Ceiling fan clicking - loose screws??
Michael Stamper
months ago. My wife recently decided she liked the other side of the
blades better, so she flipped them over. At first the fan made quite a
bit of clicking noise because she did not tighten the blade screws
enough. I retightened all 15 of them and the clicking noise went away -
for a while. The clicking returned, so I checked again and found that
several of the screws were loose again so I tightened them and turned
the fan on. Once again, the fan was quiet. We have left the fan on all
night a couple nights this week, and each morning after, I woke up to
hear the fan clicking again even though it was quiet when I went to
sleep, and I find that a few of the screws have loosened a little -
apparently enough to make noise. The fan wobbles only slightly, and the
screws that hold the light shades are not loose. The fan is flush
mounted to the ceiling. The worse part is that the clicking noise lasts
about 5 seconds, followed by 5 seconds of quiet, and then this cycle
repeats itself. If it was continuous, I could probably get used to it.
How do I make the screws stay tight? Alternatively, could I somehow add
a little lubrication to the noisy screws to keep them from making
noise when they rub?
Thanks!
Harry
too? Sounds they they may not have been. If not, or if the lock washers
are so compressed now as to be ineffective, get new lock washers. And DON'T
oil the screws.
Good luck.
H
"Michael Stamper" <mic...@wishard.edu> wrote in message
news:3C88DA07...@wishard.edu...
Robert A. Barr
Print out your message and send it off to Hunter.
cvblr
> From: Trent <trent...@hotmail.com>
> Organization: Giganews.Com - Premium News Outsourcing
> Newsgroups: alt.home.repair
> Date: Sat, 09 Mar 2002 02:16:42 GMT
> Subject: Re: Ceiling fan clicking - loose screws??
>
> On Fri, 08 Mar 2002 10:34:32 -0500, Michael Stamper
> <mic...@wishard.edu> wrote:
>
>> I installed a new 5 blade Hunter ceiling fan in our bedroom about nine
>> months ago. My wife recently decided she liked the other side of the
>> blades better, so she flipped them over. At first the fan made quite a
>> bit of clicking noise because she did not tighten the blade screws
>> enough. I retightened all 15 of them and the clicking noise went away -
>> for a while.
>
> When you tighten them, Mike, kinda wiggle the blade up and down
> slightly as you tighten...and don't tighten either screw completely at
> one time. You could be binding the blade...and assume that its sent
> home all the way. Instead, its just tightened into the bind.
>
> Each time you turn a screw, turn it only a few turns...then go to the
> other screw...until both are tight. If you were given lock washers,
> put on new ones. For the most part, lock washers are only meant to be
> used one time. You should never reuse them...although folks often do.
>
>> The clicking returned, so I checked again and found that
>> several of the screws were loose again so I tightened them and turned
>> the fan on.
>
> The clicking is returning too quickly...even for screws that are
> coming loose. I think you're binding the blades as you screw them in.
>
>> How do I make the screws stay tight?
>
> Lock washers.
>
> Although Locktite in general is a good idea, I wouldn't use it in this
> case. Its easy to get it all over the place while you put it on.
> And, if you put on too much, it'll come out as you seat the screws.
>
> New lock washers should solve your problem.
>
>> Alternatively, could I somehow add
>> a little lubrication to the noisy screws to keep them from making
>> noise when they rub?
>
> No. Its not the SCREWS that's makin' the noise.
>
> P.S. Make sure none of the screws are cross-threaded.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> Have a nice one...
>
> Trent
Is the kind of fan that has lightbulbs--with fancy glass shades? I have such
a fan. When it starts clicking I tighten the shades and the clicking goes
away.
Michael Stamper
washers at all!!
I had bought some Locktite for this but I think new lock washers would be a
better (and cleaner) solution.
Thank you all for the assistance...
Trent wrote:
> On Fri, 08 Mar 2002 11:21:21 -0700, Luke <lu...@nowhere.net> wrote:
>
> >Are the grommets (rubber/plastic inserts which go in the fan blade
> >holes) still there?
>
> Not all fans...Hunter or otherwise...come with these.
>
> >If not, that would explain the clicking, blade
> >screw holes vibrating against the screws, so you'll need new grommets,
> >probably from Hunter if you can't find them. As another suggested,
> >Locktite would work to keep the screws in if that's the problem
>
> Locktite might work...but it might also be messy. It really wasn't
> designed for decorative machinery.
>
> >instead, though on the several Hunter and other brand fans I've owned
> >I've never had those screws so quickly or seriously loosen.
>
> Me, either, Luke. I'd suspect worn or lacking lock washers.
>
> Have a nice one...
>
> Trent
>
> Cat...the OTHER white meat!