Fix fan ticking

[robinlawrie]

Just purchased 6 new 180mm Silverstone air penetrator fans and promptly cut the plugs off (idiot) since I'm using them in a custom installation:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=27878911

Long story short, at low rpms 2 of them have a slight ticking/ vibration /whistle. I can see the hub isn't exactly true, but doesn't seem to be spot on on any of them.

Assuming I cannot return fans with the cable cut, is there anything I can do? I read about peeling back label and putting graphite powder/ oil in but is this even likely a lube issue? Any other suggestions?

 

[robinlawrie]

So having listened more closely, it's not a whistle, more an annoying clicky birdsong.. Comes and goes. Only quiet but I'm after a silent setup.

If you listen with ear against motor you can hear a faint scraping sound inside. I'd suggest the fan hub is rubbing on something inside or something. I peeled back the label but there is only one hole there, exposing the cable connections on the circuit board. Definitely nowhere I could put lubricant. Is it possible to pull the fan off the motor without breaking it? I tried just short of "I'm gonna break it" force but it didn't budge.