[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Box fan quit working... (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/9/2017 5:34:51 AM EDT
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I have a 10 or so year old box fan made by lasko that I used to keep in the bedroom until tonight when it wouldn't come on.
I got a new fan, but I can't help but think it could be something simple I could fix. Anyone ever messed with one of these? What are the chances it's fused? Would it be a bad idea to try bypassing the switch? I run it on HI anyway. |
| They wear out, get sloppy, or get noisy.  If you run a fan all the time, you will need to replace it eventually.  Maybe those industrial strength fans might buy you more time.  I had a small one of those for many years I was happy with.  But it didn't log continuous use though. |
| I had one from the 70's that I ran practically nonstop in my bedroom for like 7 years. I ran it nonstop because the knob was broken off and that was the reason someone used to junk when I wasn't around one day. Now I go through a Lasko about every two years. They have a nonreplaceable fuse in the cord now I believe that kills them early because the cheap motor design they are using now shorts frequently and can cause fires. My biggest bitch is that they are not as deep as they used to be and the shallow pitch of the blades means they can't move air like they used to, it is also why they need the stupid feet to stand up now. Go to Walmart get a new one they are $20. |
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I have a cheap 8" or so oscillating fan in my bedroom that I've had since I was a teenager, maybe before. It runs all night every night. It's pushing 20 years old. Probably cost $10 brand new.
It will stop working every several years, and I take it all apart, clean all the dust out, lube up the motor bearings and oscillator gears, and guess what. Runs like new again. Did it a few months ago, should be good for another 2 or 3 years. 
If you like to tinker go ahead and take it apart. |
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Also could be this.................
When fans weren't throw away I put a new capacitor in one I used to own years ago. |
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Enlarge one of the vent holes on the back of the motor above the bearing with a screwdriver. Squirt some oil in there on the rear bearing. Tilt it back a little and squirt some more just in front of the front bearing and let it run down the shaft. Now the fun part, turn it on and use the screwdriver through the guard to spin the fan blade a little.
Should work........................ for a while. Repeat as necessary. |
| I had 2 regular indoor box fans that I put in greenhouse 15 years ago. They were ancient then. They get run 24/7 from October thru May. I touched one of them last fall and the whole plastic screen thing on front disintegrated. Everything plastic(which was about the whole fan) was brittle and literally fell apart when was touched. Yet that motor was still running strong. Apparently the UV rays got it. Felt bad about throwing it away with good motor. |
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I'd love to find one of those old-school, all-metal desk fans. With the completely useless blade covers.  |
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Box fans were used in the stables where I used to board my horse. Every year I would take them home and blow them out with an air hose. They ran ~15 hours a day from May through October and would last ~5 years.
If one locked up, I'd sometimes dissasemble it and oil the motor. That would often bring it back to life. Yeah, I enjoy fixing stuff. Beats the hell out of watching TV. |
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Link Oops, I hit quote instead of edit. 
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Quoted:
They wear out, get sloppy, or get noisy.  If you run a fan all the time, you will need to replace it eventually.  Maybe those industrial strength fans might buy you more time.  I had a small one of those for many years I was happy with.  But it didn't log continuous use though. |
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clean it? clean the motor, clean the housing, plug it in, turn it on, if it hums, hit with WD 40 and spin the blade with your hand.. if that doesn't do it..trash it. I have 3 running I pulled from my neighbors trash can 8 years ago...  Shouldn't take that long............well not that long for the older motors, haven't done that to a newer one but I don't think it would have changed much? |
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Blow the dust out.
Lube the bearings as best you can. Spin the fan to spread the lube into the joint. Then turn the fan on. If it does not self start, give the blades a spin to break friction and move the brushes to another spot. Toss it if that does not work. Poor? Nope, smart. Use it up, wear it out Make it do, do without. |
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Yeah, unless you like tinkering, which some people do, you should just throw it out and thank it for a decade of service for $21 plus tax. OP throw it out and buy a new one. They aren't made to be serviced. Much more trouble than it's worth. The new one will be all shiny and stuff.
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Why is everyone telling him to buy a new fan? In the second sentence he states that he did buy a new one.
Don't lube with WD40. that is terrible lube and attracts dust. Use synthetic gun oil if you want to lube. But don't run it when asleep or absent. I know of two fans that caught fire, one burned down a garage with classic car inside the other woke people up cuz it was shooting flames |
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Damn! The Sterling and the Zero ones look nice and they are a lot cheaper than I thought. Off to do some research. Thanks, RDak! The wife bought a stand up version (pedestal type) a few years back.............that's how I found out they are still made. Example of new desk version still made. |
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They don't have brushes. They are induction motors. It was kinda like those motors in a Kirby vacuum cleaner IIRC. (It was fairly big and was mounted to a frame the old home owner made fairly close to the window.) |
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No problem..........they are most definitely still available. The wife bought a stand up version (pedestal type) a few years back.............that's how I found out they are still made. Example of new desk version still made. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Box fan quit working... (Page 1 of 2)
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