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From: "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.repair
Subject: Re: any way to resurrect a weak fan?
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2025 20:55:28 +0200
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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.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.