Squeaky Wheel, Of Sorts
Dear Lazyweb,
What's the proper lubrication for this type of AC motor (from a box fan)? I'm guessing that neither WD-40 nor olive oil, the two oils I have on hand, are correct.
Graphite powder seems iffy to me in an electric motor too, but if'n I knew fer sure, I wouldn't need to ask. Oh, I might have some 10W30 around here someplace, if that would work as a substitute for the correct stuff. Or is this one of those "once it starts squeaking and rattling and stalling it's time to throw it away" situations? It would run normally for a few seconds, squeak really loudly for a few minutes, then slow and stop. I cleaned a decade or two worth of accumulated dust and hair out of it but it's still not happy.
Also, when I switch it on and it locks itself up -- an electromagnetic situation, not friction -- does that mean it's not worth trying to lubricate it to eke a little more life out of it? It doesn't lock up every time, just once in a while.
It's pretty cool how neatly it comes apart and goes back together anyhow. I hadn't taken apart this type of motor before. Getting the fan blades off the shaft was the hardest part.