How to Repair a Computer Fan

by damonkohler

135K2528

Intro: How to Repair a Computer Fan

If you have a computer fan that sounds like the bearing has been replaced with gravel, there may actually be a simple fix. All you need is a screw driver, a small pick, and some lubricant. In this instructable, I repair my GPU fan. However, the process should be nearly identical for any fan in your PC.

STEP 1: Remove Fan

I repaired my GPU fan. First, find the screws holding the fan in place, and remove them so that you can access both sides of the fan freely. Now is a good time to clean up all the dust that's been collecting around the fan. Some canned air will work nicely.

STEP 2: Remove Sticker and Split Ring

First, remove the sticker on the fan. That will expose the shaft and the split ring that holds the fan in place. Use the pick to gently pry the split ring off the shaft and remove the fan. Set the split ring aside for reassembly later. If possible, leave the o-ring in place. Otherwise, put it on the fan shaft.

STEP 3: Lubricate

I used some Hoppe's #9 gun lubricant on my fan. It worked great. Add a few drops of lubricant to the inside edge of the fan. Rotate it around until it looks wet. Try not to use more lubricant than necessary. It helps to put the fan back in the bearing and spin it around a bit to get a nice even coating.

STEP 4: Reassemble

Be sure the o-ring is still in place as you put the fan back into the bearing and pop the split ring back on. Add another few drops of lubricant to the fan shaft around the split ring and spin the fan around a bit. It should be nice and smooth now. Reattach the fan and turn it on. If all went well, it should be nice and quiet again!

23 Comments

IBRAHIM FAGGEI 10 months ago

The Fan Speed matters..It can rotate,but can not provide enough cooling..

pfred2 8 years ago

What if there is nothing exposed other than the fan housing when you remove the sticker? Then you need to head on over to my new article.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Noisy-Computer-Fan-Repair/

makestructor 11 years ago

What to do if there is no split ring?

master key 10 years ago

There should be some kind of clip holding the axle in place.

prule 13 years ago

Great tutorial. Very helpful. My GPU Cooler works like new. Thanks

zack247 13 years ago

would sewing maching lube work too?

The Lightning Stalker 14 years ago

If you can get in there and wipe the crud out the bearing, it works that much better.

Punkguyta 14 years ago

 Awesome to see someone else that figured out how to open computer fans right up!

djr6789 15 years ago

great instructable! my servers cpu fan sounds like theres a gun fight goin on inside my pc lol

Solderguy 14 years ago

That would be awesome! :D

djr6789 14 years ago

or it could be all the dust mites having a nuclear war in there :O

Sandisk1duo 15 years ago

you should also blast the "fins" with compressed air to get the dust off

Derin 14 years ago

For that I useubbing alcohol.

rshino 15 years ago

thanks for this. i had a slow fan on a drive enclosure and the tip to take off the sticker was the one that set me up. thanks a lot.

Derin 15 years ago

You can also use sewing machine oil on a Q-tip.But use no more than one drop for each part.Shaft gets one drop with Q-tip and bearing gets one drop straight from the bottle.

Scott_Tx 15 years ago

Use grease instead of oil and it'll last longer

nachosyumm 15 years ago

Actually for computer fans oil would work better. In all reality, most computer fans will never really need any sort of lubrication. I've re-oiled the fans on my computer that runs 24/7 only once in the past 3 years

Scott_Tx 15 years ago

I've used oil and oil and oil and then switched to grease and never had to re-do them.

nachosyumm 15 years ago

wow, how old and how often is your computer on?

Scott_Tx 15 years ago

My computer started with a 486 and its been upgraded a part here and a part there for 15 or so years. I think the floppy is still original. :P
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