I have had some limited success using the "Mullendore Port" to lube up
still moving fans and zero success using it to bring frozen fans back to
life.  When the fan is locked up, it just takes more effort that you can do
use a piece of wire or stick through a small hole.  After I get them out,
it is hard to move them using both hands and brute force.  So if your fan
is noisy but still moving that is the time to try to lube it from the
outside.  If it has stopped moving altogether that is the time to pull the
dash.

However, IMHO, these dashes all need to come out, be cleaned out, be washed
out, be wiped down, all new seals on the vents (which are shot at this
point), and a new motor.  That is the way to fix it right and you get rid
of that mice smell you get every time you turn on your heater, also all of
the 30 years worth of dust and road dirt that is inside of your heater box.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 8:33 AM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote:

> Before removing the dash it might be worth trying to lube the existing
> assemly to see if that frees it up.  The Mullendore Port is the name given
> to a hole drilled in the sheetmetal near the fan which permits you to aim
> the proper substance (I'd try PB Blaster) at the bearing.  There are
> numerous references to this on thesamba.com in the Vanagon forum so
> search that.  Most entries are about reducing fan noise (worked for mine)
> but at least a couple refer to non-working units that were resurrected.  It
> might worth trying while you gather the resources to do the dash removal
> and it costs you practically nothing in time, effort and exasperation
> compared to the other job.
> Stephen
>
> --- On Wed, 5/15/13, James Ogul <jimogul70@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> From: James Ogul <jimogul70@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Heater Fan
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 6:04 PM
>
> My 85 Westy came with a non-working heater fan.  I hear its a nightmare to
> replace.  True?
>
> Jim
> 85 Westy
>

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com