Grinding power supply fans and how to fix them

First of all if you're not familiar with the internals of a computer don't even think about this, it's way too easy for a newbie to blow up a fan this way. :)

The first thing you should try is called the Fan Poke Method. This is not at all what it sounds like its way too easy for someone to stop the fan and blow it up. Granted the name is a little deceiving but this is one of the best short term and sometimes permanent fixes.

Step 1

Take a normal piece of paper and rip off a small strip fold it up a couple times to give it some strength, not too many folds because it still has to be somewhat thin.

Step 2

Slide the paper in between the spinning part of the fan and the base being careful not to stop the fan's motion. Repeat until the fan is no longer grinding or until it's spinning fast enough to properly cool the power supply.

The next way and probably best way is to simply replace the defective fan. However, this is for advanced users only and will more than likely void any warranty you may have.

Just steal a properly operating fan of the same type, voltage and size, from an old case or old crappy computer. Then turn your computer off, unhook the power supply from the mainboard, hard disks etc... and remove it from the case. Pop the cover off the power supply and remove the defective fan, you may have to cut the wires connecting the fan to the power supply if its one of the cheaper soldered on deals. Cut the wire at a a sane length so as to make it easier to attach the new fan easier. DO NOT RIP THE WIRE STRAIGHT OF THE PC BOARD. If you do this and you don't know what you're doing you can easily fry the power supply and/or your computer. :) But that's easily avoided by leaving a good length of wire. Now simply fasten the new fan in place. Make sure it spins the same direction as the old fan. Now attach the wires from the new fan to the ones the old fan used. You can solder the wires together if you wish or simply twist them together well and tape the crap out of them with electrical tape.

There ya go, I have done this many times, especially the poking the fan with paper part in many situations. Replacing the fan is almost always inevitable in the long run but the poking with paper can be fun. :)

This method could be applied to any fan really just be careful as fans in computers are very delicate and if they break your computer could easily overheat and burst into flames. :)

Yes yes, the word of warning on the capacitor thing is indeed wise, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING BUT THE FAN AND ITS 2 WIRES. There are no capacitors with high enough voltage to kill you in most power supplies. However, there may be so BE CAREFUL and make sure an adult helps you ;)

I would just like to add a node of caution to this. When acually replacing the fan, please make sure not to touch any sort of capacitor. These can and will kill you. For those who do not know what one is, they are normally tall cylindrical type things. They can be very small and very large. Most can hold enough electricity to give you a good jolt. If they are large enough, they will kill you. However if you don't know what one is, its prolly best not to go poking around in a power supply anyways. For the daring: just remember, if you don't know what it does, don't touch it. (There are normally some capacitors around your CPU)

If you catch a noisy fan soon enough, it can probably be saved.

The reason it's making a grinding sound is that the pores of the sintered bronze bearing inside the fan's motor has lost its internal oil, and is beginning to slip and stick repeatedly (much like the action that causes the squealing of rubber tires on a road).

To repair a fan, first remove it from the assembly it's installed in just enough to get access to the back side of the motor. This will be the part that has several radial spokes holding it to the frame. There will be a sticker on this, usually marked with the fan's manufacturer and ratings; peel it up carefully from one side. If there is a rubber or plastic plug below this, pry it up. Add one drop of oil (for a small, CPU cooler-sized fan) or about 2-3 for a larger fan. Be careful not to get it on the plastic surface the label sticks to.

Now, replace the plug (if present) and stick the label back down. Reassemble the equipment and you're done.

I highly recommend you do this on fans in new equipment as well, as a preventative maintenance measure; it greatly extends their life. A fan should only require this once in its lifetime. Ball bearing fans are usually quite well lubricated at the factory, and generally don't need this; if one is running rough, oiling it doesn't help much and it should be replaced.