebruary 19, 2016 at 11:36 AM

      Did you ever make a video or post about replacing a fan motor?

      Delete
    3. WanderingBeeJuly 7, 2017 at 1:13 AM

      you are referring to the selector button.there are individual springs and thin metal sheets that moves in contact as you push the button,. . . pushing two button at the same time may give too much force to the button shafting, may accidentally remove the thin metal in one end and so connection will not be possible. try to check and replace the button set. before the repair of motor ( which in practice is only to be disconnected and asked for replacement in a repair shop near you. )Stores for fan and washing machine parts supply can be found along Evangelista St. in Quiapo, Manila.


      Delete
  4. UnknownFebruary 5, 2013 at 3:03 AM

    Thanks for make this guide!, I find it very helpfull.

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    Replies
    1. ArchieFebruary 5, 2013 at 8:00 AM

      I'm glad it helped you Prosopis! :) Thanks also for taking the time to leave a comment. Please feel free to check out my other projects :) I would also appreciate it if you could like and subscribe to the site's facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/yesyoucanarchie. Thanks!

      Delete
  5. TipidShopMarch 20, 2013 at 7:09 AM

    hi thanks for the guide its very clear and DIY guide! i would like to ask if you can help me with my electric fan,what happen is the fan grills lock broke and it prevent the plastic fan(elesi) from running for hours. when i now replace the plastic lock and turn back it on, the fan wont work anymore, the i tried to open the plastic covering the motor and i notice that the its hard to manually push plastic fan (elesi)and i manually push until plastic fan will turn around easily, but the fan didnt work when i plug-in to the outlet.its a 3d sporty delux wall fan. please advice, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. TipidShopMarch 20, 2013 at 7:15 AM

      Also i voltmetered the speed switch, when i switch to 1 speed position, all (1,2 and 3) position has 230v reading, is this normal or the capacitor is busted? same when i switch to speed 2 and 3.

      Delete
  6. ArchieMarch 20, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Hi tipidshop - I think you've burned out your motor - does it still hum when you turn it on? What you can do to test if your motor is still okay is to set your tester to continuity and check if the wires for 1,2,and 3 are still to the power lines (kind of hard to explain without pictures - I'll write an entry for it soon) - you could also bring it to a shop which sells fan motors and have them test it before you buy a new one. If you had a hard time turning the fan's blade - there's a good chance your bushings and shafting will also have to be replaced. It is normal for the switch to carry 230v reading - that the current running through it. Be careful when working on your fan while it is plugged in okay - you might electrocute yourself. Don't worry - fixing your fan won't cost you that much - the last time I checked a new motor costs around 150-250 pesos while bushings, shafting and other small parts will cost you another 50 pesos. The capacitor (though it is rarely the culprit) costs around 30 pesos. Thank you and hope I have somehow helped you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 21, 2013 at 8:29 PM

    Hi, i am trying to fix our electric fan in house. It stop working due to overheating, what must be the cause of the overheating?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieMarch 22, 2013 at 11:57 PM

      Hi Haneef - oftentimes - overheating is caused by worn out shafts and bushing - the shaft gets stuck and the motor can't turn it. You can check this by trying to turn the blade - if it doesn't turn or rotate freely, you need to replace your shafts and bushings. Motors usually have a small thermal fuse - try replacing that too instead of replacing the whole motor.

      Delete
    2. UnknownMarch 5, 2018 at 7:43 AM

      Thanks for the advice. I'll do just that now.

      Delete
  8. UnknownApril 2, 2013 at 10:12 PM

    hi, i'm trying to fix my fan and had it cleaned blowing all the dust inside the motor enclosure, the problem is it needs to manually rotate the blade to work, speed adjustment is ok. what seems to be the problem?

    thanks,

    max

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieApril 3, 2013 at 10:00 AM

      Hi Max! It seems that you need to replace your shaft and bushings - follow my instructions in this post :) I suggest you do it as soon as possible since you might burn out your motor eventually

      Delete
  9. vainApril 26, 2013 at 10:37 PM

    hi, thank you for posting this article. because of this, i got an idea on how to fix my fan (though i don't need to replace any electric fan parts for now).
    :)

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    Replies
    1. ArchieApril 28, 2013 at 8:08 AM

      hi vain! thank you for your kind words. What happened to your fan and how were you able to fix it? :) If you need help with fixing stuff - please feel free to leave me a message :)

      Delete
    2. UnknownMarch 5, 2018 at 7:46 AM

      I've a good idea about fan and rotating motor now.

      Delete
  10. UnknownMay 19, 2013 at 4:32 AM

    Hi Archie! Thank you for the very informative article. I wonder if you have any tips on how to troubleshoot the swivel of the fan. Thanks in advance.

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    1. ArchieMay 20, 2013 at 9:03 AM

      Hi Alex! Thank you for leaving a comment. When you say the swivel - is it the mechanism that allows it to oscillate (pane left and right) ?

      Delete
  11. odraregJuly 12, 2013 at 6:49 PM

    Hey Archie, thanks a lot for your instruction on how to fix an electric fan, I enjoyed it a lot.

    What is this you say "NR na siya" and about pesos, you are one Pinoy, here in the Philippines or where?

    This thing of being wanting to help others, that is indeed a proof that man is good, but atheists you know them, I seem to find them to be a very nasty lot when it comes to God and the things God made for us humans.

    Well, that is another story; I wished I could just avoid altogether discussing issues with them in web forums because they don't reason, they just keep dodging the issue and instead throw up foul language against God and Christians and anyone trying to reason with them about how they think -- they don't, they just emote and regurgitate stale slogans they read from their deceitful masters, like "If everything has a cause, what caused God (the real statement is "Everything with a beginning has a cause...)."

    Hope you are not a nasty atheist, some Filipinos here take to them US atheists also, imitating US atheists and behave like they are so smart, but it is all insults with them and dodging the issue and regurgitating (i.e. throwing up) rancid sour bad-smelling slogans from their deceitful masters.

    Okay, coming again to this contribution from you on how to fix an electric fan, it is really well-done, and as I said, that you took the time and trouble to put it in the web for everyone to read and benefit from it, that is the proof that man is good, and one of man's goodness is the desire to share useful knowledge, and information of facts and truths with other humans.

    Yesterday I went in the late afternoon to SM North Edsa to buy another floor fan because the one I am using is seemingly "NR na siya" (what is NR? Is it Near RIP?), and found out that the prices of electric fans are today some 6 times more costly than when I bought the one which is now what you call "NR na siya," so I said to myself better come back on July 19, 20, 21, 2013, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, big sale days with discount as much as 70%.

    Then suddenly I recall that I used to fix electric fans also, and the trouble could be the capacitor, because the rotating assembly is moving freely.

    To make a long story short, I decided to dismantle it this morning today, but first look up the web for people like you, who love to share useful information freely with other people.

    By the way, are you here in the Philippines or where are you living?

    And please, don't act stupid like atheists do, replying like "I live in a house," they usually resort to making out that they are so stupid in order to not know at all how mankind has reasoned to the existence of God from the facts of the universe existing and you and I exist and operate and yes produce babies whom we love to bring up to be also useful members of mankind.




    Thanks a lot.


    Susmariosep
    mdejess(@)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ranvijay SinghJuly 28, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    This is really a great attempt to make small repairs at our own end. But as suggested in your post, when the things are not supposed to be fixed by you, its highly recommended to hire any professionals rather than putting yourself in danger of electrical short circuits or blasts. Sometimes a little unprofessional touch may cause to tampering in the whole wiring system of the building.

    In India, for the same services there is Marammatwala.com where people can hire technicians as per their requirement,

    Marammatwala.com 24X7 Electricians Carpenters Plumbers
    B-II/169, Madangir, Ambedkar Nagar
    New Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  13. EdwardJanuary 19, 2014 at 1:12 PM

    Great tip! Thanks for this information!
    92025 electrician
    92083 electrician

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownSeptember 25, 2014 at 6:16 PM

    Great one...tnx for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  15. AFoster84October 7, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    Wow great information. I wish I had looked for it a few days ago. I have a fan that sounds very similar to the one in your video. It would hum when I turned it on but i'd have to spin it to get it going. Last night I turned it on and it came right on and I was happy and surprised, but this morning I went to turn it back on and nothing. No hum at all. I had originally got this fan to use as a Halloween prop at a thrift store because it oscillates but now its not doing that any more either. Since it doesn't seem to have any juice left in it should I give up on it or do you think there is anything that can be done? Also even if I can't get the blades turning again is there a way I can at least get it to turn back and forth or is it all tied in together? Thank you so much for all the info.

    Buddy

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  16. UnknownOctober 15, 2014 at 12:53 PM

    Thanks for sharing.

    I need to fix my stand fan. It doesn't swivel evenly and sometimes it gets stuck on one side as it tries to still turn but it can't anymore (there's a knocking sound). I feel there is problem in the oscillator. Any ideas?

    Thanks.
    AJ

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownFebruary 16, 2015 at 1:59 AM

    Nice thought with this blog I enjoy studying and I conceive this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it!

    Die Grinding Machine

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownMay 1, 2015 at 7:06 AM

    Do you have an idea where the problem lies where the motor-housing heats up when the fan is switched off? I ran a screwdriver-tester on it and appears the housing has current on it when its switched off, thus the heating.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ArchieMay 4, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    Hi Miguel,

    The motor may be grounded hence the current and heating. I would suggest you replace the motor or closely inspect everything as there may be exposed wires in contact with the housing.

    Most motors in fans nowadays are fairly easy to replace unlike the ones in older models which requires a lot of aligning and adjusting just to get right.

    Thanks for your question. I remembered it has been ages since I last posted my projects in this site. Better get back to writing soon! hehe

    ReplyDelete
  20. clarkMay 17, 2015 at 5:59 PM

    Hi Archie,
    Thanks a lot for the very informative post you got there. I got some ideas and hints on what to do with our Ceiling fan. Pls check also if you can help me with our Fan. Our fan is just small ceiling fan and it recently is having problem like re-starting after 3 to 4 hrs work/running. Its like a clog motor trying to run smoothly and just last night we wake up (with my wife) that said fan is just humming but not rotating anymore. What could be the problem of said fan. Fan still works this morning after I turn it off for 1 hr. but again trying to re-start and stops for a while. I just cleaned its outer surface using baby wipes to remove accumulated dirts but can not check on the inside which I might try after I read your post above. Pls help me if we can still do anything with said fan. Pls reply on my new mail darwin25275@icloud.com for I am not sure how can I come back on this site where I found your blog on electric fans. Said ceiling fan is very much helpful to us and it is just newly replaced. Hoping for you help and reply. Thanks a million in advance . . . . . God bless us more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieJune 2, 2015 at 11:19 AM

      Hi Clark,

      Seems that your bushings and shaft are about to give up. The motor seizes once it heats up I think. Best if you can open up the fan and clean the motor,etc - there might be a lot of dust inside the casing/housing. It will be tricky though as it is a ceiling fan - not sure what type you have. If its a big one, you need to have someone help you. :)

      Delete
  21. UnknownJune 7, 2015 at 9:38 AM

    Hi archie i hope you can help me too.
    I found some old fan in my neighbor garage and when i look at it the wiring is disconnected from the switch.i try to re attach it.but when i turn it on the blade doesnt spin,then i rotate the blade by my hand and it spin.but after several time of trying it get some small amount of smoked..so i immediately turn it off and full the plug..what seems to be the reason?doesn't because of wiring?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieJune 8, 2015 at 12:13 PM

      Hey ronald, it might be because of the wiring. But I think the shaft and bushing is seized up so the motor has a hard time turning it over. Does it still hum when you turn it on? Do you feel some kind of resistance when you try to turn the blade hand? Difficult to diagnose the problem since it could be a wiring issue or a mechanical issue with the fan :)

      Delete
  22. BabayingmagayonJune 12, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    Hi Archie. Kindly help me. My fan stopped working today. No motor humm whatsoever. The motor housing is hot and i smelled burnt plastic. I haven't turned my fan again coz im afraid it might make it worse. Do u think my motor now needs replacement? Will appreciate ur input on this. Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 17, 2015 at 1:41 AM

      u need to buy a new motor for around 200 pesos ..

      Delete
    2. ArchieOctober 12, 2015 at 11:48 AM

      Hi Babayingmagayon, sorry for the late reply. Completely agree with Ariel here. Replace your motor :)

      Thanks for helping out Ariel :)

      Delete
  23. wimalozSeptember 14, 2015 at 7:26 PM

    wow.. so helpful!
    keep it up amigo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wimalozSeptember 14, 2015 at 7:56 PM

      had a fan which stop working
      searching the net and got here
      thanks po

      Delete
    2. ArchieOctober 12, 2015 at 11:50 AM

      Hi wimaloz, hope you were able to fix the fan.. Glad to have helped out.

      Delete
  24. UnknownOctober 4, 2015 at 5:14 PM

    Hi. My ceiling turns very slowly. Number 3 speed (highest) is now like number 1 speed. The blades turn freely by hand. I have cleaned & oiled the fan but it still turns slowly. Any thoughts on what could be the problem?

    ReplyDelete
  25. ArchieOctober 12, 2015 at 11:54 AM

    hi boholano ko. thanks for the tip. I actually have a fan with the same problem. Will try to replace the capacitor and will let you know if that fixes the problem. Quick question though, what will happen if i replace it with a capacitor with higher (or lower) rating?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieNovember 3, 2015 at 8:14 AM

      UPDATE: I followed boholano's tip and out of the three fans that I have in the house which have the same problem, one got fixed. I replaced it with a capacitor with a higher rating and it worked. Its turning much faster now. It did not work for the others though (maybe their motors really need to be replaced. The shop where I got the capacitors told me to be careful, he said if the capacitor rating is too high, you risk burning the motor in the long run. Can anyone confirm if this is true?

      Delete
  26. martin novicioNovember 2, 2015 at 7:55 PM

    gud day, meron po kau website link o paraan kung paano kinakalas ung bushing at shafting ng step by step. maraming salamt po

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieNovember 3, 2015 at 8:21 AM

      Hi martin,

      When you buy shafts, they usually install them for free. Better leave that to them as they measure the length on both sides. For replacing the bushing, you just pry it out if its the same one as the one above. If yours is different, send me a pic and will show you how to do it.

      Thanks

      Delete
    2. martin novicioNovember 22, 2015 at 5:31 PM

      thank you po sa reply

      Delete
    3. martin novicioNovember 22, 2015 at 5:31 PM

      thank you po sa reply

      Delete
  27. martin novicioNovember 22, 2015 at 5:34 PM

    gud day po ulit, nilinis ko po at nagpalit din ako ng capacitor ng elec fan umandar naman cya pero humina ang takbo nya hanggang sa tuluyang tumigil, sinubukan ko po sya i restart pero hindi na umandar, may humming po s motor nya. ano po kaya magandang gawin. salamat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieNovember 24, 2015 at 10:05 AM

      start by replacing the shafts and bushing bro.. :)

      Delete
  28. UnknownDecember 13, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    salamat

    ReplyDelete
  29. UnknownFebruary 12, 2016 at 8:01 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. UnknownFebruary 12, 2016 at 8:04 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. UnknownMarch 28, 2016 at 10:01 PM

    Where can we get the spare parts you mentioned here? Does Ace Hardware have the bushings and shaft?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieMarch 29, 2016 at 11:23 AM

      Hi. unfortunately, Ace doesn't carry them. You usually buy these at shops which sell electric fan parts (blades, housing, etc). We have a couple here at our town, I'm sure there's bound to be one over at your place too.

      Delete
  32. UnknownMarch 31, 2016 at 1:58 AM

    Hi yung electric fan ko ayaw umandar kapag isang button lang ang naka press. Pero pag button 2 and 3 ang nakapress umaandar sya. pahelp naman. thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieApril 5, 2016 at 11:37 AM

      Hi Joe, one of the culprits may be your shafts and bushings. Try to turn the blade when the fan is off (and unplugged to be safe). If it is not free wheeling, follow the steps in this post. If it is, let me know.

      Delete
  33. UnknownApril 2, 2016 at 6:25 PM

    Hi sir Archie! ask ko lang po which is the best ilagay sa shaft and bushing for lubrication. Singer oil po ba o grease?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieApril 5, 2016 at 11:39 AM

      I would recommend high temp grease as singer oil (and other low quality oils) tend to burn when subjected to heat and friction hence causing more damage to your shafts and bushing.

      Delete
  34. getoveritJune 8, 2016 at 6:01 PM

    I've a ten year old "Wind Machine" fan on a trunion that had never been cleaned and was blowing chunks of stuff around my bedroom. Took it outside, hosed it down with water jet nozzle, shook off the water, plugged it into a GFI outlet to warm the motor up and drive out the moisture. I've done this several dozen times, even with identical fans with no issues.

    This time I heard a click at the fan and at the GFI at the same time. Reset the GFI; no joy. Apparently this fan has a sensor inside that works like a GFI, but I can't understand how it operates with no ground wire (it has a two prong polarized plug which was actually wired backwards @factory.) Took fan apart, removed the internal protection device, twisted, soldered and shrink tubed the wire stubs.

    Thought that since I had it apart it might be a good time to lubricate it (it _was_ running perfectly well.) Since there is no oil port @rear bearing, I took the motor apart, cleaned the journal bearings with brake cleaner and such till it sparkled, lubricated both bearings with ATF. The shaft and bearings looked to be as new. Put it back together, and the shaft is binding! How can this be? The journal bearings are self-aligning and the fan rear cover, the windings module, and the front cover have interlocking pieces so that it only goes together one way. I had something similar happen with an exhaust fan motor recently, too.

    I have nothing to align, and remain, confounded. Any thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. getoveritJune 8, 2016 at 8:09 PM

      Ahh... geeze. I had one of field poles sticking out a bit (put some red lipstick on the armature, carefully placed it into the rear bearing (marking the location so it won't be a false positive), put the motor back together, plugged in and turned the shaft to start it. Found one other pole with red lipstick on it. Put the field assembly on the bench, found a large 1/2" diameter brass rod, thwacked the piece of iron sticking out, and, VOILA! No more rubbing.

      And still, the motor won't start by itself.

      Was there a capacitor in the GFI protection unit?

      I'd wager on it.

      --> So Now The Question Is, "what kind and what spec of capacitor should I put in series with the motor where the epoxied protection module was located" ???

      Delete
  35. UnknownJuly 12, 2016 at 11:55 PM

    Hi. Can anyone help me pls. I don't know where to connect the other end of the capacitor, accidentally the other end was removed and I was not able to see where it was connected originally. There are 4 wires . REd, black, blue and white. The red one was connected to the other end of the capacitor. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  36. UnknownAugust 15, 2016 at 8:37 PM

    hello my ELECTRICFAN DOESnt work..

    ReplyDelete
  37. KNSeptember 16, 2016 at 3:11 AM

    Oh Not

    ReplyDelete
  38. UnknownSeptember 20, 2016 at 5:14 PM

    Great article. Good bad I didn't look for it a few days ago when motor couldn't turn the blade without a little boost from me. Today there is no more hum and it's really hot! We had a big storm today so maybe a coincidence as the extension cord is on the floor, may have gotten wet. Though other things plugged into that cord are fine.

    Anyway, obviously I need a new motor. We have a great repair guy who fixes our coffee machine when it breaks (twice) but I'm wondering if he would have fan parts or if I have to buy a motor at a special store. Also, are fan motors interchangeable or must I find a specific one for my make and model of fan? I can't be lugging that thing around town figuring it out. I'm in Merida, yucatan. Thanks for your help!

    ReplyDelete
  39. UnknownSeptember 24, 2016 at 5:03 AM

    Our Asahi electric fan became not as powerful as it was brand new after a year of use. The number 3 setting gets slower compare to the number 1 setting before. During hot days its useless... The motor is clean, shaft and bushings are in good shape and rotates freely. Could the capacitor be the culprit? Thanks in advance. (should have bought the more popular and trusted brand hanabishi...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ChippyMay 25, 2017 at 10:37 PM

      Yeah, it must be the capacitor. The quality of electric fans nowadays are bad. I bought a KDK stand fan (supposedly one of the best brand and the most expensive too), used it sparingly but 2-3 years later had to replace the capacitor and shaft. Bought another KDK desk fan, lasted only over a year. Capacitor also busted.

      Delete
  40. EstherNovember 1, 2016 at 1:54 AM

    Help. Where can I bring my fan motor for fixing near kamuning area?

    ReplyDelete
  41. UnknownNovember 19, 2016 at 2:58 AM

    Hey Archie! What is the model of that fan?

    ReplyDelete
  42. UnknownNovember 30, 2016 at 12:37 PM

    Archie electric fan ko nilinis ko. Then nilangisan lhat n. Pgkturn on ok nmn sya. Pero hbng tumtagal un gamit mga 1hr pabagal sya ng pabagal at s habng huminto na. Ano kya prob nito? Thanx.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieDecember 1, 2016 at 9:28 AM

      hi, have you replaced the shaft/bushings? if not, i suggest you do so. Too much oil can do damage to your fan since it attracts dust, it can also burn causing sludge, etc. i recommend using high temp grease instead

      Delete
  43. UnknownDecember 13, 2016 at 11:23 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. UnknownDecember 13, 2016 at 11:23 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. UnknownDecember 13, 2016 at 11:24 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  44. UnknownDecember 13, 2016 at 11:37 PM

    Good day bro....how did u pulled out the cover of the bushing?

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    Replies
    1. ArchieJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:49 AM

      just pry it out using a flat head screw driver or a long nosed pliers. There are some models with clips in them - so you need to pry off the clips first.

      Delete
  45. UnknownDecember 19, 2016 at 1:08 PM

    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. Is there a reasonable fix to this I appriciate ur tme and help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownDecember 30, 2016 at 1:47 AM

      The capacitor probably needs to be replaced.

      Delete
    2. ArchieJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:46 AM

      When you plug it in and it just hums, does the blade/shaft get stuck?/does not turn freely? I'm thinking it might be alignment issues with the shaft, bushing and motor - try rafael's comment too about the capacitor - they're pretty cheap.

      Delete
  46. ArchieJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:47 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  47. UnknownJanuary 23, 2017 at 12:36 PM

    Hi my pedestal fan wont stand up anymore! The fan itself works fine! Any suggestions please

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieJanuary 29, 2017 at 10:04 AM

      hi, the might be a loose screw somewhere (check them) or at the very worse, the plastic neck holding the fan to the base might have cracked - replacements are available and cheap. The difficulty of replacing these vary though (some models are easy to replace, others require removing the wires/ soldering them back to the switch). Hope this helps

      Delete
  48. st TehMarch 24, 2017 at 7:53 PM

    Hi Archie, my fan looks like your fan photos. All my fan wires broke of from all the 8 coils and I am try to figured out how to reconnect back all the wires to the 3 speed switch connections. Please help me with the connections, Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieApril 4, 2017 at 10:25 AM

      Hi, its possible to figure out the how your motor is wired but a bit tricky. You will need a tester to know which is which. 1 wire will lead to the A/C, 1 to the switch, 3 for the speed and 2 for the capacitor (7 wires in total I think). I'll try to post how they are identified once I get the time to write again. Thanks

      Delete
  49. UnknownMarch 26, 2017 at 11:29 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  50. UnknownMarch 29, 2017 at 8:25 AM

    Hey Archie where do you find replacement parts for your fans? I've scoured the web and I can't find a thing. I need the not so sure what to call them the cotton insulators for the bushings in the front and back of the fan housing where the motor shaft passes through. I've got the manufacturer and motor model number and still no luck. Any help would certainly be appreciated! BTW great tutorial for fan repair really helpful! Thanks sincerely, Greg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ChippyMay 25, 2017 at 10:26 PM

      You can buy the replacement parts at Manila United Electrical located at 552 Ronquillo St. Manila

      Delete
    2. ChippyMay 25, 2017 at 10:57 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  51. Lorian NguyetApril 3, 2017 at 8:25 AM

    That's just amazing,..
    I really like your shared articles about this fan repair,.
    electrician blog

    ReplyDelete
  52. YounkavApril 3, 2017 at 8:54 AM

    You have posted really very helpful informative post,.
    commercial electrician

    ReplyDelete
  53. UnknownApril 17, 2017 at 10:58 PM

    good pm po! tatanong ko lang po kasi kakabili ko lang ng bagong desk fan kaso hindi sya yumuyuko. aside from that, wala naman syang problema. sana po ay matulungan ninyo ako at makapag-post kayong step by step procedure tulad ng post nyo, salamat po!

    ReplyDelete
  54. UnknownJune 12, 2017 at 2:26 AM

    Hi sir. This is a very useful and helpful tips by you. Thx to this. I know now about the parts of the motor fan. Just want to ask. What is the purpose of the foam pad? My mother's fan is stuck up and i know the motor is still ok because when i push the button switch the shafting is only vibrating so i cleaned it just what did you do. And it back to normal again. But the next two days after i clean it. It stuck up again and touch tye shafting again its vibrating. Is it possible that the capacitor is the cause? I have no idea because i have no tester. Even i borrow a tester to my neighbor i dont know how to test a capacitor. Hope you can help me . Thank you so much. God bless!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieJune 13, 2017 at 9:56 AM

      I'm not actually sure what the pad is for - I may have forgotten - I guess it might be for the self oiling feature of the fan? Maybe someone can enlighten us. Nevertheless, I don't think its contributing much to what you're experiencing. Just to confirm, you replaced the shaft and both bushings right? Its not enough to just clean them. If you have - I suggest you check either the alignment or the amount of spacers you have (too much spacers cause friction and stuck ups while too less leads to unnecessary vibrations which lead to shaft wear).

      Hope this helped.

      Delete
    2. ChippyJune 14, 2017 at 1:19 AM

      Archie, you're right about the pad, it's for self lubrication. I replaced the shaft of my electric fan recently plus the spacers. Since the spacers were slightly longer than the original ones, the motor's metal casing could not be screwed together. I then realize that the spacers must be too long. When I pulled the shaft out I saw copious amount of brown-colored oil around the shaft and this has led me to discover the function of the pad, which is a reservoir for oil.

      Delete
    3. ArchieJune 18, 2017 at 11:45 AM

      Thanks chippy! That's what I thought. The spacer issue happened to me too! Fan wouldn't turn since spacer was too long causing the shaft to seize hehe...

      Delete
  55. UnknownJune 19, 2017 at 6:11 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  56. UnknownJune 19, 2017 at 6:15 AM

    This one is so helpful. and now i fixed my Efan. no more stuck and no more annoying sounds. hehehe.. i really need to study how to fix efan because it too expensive to go to Electrician to fix the Fan

    ReplyDelete
  57. UnknownJune 30, 2017 at 12:37 AM

    Mine is a box fan, at first it suddenly rotate slowly until it come to full stop. I turned it off and tried to rotate the blade with my finger but it wont rotate freely so put some drops of motor oil in the corners of the shaft and bushing then it works but (although with some low friction sound) for just a few hours and it went stiff again. I suspect there must be plenty of gunk in the bushing or some hairs So i attempted to open the motor: Drilled the rivetts that secures the shell together––The shaft is still smooth and so are the front and back bushing. I only managed to pull the rear shell casing but not the front so i can expose the rotor but i dont have a tool for it so i just vacuumed whatever is exposed then applied motor oil on it. The shaft that holds the rotor is still attached to the magnet assembly so i just push it back and forth as my hopeless attempt to clear whatever is stuck in the front bushing, put some oil and put it back together. NOw it's rotating smoothly and without friction sound. I didnt put the front louvre so i can touch the motor from the vent holes to see if it heats up–––and it did in just 30 mins of use, Is it normal to heat up? It's you-can-fry-an-egg hot but still touchable for me. We can't gauge motor heat as it encased in protective case but now I can poke my finger to the motor itself and realise how hot it is, is this extreme heat normal?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieJuly 31, 2017 at 11:22 AM

      Hi - should not be too not if you ask me. Eventually, your motor will burn out and cease. Might also be a fire hazard. be safe :)

      Delete
  58. ArchieJuly 31, 2017 at 11:23 AM

    Hi mandy, that's good to hear! Thanks for sharing - comments like this make me want to blog again (fingers crossed soon!).

    ReplyDelete
  59. UnknownAugust 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM

    I have an electric fan that runs freely when turned off but when turned on the fan stuck and won't turn 'twas like the rotor was magnetized by the motor because its very hard to turn the fan and the motor just keep on humming. I already replace shaft and the capacitor was good. What seems to be the problem? Thank you very much...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieAugust 10, 2017 at 11:06 AM

      Hi, can you check your shaft alignment, amount of spacers, etc? Seems the problems there. I had the same problem before. Found out that the spacer was causing the shaft to seize when turned on. Hope this helps.

      Delete
  60. UnknownAugust 30, 2017 at 2:02 AM

    Hello do u have an idea if gagana pa ba ung desk electric fan if accidentally nabasa ko sya as in lahat nabasa? What should I do with this? Hndi ko sya na try e on natatakot ako baka sumabog or anu plsssss help me ����

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ArchieAugust 30, 2017 at 10:20 AM

      Just want to check, was it running when it got drenched in water? It doesn't look /smell like something got burnt inside right? If you're positive that nothing shorted out, you can just dry out everything (including the motor, switches, etc) and you should be good to go. I suggest removing the motor cover / cover of the switch and leaving it out to dry under the sun. Once you're certain everything's dry, you can plug it in and try. I recommend trying this outdoors / with an extension cord so you're far from the fan when start it up. Be safe.

      Delete
  61. hashimOctober 19, 2017 at 3:14 AM

    Great information...thank you. My concern now, where should I get the replacement part? Need your help. I have 3 units fan pending repair and need thise type of bushing aasy.

    ReplyDelete
  62. hashimOctober 19, 2017 at 3:15 AM

    Great information...thank you. My concern now, where should I get the replacement part? Need your help. I have 3 units fan pending repair and need thise type of bushing aasy.

    ReplyDelete
  63. CoCanadaToCanadaNovember 19, 2017 at 9:03 PM

    I am trying to open Asahi sb-6071 fan but the oscillator button has a kind of white ball inside to hide the screw. Any idea how to open this? Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Rani VarmaJanuary 23, 2018 at 12:01 AM

    12 Best Floor Fans 2018 (High Velocity & Oscillating Fan Reviews)

    Holmes 36 Inch Oscillating Tower Fan

    ReplyDelete
  65. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2018 at 2:19 AM

    Nice Blog…
    Mega Home Appliances is a leadingPedestal Fan Manufacturers in India and provider of a spread of Pedestal Fan that are available fantastic colors, a number of fashionable, vibrant styles and ingenious technology.

    ReplyDelete
  66. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2018 at 2:19 AM

    Nice Blog…
    Mega Home Appliances is a leading Pedestal Fan Manufacturers and provider of a spread of Pedestal Fan that are available fantastic colors, a number of fashionable, vibrant styles and ingenious technology.

    ReplyDelete
  67. UnknownMarch 22, 2018 at 1:29 AM

    Nice! What do you think is wrong with my e-fan? The motor is buzzing but the rotor just dont spin. it's like it's stocked up when i turn it on but its spinning when off and i spin the propeler. Thank you in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  68. UnknownApril 20, 2018 at 5:06 AM

    out of the topic , just one question sir. if my fan is overheated but still working. can i just use it again? thank you for further reply

    ReplyDelete
  69. Black WidowMay 29, 2018 at 4:24 PM

    Nice article, sir Archie. Great help for whenever I needed some help on replacing some things on my fan.
    May problem din po ako regarding my stand fan (Nikon). It was working properly dati at malakas pa kahit no.1 lang anf setting but now, no. 2 and 3 buttons nalang ang ang gumagana. Then humina na rin ang 2 and 3. Tapos ngayon, naka no.2 yung fan ko, then I woke up suddenly and found out my fan is off kahit naka-press pa rin ang button. When I tried the no. 3 button, di na rin gumana. The motor doesn't hum conpletely. As in, wala akong maramdamang hum or buzzing sound sa fan kahit nakasaksak sa outlet. What could be the cause of all this po kaya? Thank you in advance po!

    ReplyDelete
  70. ChippyMay 29, 2018 at 9:53 PM

    If the speed of your fan's rotation slowed down before your fan completely died, the capacitor is the likeliest culprit. Just make sure you rule out defect in the shaft and bushing by manually rotating the blade to see if the shaft is freely rotating and not stuck.

    ReplyDelete
  71. UnknownJuly 17, 2018 at 8:41 PM

    Hello po. Pano po ayusin yung electricfan namin. Ang problema po kasi is kapag ipapaikot ayaw na nya tas maingay pa.

    ReplyDelete
  72. UnknownJuly 21, 2018 at 12:02 PM

    Had an issue with pivoting fan not staying in one fixed position. Took it apart and tightened and lubed the crank drive. All good, but had a small straight spring left over. Its a CLASSIC fan from China. Works OK, but concernd about the left over 5/8 " 1/16" diameter spring. Any idea were it might be from?

    Thanks

    JohnnyMac

    ReplyDelete
  73. Hover AppliancesOctober 1, 2018 at 3:27 AM

    Very nice blog. If you are searching fans, then Hover is the right option for you. Visit: http://www.hover.global/

    ReplyDelete
  74. UnknownOctober 4, 2018 at 4:11 PM

    To me, the steps in this guide are not worth the hassle as you say your mother said and my grandmother used to say. But I suppose if you have been doing it since you were 13, it has become second nature. I was encountering a problem suddenly with my bedroom fan. I did not feel like taking it apart after work but given the information did that you gave me, I took a little Shop-Vac that I got with a very powerful blower mode and stuck the small nozzle in the holes that I could access and threw it on high while aiming for the bushings. I blew a few dust rabbits(not just bunnies) out of there and now it works like a charm once again. I only thought to do that because of the breakdown that you did here so I thank you anyways even though I don't have the stomach to go through the steps that you went through.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Hover AppliancesOctober 8, 2018 at 2:47 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Hover AppliancesMarch 4, 2019 at 1:57 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Hover AppliancesMarch 4, 2019 at 1:58 AM

    Nice post. As per my suggestion Hover is the famous manufacturer and supplier of wide range of Stylish electric fans in India. Visit: http://www.hover.global/

    ReplyDelete
  78. UnknownMarch 11, 2019 at 4:05 AM

    I have a question:
    Why replace the bushings? Is this something that is needed when the oil dries up? Can't you just re oil them or something? There are some videos showing people oil the bushings up. Going to be impossible to find replacements.

    ReplyDelete
  79. UnknownApril 14, 2019 at 10:14 PM

    All the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.Thanks reviewzonemaker

    ReplyDelete
  80. Met WhiteMay 1, 2019 at 4:51 AM

    Nice blog ! Thanks For sharing Information about of Electric fan.


    Met White is the main maker of Ceiling fans. We are well known Ceiling Fan Manufacturers in India. We are serving the fans which are stylish.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Met WhiteMay 1, 2019 at 4:52 AM

    Nice blog ! Thanks For sharing Information about of Electric fan.


    Met White is the main maker of Ceiling fans. We are well known Ceiling Fan Manufacturers in India. We are serving the fans which are stylish.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Vishal SharmaJuly 17, 2019 at 10:07 PM

    nice

    ReplyDelete
  83. Vishal SharmaJuly 17, 2019 at 10:08 PM

    Really nice post thanks for sharing it. Get the best pedestal fan company in India

    ReplyDelete
  84. Vishal SharmaJuly 22, 2019 at 3:41 AM

    Very informative post thank you so much. Find the best table fan in India

    ReplyDelete
  85. Vishal SharmaJuly 23, 2019 at 10:54 PM

    Good post I enjoyed reading it. Get the best electric fan manufacturer in India

    ReplyDelete
  86. Richard H. BlackSeptember 26, 2019 at 9:39 AM

    When people, there are plenty of issues that most people should be aware with in connection with the household's models. Out of ensuring that a HVAC procedure will work accurately to your utility and also pipes procedure there are plenty of features this has to be inspected normally. at PressureWasherGuides.com

    ReplyDelete
  87. UnknownDecember 2, 2019 at 7:27 AM

    A sluggish fan does not usually mean the bushings are bad; it could just mean that they need lubrication, OR they were lubricated with an improper oil. I found an oil that works great-it's SUPCO MO-98 Oil in a ZOOM SPOUT oiler. It's very cheap, but lasts months in a fan I use that runs most of the time in the winter, and is sold in Home Depot. DO NOT USE automobile motor oil as it has detergent in it; use NON-DETERGENT oil when oiling electric motors that have brass or bronze bushings. Almost all small household fans use bushings like these, and not bearings. Clean the fan out well before you oil the bushings, one on each side of the motor, and push the shaft in and out to free up any gum on the shaft. It should slide in an out easily a small amount. The SUPCO oil is so good that it keeps my fan running, even though the bushings are almost worn out--but it does require oiling more often, at least until I change the bushings, so I leave the plastic cover off to make it easy to oil.. ALWAYS UNPLUG A FAN THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON!!

    ReplyDelete
  88. jannatul fardousFebruary 27, 2020 at 7:24 AM

    Nice blog.Thanks for admin,Share this electric fan user guideline.
    nika-talana

    ReplyDelete
  89. UnknownApril 23, 2020 at 7:09 AM

    Sir good day! Thank you so much for your help. After fixing our electric fan with your help, we now have a helicopter. Lol.

    Seriously though, this article is fantastic!

    God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  90. CashJuly 13, 2020 at 2:23 PM

    Grab a bottle of canned air (with a straw attachment) and give it a good flush from the air ports on the back side first. Sometimes the dust dislodges and you don't need to disassemble the fan to get it working.

    ReplyDelete

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