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AFCA Forums > Antique Fan Collectors Association > Pre-1950 (Antique) > GE Whiz Fan Rear Oil Cup Question
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AFCA Forums > Antique Fan Collectors Association > Pre-1950 (Antique) > GE Whiz Fan Rear Oil Cup Question | |||||
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| GE Whiz Fan Rear Oil Cup Question | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 06:08 am |
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1st Post |
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Matt Szychulda Guest
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Hello, I am new to the site and have a question. I recently got a GE Whiz fan off an auction site. Its cast iron base, green, brass blades; my research is showing 1920s? I cleaned it up and rebuilt the front oil cup with a new spring and felt. I notice the pictures online these fans have a rear cup as well. Mine is missing and the area where it would have been is broken out. Of course the auction didn’t show this in the pictures or description. I can see the brass bushing but do not see any hole or opening for the oiler/wick to reach the shaft? Is the rear cup on this necessary for this style? Is it just an oil catch for oil migrating down the shaft? If I do need the oiler cup does it take one similar to the front oiler, or just the open cup with a spring and wick style? I attached some pictures to show the issue. I like the fan and want to keep it running for a while. I dont mind hand oiling the back if necessary. Thank You, I appreciate the help.   
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 11:19 am |
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2nd Post |
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Dave McManaman AFCA Member 
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Yes, the rear oiler is the same as the front on these. Looks like the rear bearing carrier, where the oiler would mount, is busted. Short of sourcing the back end of the motor housing I don’t know what you can do. And I’d say adding oil by hand isn’t going to allow it to run for any length of time. I believe the design of the wicking system and bearings on these (olite bearings) absorb oil. So dripping a drop or two on it from below won’t really take. I may be wrong but I think short of reaplacing the rear, this is mostly for decoration. Sorry for bringing bad news.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 03:20 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Matt Szychulda Guest
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Thanks, I was afraid of that. I will take it apart and see if the rear bearing carrier is repairable, and if so source an oiler. That is the trouble on auction sites vs buying in person.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 03:30 pm |
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4th Post |
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Steve Stephens Guest 
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Dave McManaman wrote: I believe the design of the wicking system and bearings on these (olite bearings) absorb oil. So dripping a drop or two on it from below won’t really take. I may be wrong but I think short of reaplacing the rear, this is mostly for decoration.The "Oilite" bearings used by GE I think came in the c.1930s period and your bearing is probably brass held in the pot metal housing which has broken. If you can find a rear cover for your fan that might fix things. Watch for old pot metal on some GE fans as well as on many Century fans. It's not a durable material and often shows up in poor condition or worse.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 04:40 pm |
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5th Post |
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Matt Szychulda Guest
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I took the back off the fan. Glad I did, the “works great restored fan” had lamp wire just twisted together in the housing with no solder or insulation. I will go through the whole thing. The cover is pot metal. I got the rear bushing out, it is a simple brass bushing held in place by a ring nut. It had spun in place orienting the oiler port at the top. The bushing and shaft look to be in good shape and were full of oil. I found a used oiler (1/3rd the price of the fan!), but at least have that coming. I will attempt to repair and tap the housing for the oiler. The rest of the housing looks ok, so just the oil port will need repair I believe. I will replace it if needed. I am sure I can fix it but will be more careful with purchased in the future. I appreciate the help!!! Last edited on Sun Oct 31st, 2021 04:42 pm by Matt Szychulda |
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 05:00 pm |
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6th Post |
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Dave McManaman AFCA Member
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Excellent. Keep us updated as we love to see fans restored and it would be a great learning opportunity for others as well. You might want to migrate over to AFCA’s new site as I believe this one is going to be frozen in place with no new postings/additions in the very near future. https://antiquefancollectors.com/index.html
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31st, 2021 06:18 pm |
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7th Post |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Matt Szychulda wrote: I am sure I can fix it but will be more careful with purchased in the future. I appreciate the help!!!When I was buying/bidding on items I would first ask the seller if there were any "cracked, broken, warped, repaired parts of the item or any missing parts or incorrect parts". By asking you cover yourself if problems later come up close to the purchase date.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 7th, 2021 09:39 pm |
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8th Post |
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Matt Szychulda Guest
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I got my parts and its back together. I filled in the break with JB weld then drilled and tapped it with a 1/4-32 tap. It seems to hold the oil cup well and as it isn’t structural, it should last a while. I got a replacement oil cup. It was nasty but 20 min in my ultrasonic cleaner did a good job on it. I did the same on the existing cup and it made them look almost like new. I soldered in the new retro cord. Some shrink tubing and liquid electric tape to seal up anything exposed. The break in the fan guard was fixed with solder. Worst part was figuring out the shims once the rear bushing was re-positioned. I had to disassemble and reassemble the fan numerous times till it ran quiet and smooth. An little fan rheostat lets me turn it down to a nice speed and gives me an on and off switch. I was definitely taken on this a bit by the seller, but am glad I could fix it. I appreciate the help!   
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| Posted: Sun Nov 7th, 2021 10:59 pm |
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9th Post |
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Dave McManaman AFCA Member
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Impressive job salvaging/fixing the rear oil cup assembly! Looks good.
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