For those of you that do not know how to grease a fan in a computer and may get stuck one day with something not working and not able to get a replacement part right away, but still need the fans up and working right away, here is a guide that I hope that will help you. Sorry about there being no pictures.
The more I think about it, I decided to just give you the info in case you decide to grease a fan. Here is a general guide to anyone that can use it. This is about the instructions for an 80mm case fan, but most fans are like this in a computer. Just slightly different setups.
1. Remove fan
2. The opposite side of the fan that the blades are on, there is usually a sticker down the middle of the fan. Remove it. It will usually just peel up from the edge. Don't expect to reuse it as they usually don't stick very well when reapplied. If it does then try to save it, but if not, don't worry about it for now.
3. Sometimes there is a little rubber or plastic cap right down the middle. If there is one there, then remove it. If not then do not worry about it.
WARNING: There is a rod that you will see down the middle. It should be about 1/8" or about 2mm in diameter. DO not try to push or pry it. There is a clip there that holds it in place and you will break the fan before the clip breaks free from the shaft.
4. On the shaft there is usually a plastic washer looking piece. It will usually look solid but it is not. There is a slit in one side of that plastic washer looking clip. You will need to remove that clip. It can be removed by using something like a pair of tweezers or a small pick or something like that. Heck, if all you have is a toothpick, give it a try. I have found that usually if you push down slightly on one side, the slit will come open and you can get something like a pick down between the space in the slit and then pry it up.
WARNING: Do not break, or loose that plastic clip. You will need to reuse it. Also watch for any kind or rubber round washer under it. Sometimes there is one there and sometimes there isn't. It depends on the design.
5. Once the clip is off, the fan blades should just slide or easily pull out. Once it is removed, clean everything off. I wipe everything down and if too bad, wash the fan blades with soap and water. Make sure that it is completely dry before you put it back together if you do get it wet.
6. Apply a small amount of lube, or grease, depending on your personal taste, to the shaft. Try to make sure not to get any grease or lube on anything but the shaft. I usually push a little bit of grease, or lube into the small area where the shaft goes in along with all the way around the shaft. Push the shaft back in and spin it around to make sure that it spins freely.
WARNING: Do not go grease or lube crazy. It takes a very small amount to do the job. More is not always better in this case. Also try to make sure that you use a good quality grease or lubricant.
7. Reapply the clip and any washers or seals that were previously there.
8. Remember that sticker that was on there that I said do not worry about reusing. It is there to help seal the end, keeping the grease and oil in and the dirt and grime out. You will need to put some kind of sticker back on it to replace the one that you took off. I have found that usually about 1 in 20 of those stickers stick good enough to reuse it, so if you can then good for you, but use you own judgment. What I usually use is clear packing tape. Put a small piece on and then trim the edges with something sharp. I usually use a utility knife, but a kitchen knife would probably work too. Again, use your own judgment.
WARNING: Sharp objects can hurt so don't cut or stab your self. Sorry had to put that in there.
Fans for most things are like that, but there are variations such as some video cards do not have the plastic washer or clip to hold it together. The cover shield does the same job. An example of this might be on a video card.
The type of grease or lubricant that you use is up to you. I personally use grease that is made for greasing ball joints and tie rod ends in cars, but that is what I have here. It will work in an emergency, but what you should use should be something with the consistency of something between motor oil and bearing grease. In other wards, something that is thick like real maple syrup to a honey consistency. Whatever you use, try to make sure that it is a quality type of grease or lubricant that will stick for an extended length of time, will not run or drip off, and will not dry up with a little heat or time in the air.
The more I think about it, I decided to just give you the info in case you decide to grease a fan. Here is a general guide to anyone that can use it. This is about the instructions for an 80mm case fan, but most fans are like this in a computer. Just slightly different setups.
1. Remove fan
2. The opposite side of the fan that the blades are on, there is usually a sticker down the middle of the fan. Remove it. It will usually just peel up from the edge. Don't expect to reuse it as they usually don't stick very well when reapplied. If it does then try to save it, but if not, don't worry about it for now.
3. Sometimes there is a little rubber or plastic cap right down the middle. If there is one there, then remove it. If not then do not worry about it.
WARNING: There is a rod that you will see down the middle. It should be about 1/8" or about 2mm in diameter. DO not try to push or pry it. There is a clip there that holds it in place and you will break the fan before the clip breaks free from the shaft.
4. On the shaft there is usually a plastic washer looking piece. It will usually look solid but it is not. There is a slit in one side of that plastic washer looking clip. You will need to remove that clip. It can be removed by using something like a pair of tweezers or a small pick or something like that. Heck, if all you have is a toothpick, give it a try. I have found that usually if you push down slightly on one side, the slit will come open and you can get something like a pick down between the space in the slit and then pry it up.
WARNING: Do not break, or loose that plastic clip. You will need to reuse it. Also watch for any kind or rubber round washer under it. Sometimes there is one there and sometimes there isn't. It depends on the design.
5. Once the clip is off, the fan blades should just slide or easily pull out. Once it is removed, clean everything off. I wipe everything down and if too bad, wash the fan blades with soap and water. Make sure that it is completely dry before you put it back together if you do get it wet.
6. Apply a small amount of lube, or grease, depending on your personal taste, to the shaft. Try to make sure not to get any grease or lube on anything but the shaft. I usually push a little bit of grease, or lube into the small area where the shaft goes in along with all the way around the shaft. Push the shaft back in and spin it around to make sure that it spins freely.
WARNING: Do not go grease or lube crazy. It takes a very small amount to do the job. More is not always better in this case. Also try to make sure that you use a good quality grease or lubricant.
7. Reapply the clip and any washers or seals that were previously there.
8. Remember that sticker that was on there that I said do not worry about reusing. It is there to help seal the end, keeping the grease and oil in and the dirt and grime out. You will need to put some kind of sticker back on it to replace the one that you took off. I have found that usually about 1 in 20 of those stickers stick good enough to reuse it, so if you can then good for you, but use you own judgment. What I usually use is clear packing tape. Put a small piece on and then trim the edges with something sharp. I usually use a utility knife, but a kitchen knife would probably work too. Again, use your own judgment.
WARNING: Sharp objects can hurt so don't cut or stab your self. Sorry had to put that in there.
Fans for most things are like that, but there are variations such as some video cards do not have the plastic washer or clip to hold it together. The cover shield does the same job. An example of this might be on a video card.
The type of grease or lubricant that you use is up to you. I personally use grease that is made for greasing ball joints and tie rod ends in cars, but that is what I have here. It will work in an emergency, but what you should use should be something with the consistency of something between motor oil and bearing grease. In other wards, something that is thick like real maple syrup to a honey consistency. Whatever you use, try to make sure that it is a quality type of grease or lubricant that will stick for an extended length of time, will not run or drip off, and will not dry up with a little heat or time in the air.
. I don't even oil my door hinges with that crap.
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