PowerBook G4 12" - Fan sounds like a lawnmower

[128keaton]

Hello folks! Long time no post! I've fired my 12" back up, so I can use it for work (serial terminal FTW!) and other projects (Coda is bæ). Anyway, under light use I've found the fan to crank up to a degree of speed, but the byproduct of this extreme cooling is a sound that assaults the ears. At one point, I thought it was the DVD drive, but I replaced it. The video below confirms my suspicions.
Video -> https://vid.me/7NNo (I realized the music was playing through the speakers after I'd shut the PB back up, also pardon the long fingernails, hygiene slips a bit come finals time). This poor, poor PB. The right corner of the screen has a bleed and is held (successfully) together with hot glue. The bottom pan is toast. The DVD drive bar is bent (about to just say screw it and remove the bar). This is one thing that I could potentially fix with my limited budget (thanks christmas ). Any way to fix it?

 

[flyrod]

Some oil would probably quiet it down. It's probably worn some, but if you pull off the keyboard and top cover, then peel back the sticker on top of the fan you can put a drop of oil on the sleeve bearing.

If you're braver, you can take the heatsink off and clean/repaste it. That might help a little with the fan coming on in the first place. Also, set the CPU to auto or reduced in the energy saver to help it run cooler. Or you can get platforms for laptops that promote air circulation around the computer.

 

[128keaton]

Some oil would probably quiet it down. It's probably worn some, but if you pull off the keyboard and top cover, then peel back the sticker on top of the fan you can put a drop of oil on the sleeve bearing.

If you're braver, you can take the heatsink off and clean/repaste it. That might help a little with the fan coming on in the first place. Also, set the CPU to auto or reduced in the energy saver to help it run cooler. Or you can get platforms for laptops that promote air circulation around the computer.

Good ideas. I have to take the logic board completely out to oil it though. (if you see in the vid, fins/spindle cap are upwards ) Also, I believe I have pads, so I gotta find some among my junk or buy some. I have G4FanControl running at max speed, just because that helped my MBP's fan when it started sounding clicky. I'm hoping that this will reduce or remove the clicking noise, since I hate taking this thing apart.

 

[flyrod]

I couldn't see your video, but on my 12" I can oil it from the top.

 

[happyfrappy]

I've repaired a few 12", when you remove the upper case(keyboard) the HSF is in the upper middle...
iFixIt Photo:

 

[128keaton]

I've repaired a few 12", when you remove the upper case(keyboard) the HSF is in the upper middle...
iFixIt Photo:

Hmm, I see. I thought the sticker was facing downwards. That makes more sense. I replied to the post at 12AM so I wasn't super coherent.

 

[Altemose]

@128keaton Whenever I deal with grinding fans, especially from laptops, adding oil is only half the battle. There is a good chance dust and debris from years of use are grinding the bearings. What I do is remove the fan blade itself and use 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol inside the fan and on the shaft while spinning the fan and then removing and reinserting the blade shaft repeatedly. I repeat the process for a good while and let everything dry. I then add a drop or two of mineral oil you can get at any pharmacy. This usually works great unless the fan bearings have excessive play in them. To check just spin the fan at high RPM and look for play. If there is play, then the bearings or an internal bushing is worn and your best bet is to purchase a new fan.

 

[128keaton]

@128keaton Whenever I deal with grinding fans, especially from laptops, adding oil is only half the battle. There is a good chance dust and debris from years of use are grinding the bearings. What I do is remove the fan blade itself and use 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol inside the fan and on the shaft while spinning the fan and then removing and reinserting the blade shaft repeatedly. I repeat the process for a good while and let everything dry. I then add a drop or two of mineral oil you can get at any pharmacy. This usually works great unless the fan bearings have excessive play in them. To check just spin the fan at high RPM and look for play. If there is play, then the bearings or an internal bushing is worn and your best bet is to purchase a new fan.

Thanks for the tip. Later today, the upper half is getting disassembled, so I'll do the deed when I get it apart. I ramped the fans to max within the OS and the fan didn't appear to be wobbly

 

[128keaton]

Well, the fan is fixed . the only problem now is the backlight went out. Arghh.