Alright, so today I’m gonna walk you through my little adventure with this “jones racing fan” thing. Buckle up, it’s a bit of a ride.
It all started when I stumbled upon this old Jones racing fan at a flea market. Thing was rusty, dusty, and clearly hadn’t spun in decades. But something about it just screamed potential. I thought, “Hey, why not try to bring this thing back to life?”
First things first, I grabbed my toolbox and started dismantling the whole thing. Unscrewed everything I could, carefully noting where each part went. Made sure to take a bunch of pictures too, because let’s be honest, my memory isn’t what it used to be. The motor was caked in grime, the blades were bent, and the cage was practically falling apart.
Next up was cleaning. Oh boy, was there cleaning! I soaked the metal parts in some degreaser, scrubbed them with a wire brush, and rinsed them off. Repeated this process like a million times. The amount of gunk that came off was insane. The blades got straightened out as best as I could manage, using a rubber mallet and some gentle persuasion. They still weren’t perfect, but way better than before.
The motor was the real challenge. I carefully took it apart, cleaned each component with electrical contact cleaner, and checked for any obvious damage. The wiring looked surprisingly okay, but the bearings were shot. Sourced some replacement bearings online – thankfully, they were still available. Spent a good hour wrestling with the motor, getting those new bearings in place. It was tight, but I got there eventually.
Then came the reassembly. This is where those photos I took earlier came in super handy. Slowly, piece by piece, I put the fan back together. Lubed everything up with some fresh grease. Double-checked all the connections. Made sure the blades weren’t hitting anything. It was a bit like putting together a puzzle, except with grease and the risk of electrocution.
Finally, the moment of truth. Plugged it in, held my breath, and flipped the switch. At first, nothing. Then, with a little jolt, the motor started to hum. And then…the blades began to spin! It wasn’t super smooth, but it was spinning! Victory!
Of course, it wasn’t perfect. There was still a bit of a wobble, and the motor was a little noisy. But considering what I started with, I was pretty damn proud. I might try to balance the blades better later, and maybe repaint the cage. But for now, it’s a working piece of history.
So, yeah, that’s my “jones racing fan” resurrection story. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Now I’ve got a cool, vintage fan to keep me cool in the garage. And hey, I learned a thing or two along the way. Now, who’s got another rusty project for me?
