Problems with case fan mount hardware

[MplsBob]

I am replacing the failing case fan in my Antec Sonata case. This is the first time I have ever attempted a case fan replacement.

I bought 4 different types of the plastic fan mount push-through gizmos.

The problem I am experiencing is that none of the push through pieces fits the holes in the fan or the holes in the case.

Please educate me.



Note- The holes in the original fan and and the replacement Scythe fan appear to be of the same size.

 

[Jessica69]

What sort of push-through gizmos are you talking about? The rubber ones that are for quieting down a fan? Something like linked below?

http://www.performance-pcs.com...=325&products_id=21656


If that's them, you have to stretch them out quite a bit to get them to pop through the fan's mount holes.

If not them, could you link to something like them?

 

[MplsBob]

They are just like the one in the upper left of your link page.

 

[WoodButcher]

This? That must first be pulled through either the fan or the sheet metal, all 4, then place the fan and pull though the other end. For example, the side in the pic facing right goes through the fan untill the large diameter washer hits the frame, stretch the taper untill it wedges in place when you let go. Set all 4 in the fan and then place the fan against the case with the tits on the left side poking out the case holes, pull those 4 through the sheet metal and your done. The large diameter ring / washer stays between the case and fan to de-couple the two and prevent vibrations from resonating through the case.

Confused? good, I am!
Sorry I don't know how to explain it any better. No pics.

 

[Tweakin]

make sure you lube up the rubber ones before you try to pull through or they will tear pretty easy.

 

[Jessica69]

Take a look at the pic linked below:

http://www.performance-pcs.com...ges/RubberScrew_02.jpg

Notice that on either side of the large "washer" in the center is a gap...but the gaps are of different sizes.

The larger gap is to fit the fan frame, the smaller gap is to fit the case.....and the rubber washer remains between the fan and case panel.

First, place the tit with the larger gap into the fan's frame hole and pull, work, wiggle it into the hole until it "snaps" into place. As mentioned before, a little lubrication of water or other wet substance can help.

When you've finished with all four corners of the fan, it should look like this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com...ges/RubberScrew_03.jpg


Now, you do the same thing with the case......place the fan to the mounting holes in your case with the exposed tits poking through the fan mounting holes in the case panel. Again, stretch, wiggle, work the tits through the holes until they, too, snap into place...and again, some wet lubrication, like water, saliva, etc., can help a bit.

I have found that in the second step, sometimes it helps to restrain/hang onto the tits that are already mounted in the fan's frame.....this sometimes helps from pulling the rubber screws out of the fan's frame when you are trying to get them through the case panel.

When you get all four in, you're done.

Of course, and I'm not trying to be condescending or anything, but you do realize this type of rubber mounting screw only works on open corner, or ribless, fans. Closed corner, or ribbed, fans need the long rubber screws like I had linked in my original post.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: Jessica69

First, place the tit with the larger gap into the fan's frame hole and pull, work, wiggle it into the hole until it "snaps" into place. As mentioned before, a little lubrication of water or other wet substance can help.

Again, stretch, wiggle, work the tits through the holes until they, too, snap into place...and again, some wet lubrication, like water, saliva, etc., can help a bit.

Thanks for those instructions!!

 

[Zepper]

And if you have already put fan screws into the fan's mounting holes, the holes will be smaller and harder to pull thru due to the threads created by the screws. Clean the threads out with a proper size drill - same as the original hole size. The drill is in between 3/16 and 5/32. I think I saw somewhere that the hole is 5 mm (is definitely too large and 4 is too small), but the rest of the critical dimensions of the muffin type fans are English (hole centers on the diameter, hole centers along the sides, etc.), I'd expect that to be English too - like 11/64 or maybe a number drill.
. Something like KY also works well on the rubber pins and squash-rolling the harder ones on a hard surface can soften them up a bit. OTOH, the Sunbeam brand ones are crap and all the fussing in the world won't make them work much better. Jab-tech.com has some two-piece deluxe pins and they make life much easier, but aren't necessarily suited to heavy fans. Those are inexpensive if you buy several packets or more.

.bh.

 

[MplsBob]

To all who replied with instructions- Wow! What excellent writing. Every single one of the replies did an excellent job of communicating. I'm really impressed. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write.