to repair or not

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hello all, well I thought I got a really good deal on my lincoln ac225 at 85 with leads.  Well turns out the cooling fan is pretty much dead. it spins every so slowly but only barely.  Question is to replace the cooling fan is roughly $80.  is it worth it?  how long could one weld without a cooling fan?  are there any cheaper alternatives rather than the factory replacement at 80-85thanks for the help and recommendations. Shaun
Reply:Is going to sit in one place?If so take then back panel off and aim one of these at the insides..https://www.google.com/search?q=carp...ml%3B175%3B198Problem solved....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:My Miller T-Bolt sat in my brother's barn for years before I rescued it. Brought it to a friend's place to work on a project- he plugged it in, noticed the fan was not spinning, took it apart and lubed it. Worked like a champ ever since. Maybe you could do the same? If yours is an older machine, than you may want to take the cover off anyway, just to remove whatever critters have made it their home. (Mice, in my case.)
Reply:zapster.. thanks for the idea but those are more expensive (even at harbor freight) than the $80 to repair it.. LOL
Reply:An old boss used a microwave exhaust fan out of a broken one - free and moved more air than the other one Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by calixt0zapster.. thanks for the idea but those are more expensive (even at harbor freight) than the $80 to repair it.. LOL
Reply:A couple of drops of automatic trans fluid on each bearing is all it needs.I've done it several times to my AC225 that we have had since 1967.
Reply:you guys are the best... 5 minutes with a tooth brush to get the gunk out of the way and a bit of wd-40 to clean and its running like a champ. Now to get an air chuck and blow the inside out good to clean all the spider webs and spider egg sack out then I can reassemble and replace the ground clamps and electrode holder.. you guys are great!!!
Reply:Most times things are not as bad as they look...Just check on it once in awhile and from now on you know what to do...Good luck with it!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:That's great, now go back in there and put some REAL oil on it!WD40 is a good penetrant and cleaner but it is not a lubricant!ATF works great on sintered bearings like these fan motors have.
Reply:Originally Posted by rexcormackThat's great, now go back in there and put some REAL oil on it!WD40 is a good penetrant and cleaner but it is not a lubricant!ATF works great on sintered bearings like these fan motors have.
Reply:i had similar issue with a clothes dryer motor. one drop of full-synth 5w30 oil and it was back running like new. problem started about 3yrs after getting dryer new, drop of oil let it run just find for next 11yrs, moved and left dryer with home. the only diff i can see is, the dryer motor shaft to bronze bushing/bearing was kinda sealed, so i suspect the oil i put in there was trapped there allowing it to run for a long time.
Reply:A computer type "waffle" fan works too!
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Yeah, I was gonna suggest a Muffin fan or one out of a bathroom vent or kitchen hood. Broan is the first brand that comes to mind. I've ganked fan motors out of that stuff at Habitat for Humanity for next to nothing to fix dehumidifiers and other stuff. If the fan in the welder happens to be a 230 volt motor, just drop a leg of the 230 and good to go.Most of them even come with a blade
Reply:C. 1987 I bought an old beat up cement mixer for $50. It had an old dryer motor. It lived outdoors, Occasionally I would throw a ragged old tarp over it, the tarp usually blew off about three seconds before the first storm. It might sit two years between uses. I would go out, hit it with penetrating oil, and turn it with a pipe wrench. In August of 2012 the blue smoke finally escaped.