Intel CPU fan stuck

[formosh]

Hi there,

So awile ago I was reapplying some thermal paste on my cpu, took out the fan smoothly. But when I was trying to reinstall the cpu fan it was stuck. two pins on the top were in and tight, while the two one the bottom were not even in. Ive read a couple of articles, but is there a way not to destroy the fan? or buying a new one is my only option?

 

[LukaBoki]

You should not screw two top first and then two bottom ones.
Go with the X form.That means screw one not all the way,then screw the one diagonally not all the way too.Do the same with other two.Repeat the process 1-2 times and your fan should be in place.

 

[formosh]

Yeah found that afterwards, but the problem is I cant remove it at the moment, the two pins on top is stuck, what should I do to get it off?

 

[InvalidError]

If you put the HSF in crooked, you have to unlock (rotate their tabs counter-clockwise 90 degrees) and pull the pins to remove the HSF and try again.

As Luka said, to seat the HSF correctly, you need to push pins in opposite corner pairs.

 

[LukaBoki]

Yeah found that afterwards, but the problem is I cant remove it at the moment, the two pins on top is stuck, what should I do to get it off?

You should NEVER screw them all the way in.
Use a bit more force,but make sure you dont bend the mobo too much.

 

[formosh]

Ok, so I unlocked all the tabs by counter-clocking them, applied some force, but doesnt seem to budge. Should I use a plier in the back too?

 

[LukaBoki]

Ask some adult to try and do it.
I would call my mom.

 

[formosh]

Do I need to remove the motherboard from the case?

 

[LukaBoki]

Do I need to remove the motherboard from the case?

You could,but why waste your time removing all the cables and doing it again?
Take the GPU out of your case and the PSU if you want to have more space.

 

[InvalidError]

Ok, so I unlocked all the tabs by counter-clocking them, applied some force, but doesnt seem to budge. Should I use a plier in the back too?

Applied force? If you are attempting to remove the heatsink, you need to pull the pins by their rotating tab thingies first before lifting the HSF itself. You need to remove the HSF in order to be able to properly align all the pins and try installing it again.

Once the HSF is out, you rotate the pins clockwise 90 degrees to put them back in their locking position, line up the HSF so all four pins are on their respective holes, push the HSF down to get all pins through and ONLY then push the pins in.

 

[formosh]

Yes, already rotated the tabs counter-clockwised. But im stuck in this step, the top 2 are pushed pretty deep in, while the bottom 2 are hanging out, since they cant be pushed in. Still trying to get the top 2 out first.

 

[LukaBoki]

CALL YOUR MOM!

 

[formosh]

I dont think that will work since Im much stronger than her XD

 

[LukaBoki]

True story.
Keep trying.You will get them out eventually.

 

[InvalidError]

Still trying to get the top 2 out first.

Once the pins are in the unlocked position, you should be able to pull the pins out relatively effortlessly by their rotating tabs.

If you did not pull the pins out, they may be unlocked but they are still inserted through the motherboard and holding the plastic "grippers" clamped inside the motherboard holes. You need to pull the center pins out to disengage those and you do that by pulling the rotating tabs up. Those pins have a roughly 1/4" vertical travel distance.