Bearing
Those old GE fans had a single bearing in the back of the motor. They are attached with a C-clip. There is a large felt, horseshoe wick around the shaft and 4 smaller wicks that go down into the motor. Of course these get dry after 40 or 50 years. Then add to it the years of cigarette smoke or cooking grease - dust, dirt, grime. It just cakes up the oil and turns it to goop so the rotor can't turn freely. You can burn up a motor if you run it that way. Usually the tell tale sign is you have to flip the blades with your hand to get it started and then after the motor gets hot and loosens up the goop it runs almost full speed. Then when you turn it off, there practically is no spin down.
There is a soldered cap over the back of the motor that covers up exactly where you need to get to. First you need to take off the blade which is held on but a C clip. Note EXACLTLY HOW THE WASHERS GO ON. Apple with an apple. Put it back the exact same way you took it off.
With the fan standing up normal, loosen the top bolt on the motor mount. Then remove the other 3 motor mount bolts so the motor is still attached at the top and you can move it side to side. You will see the plate. Slide the motor to where you fully expose the plate and then tighten that screw back down. Know which end is the top as the fan is sitting upright.
What you have to do is VERY CAREFULLY - drill a small oil hole in the TOP of that plate.
Set the fan face down and very slowly drill the hole. If you don't drill it at the top, the oil will just run out the bottom when you stand the fan upright.
It's going to take some time to drill the hole so be patient. Don't use a lot of force because once the drill bit goes through you can ram it through the rest of the motor and screw it up.
Then use 3 in 1 oil and drip drip drip. Then let it sit. Then drip drip drip some more. Let it sit. Then turn it upright and spin the rotor shaft with your fingers and see if it is loosening up.
Once it spins freely, put the fan back together again and run it. It may do the same thing again as the oil sets.
Repeat the process until your fan is free running and has a good spin down. It takes more oil than you think but don't go overboard and just hose it down all at one time. It's a process and takes time.
Those old GE fans had a single bearing in the back of the motor. They are attached with a C-clip. There is a large felt, horseshoe wick around the shaft and 4 smaller wicks that go down into the motor. Of course these get dry after 40 or 50 years. Then add to it the years of cigarette smoke or cooking grease - dust, dirt, grime. It just cakes up the oil and turns it to goop so the rotor can't turn freely. You can burn up a motor if you run it that way. Usually the tell tale sign is you have to flip the blades with your hand to get it started and then after the motor gets hot and loosens up the goop it runs almost full speed. Then when you turn it off, there practically is no spin down.
There is a soldered cap over the back of the motor that covers up exactly where you need to get to. First you need to take off the blade which is held on but a C clip. Note EXACLTLY HOW THE WASHERS GO ON. Apple with an apple. Put it back the exact same way you took it off.
With the fan standing up normal, loosen the top bolt on the motor mount. Then remove the other 3 motor mount bolts so the motor is still attached at the top and you can move it side to side. You will see the plate. Slide the motor to where you fully expose the plate and then tighten that screw back down. Know which end is the top as the fan is sitting upright.
What you have to do is VERY CAREFULLY - drill a small oil hole in the TOP of that plate.
Set the fan face down and very slowly drill the hole. If you don't drill it at the top, the oil will just run out the bottom when you stand the fan upright.
It's going to take some time to drill the hole so be patient. Don't use a lot of force because once the drill bit goes through you can ram it through the rest of the motor and screw it up.
Then use 3 in 1 oil and drip drip drip. Then let it sit. Then drip drip drip some more. Let it sit. Then turn it upright and spin the rotor shaft with your fingers and see if it is loosening up.
Once it spins freely, put the fan back together again and run it. It may do the same thing again as the oil sets.
Repeat the process until your fan is free running and has a good spin down. It takes more oil than you think but don't go overboard and just hose it down all at one time. It's a process and takes time.
