6300 Fan Replace

WP3C

Jim K4JAF

A large order of the 6300/6500 fans was placed here by one of the contributors here on the reflector.  I am not what he ordered and sent to all of us with the 6300/6500 but check the archives or someone will answer you as to the part number, etc.

Neal_K3NC

I would create a helpdesk ticket and talk with Flex before buying anything, there aer some real gotcha's in doing this the wrong way.

Bill -VA3WTB

WP3C

Thanks!

Jim K4JAF

I may be wrong but from what my feeble mind remembers, you can replace the fan without removing the heat sink, which of course makes it much, much easier..  

WP3C

Thanks a lot! I hope not to have that much trouble.

Al_NN4ZZ

Notes on the fans on my web page: http://nn4zz.com/FLEX6700.htm#FANs_ Regarsa, Al / NN4ZZ

WP3C

I wrote to K2CB but it does not have available. He told me by the end of March but I need them now. Thank you

Bill -VA3WTB

Jim I said, that if he can not find just the replacement fans then the heat sink will need to be removed and changed. Not something a person should attempt on their own.

Bill -VA3WTB

Alfred, what you may want to try is servicing your fans now by putting a drop of 3&1 oil on the bearings. Peel off the sticker to expose the bearings or use a needle and pump the oil through the sticker. This will usually work on most CPU type fans.

Bill W2PKY

I am on my 3rd fan replacement in my 6700. Have pealed back the label but there is no hole to oil. Have found these fans seem to run fine on the bench [after removal] for a few hours but then start to vibrate and slow down. That's when the error displays on the front panel. You can remove the fan by taking out the four screws that hold it to the heat sink and vacuum it out. Try to pull the fan blades away from the base and either use compressed air or a vacuum to clear any dust inside that fan. Then run it on a 12V supply for a while to see if it holds up.   
Does anyone know how to get the blades off the fan base to expose the bearings?
Hope this helps;
Bill W2PKY

Jim K4JAF

Your 100 percent correct Bill.  AL's post below this one pretty well covers the fan info.  

K5CG

Bill -VA3WTB

K5CG

I've submitted a Support ticket to see what the factory fix is, what it will cost and the time it will take.

WP3C

I will try the 3 in 1. Thanks Bill

Bill W2PKY

Delbert McCord

Bill -VA3WTB

Thanks Bill, that shows well, most of the time a little oil will free the bearings up and run well.

K5CG

sm2oan

The two fans in my 6300 started to create a lot of noise and and finally the radio stopped working. I found a distributor of the orginal fan/heatsink in the US , Jameco Electronics. The price was about $12 each and for $30 they shipped them with DHL express so I had them in Sweden after a few days. The replace took less than 30minutes as you only have to replace the fan it self not the heatsinks

73 de mike

Neal_K3NC

I certainly understand your desire to fix this problem without sending it to FRS Service, but I just want to remind people, especially owners of the 6700 (which I am familiar) to possibly think twice about DIY. I am not sure that Flex recommends a part-replacement with the original fan, it might want something newer. Also, How the fan is positioned can make a difference. Finally, FRS offers a warranty on their work (which I do not offer myself when I **** up my equipment!).

Just wanted to remind people of the other side of DIY!

Mike-VA3MW

As an FYI, there are a few fan concerns. If you are ok with working on this sort of thing as it is your job, it is pretty straight forward and you know the risks.

• The fan is glued to the FPGA - if you make a mistake and rip the FPGA off the motherboard, it is virtually non-repairable.
• The fan cooling is actually calibrated based on FAN RPM and cooling. If you get it wrong, you can get a FAN error and the radio won't boot.

73