[Kenwood] Fans for TS850S and PS53

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Please don't use WD-40 for lubrication.  It is supposed to be a water displacement agent, hence the name "WD".  I think it was their 40th attempt at the formula.  It was invented as a rust preventative solvent.  It also attracts dust like a magnet and will probably accelerate freezing up of your fan in the future.

A agree with Avi, a light machine oil such as sewing machine oil is the best.  Even if your fans are frozen or nearly frozen, working in the oil might restore them.  Teflon or Molybdenum in the oil certainly won't hurt and may even help keep it stay free for a little longer if you forget to re-oil.  A drop of machine oil every couple of years is probably all you need.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Avi - Modi'im Orchards" <tiavi at bezeqint.net> 

> I've relubed the fan in my PS-50 several times, the biggest challenge being 
> getting at the thing and getting it out far enough to reach the bearings. On 
> almost all these fans, they have either a plug or a lable over the rear 
> bearing, but in the PS50, if I recall correctly, there is also a kind of 
> springy metal tab riding against the shaft protuding from the "working" 
> side, the side to which the fan blades attach. I have never figured out if 
> it's purpose was to take up side play as the shaft and bronze bushing wear, 
> to provide a conductive path to ground for static buildup, or what. I also 
> seem to recall that this is the same fan motor used in the TS-440, so it may 
> be that many of the same era models use similar or identical motors. I'd 
> imagine that if it physically fits, you can use it even if it's not 
> identical, should you decide you need to replace the motor. 
> 
> I can say, though, that while WD40 will help unstick dessicated lubricant in 
> the bearings, it's effectiveness seems to be short-lived, probably because 
> most of it's solvents must be pretty volatile. I was most succesful either 
> using a very light oil, like sewing machine oil, or a tube of similar 
> lubricant I once bought at "Radio Shlock" that purported to also contain 
> microscopic teflon beads - the idea being that even if the oil evaporated or 
> was rendered ineffective over time due to being absorbed by dust particles, 
> the teflon would still be there to help lubricate the bearing. Whatever 
> liquid you use, try to clean up the excess before reassembling so you don't 
> attract dust to the bearing. 
> 
> YMMV 
> -avi 4X6UA 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Michael Waldrop" 
> To: ; "Peter Ravn" 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 20:07 
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] Fans for TS850S and PS53 
> 
> 
> Hello Peter, 
> 
> I'm not sure whether either of the fans can be lubricated but if they can, 
> have you tried this first? I'm sure both fans can be cleaned with canned air 
> and a cloth or vacuum cleaner. Most fan problems, not all, are caused by a 
> build up of dust and dirt. 
> 
> I had a Kenwood TS-930 and one of the two fans was very noisy. A light drop 
> of WD-40 on a cotton swab, pressed against the bearing fixed the problem. I 
> did the same thing with my Yaesu FT-757GX which had a much noisier fan than 
> the TS-930. Worked both times and saved a lot of time and money. 
> 
> Just a thought. 
> 
> 73 
> Mike 
> W5RKL 
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 9/3/08, Peter Ravn wrote: 
> From: Peter Ravn 
> Subject: [Kenwood] Fans for TS850S and PS53 
> To: Kenwood at mailman.qth.net 
> Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 11:03 AM 
> 
> It is time to replace the fans in my TS850S and PS-53, as they have become 
> increasingly noisy. Apparently the fans needed are no longer available. For 
> the 
> transceiver: Panaflo OL06BO-1, model FBK-08A12H. For the power supply: 
> PANASONIC 
> OF13BO-1 Model FBK-08A12H. 
> 
> Can anyone help? 
> 
> Vy 73 de OZ8CTH / Peter 
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