On Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:26:47 -0500, Marshall Price
wrote:

I have a "Coleman Powermate 400 Watt Power Inverter," model PMP400, like
the one seen at
http://www.thegrillstoreandmore.com/...cs/371308b.jpg
. Its fan looks like a typical laptop computer fan. When I try using
it, it doesn't work at all - until I direct a brisk puff of air into the
fan, to get it rotating.

I'd like to fix it, if it isn't too much trouble. Any suggestions?

Open unit. Temporarily remove fan(s). Blow out any dust and dirt
with canned air. Carefully remove the paper or foil label covering
the center hub of the fan. Under the label, you may find a rubber
plug. Carefully remove the rubber plug. You'll see the shaft and
"bearing" (actually a bushing). Dump a few drops of 10wt machine oil
into the bushing. Replace the rubber plug. Wipe off any oil you
slopped over the center hub with alcohol so the label glue will stick.
Replace the paper or foil label. Grab the fan blades and "pump" the
rotor in and out to scrape loose any solidified goo on the shaft. Make
sure the fan spins freely. If so, you win. Reinstall.

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