From: liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
      
   Carlos E.R.  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.   
      
      
   --   
   ~ Liz Tuddenham ~   
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   www.poppyrecords.co.uk   
      
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