Need a hand figuring out general case fan bearing sizes

[bigjoe980]

Hey there, sorry if it's been asked before, could find anything in a search.

so I'm trying to figure out the basic size for my fan ball (i think) bearings, I have some that are failing too quickly and I'd rather swap them than buy new fans. I don't know if there are different shaft sizes or not, nothing on hand to measure at the moment. But the dimensions of mine from my 70mm-140mm are all the same (my spare 120 only has one fused to the mount, so can't use it)

If anyone knows, let me know. Also anyone have a favorite place to buy them? I think my local ace or home depot probably has some.

 

[CountMike]

Please tell me you are kidding !! Did you ever open a fan of those sizes, hope you are watch maker and posses a microscope.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Good luck with changing the fan bearings, you'll need it!

Seriously friend, just buy new fans.

 

[synphul]

Many fans don't easily come apart without damaging them, most you can't even remove the blades without breaking the hub assembly. As others suggested, buying new fans is the way to go. If the fans are failing that quickly perhaps they're low quality fans? Quality fans should last years, many models from phanteks and noctua off the top of my head carry 5 and 6yr warranties respectively.

The best way to attempt it would be to disassemble your fans and use a micrometer to gauge what size they are and then try to match it up. However if you destroy the fan in the process you'll end up buying a replacement for it anyway. It's really not worth the hassle unless you just wish to try it as a side project for fun.

 

[USAFRet]

Not every fan uses actual ball bearings. A LOT of them are simply sleeve bearings.

Only way to know is to take it apart and measure.

And if you do get it apart without destroying the whole thing, and then you do find the right size bearings, you would be missing the slight amount of whatever lube was on the originals.

'some that are failing too quickly' sounds like a whole different problem.
Of all the fans in my various PCs and other devices...of the 2million+ cumulative hours they've been running this century, I've had exactly 1 fail.
That was in a PSU.

 

[bigjoe980]

Okay guys, I think you got the wrong idea here. these fans all have retaining "C" clips behind the bearing, under the sticker/oil well thing.. (Have you seen gentle typhoon teardowns before? it's really friggin easy.) Anyways. the two sit in there gently and both pop out with nearly no effort, not actually hardmounted to the plastic. M'kay?

It's a small 70mm fan that ramps up to 7k or more.. so, I'm not really surprised they are grinding already. bearings literally are in the cents price range. that's better than waiting for a cruddy little $15 fan to show up. yeeess?

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1301035 If anyone wants to see that teardown. I have the same bearings as that one in the gentletyphoon... which are supposedly ball bearings?

 

[bigjoe980]

Please tell me you are kidding !! Did you ever open a fan of those sizes, hope you are watch maker and posses a microscope.

Well, not a watchmaker... but I do repair my own watches AND I have a microscope 😛

Not every fan uses actual ball bearings. A LOT of them are simply sleeve bearings.

Only way to know is to take it apart and measure.

And if you do get it apart without destroying the whole thing, and then you do find the right size bearings, you would be missing the slight amount of whatever lube was on the originals.

'some that are failing too quickly' sounds like a whole different problem.
Of all the fans in my various PCs and other devices...of the 2million+ cumulative hours they've been running this century, I've had exactly 1 fail.
That was in a PSU.

Well, mine is apart, and in 100% factory shape.. beyond the bearings., if they were balls you wouldn't wan't any lube around them anyways, it could seep in conflict with the sealed unit. N

ow mine are defnitely in the failing to quickly category. less than 8 months... but are we really holding cheap cooler master fans to be the pinnacle of quality?

 

[USAFRet]

Well, if you've already got it apart, break the micrometer and order some.

 

[bigjoe980]

Which would be perfect...if I had one. *shame* and my local part store had doesn't have one to loan right now. One of these days I need to go tool shopping, lol. In a few days I might just take them over to ace and compare/size match there.