[Info-vax] VAXStation trash to treasure

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] If you gently lift the label on fans, the bearings
> are exposed and the ball bearing types in particular can be
> refurbished well given a couple of drops of light machine
> oil, then put the label back.

   I do this too, (too) frequently.  Eons ago (1980's?), when
the (oddball) 10V fan in a MicroVAX II BA123 got loud, I did
my first emergency oil infusion, in the hope that I could
find a cheap replacement fan before the thing seized up
completely.  Eventually, I found a nice (and cheap)
replacement at the local surplus store (ax-man.com), and put
it on the shelf until the re-oiled loud fan got loud again. 
Years later, it was still on the shelf.  I use Mobil 1, in
whichever viscosity my current car uses.  I often use fresh
tape to replace the label, but then tape the label on to
avoid information loss.

   Ball bearings may do badly without lube, but it's even
more important for sleeve (sleaze) bearings.