HELP! My fan wont run now :(

I bought a Westinghouse fan, non-oscillating. It ran when I bought it, started up a little slow but very quiet. Its one speed as well, very simple fan, doesn't move, only one speed. I figured I would spruce her up with a new vintage style cord and new switch and clean it up. all went well except for now when I plug it in, it just hums but wont run. I reconnected the wires just the way they were before. The only thing I can think of is I need to switch the white and black wires on the power cord, fan/appliance people please help! lol

 

Where's your cat?

 

Will this help?

 

I can't help with wiring but I had a really old fan that hummed but would run if you gave the blades a little help starting. Sorry that's all I've got

 

Please take this.


And you are welcome!

 

hahahaha oh man, I love the replies. Well Asian Fever it has to be an indoor fan, and Any Jewelry that's too much work....lol

 

Power plug polarized? One of the prongs bigger than the other?

 

I once wired the electric cooker wall junction box and it promptly exploded.

I also cut through a live mains wire as a child and survived.

Now what did you want to know again?

 

Nope! the original wasn't and my replacement cord isn't polarized either

 

Move along. Move along.

 

I did try that too, It didn't do anything

 

Wiring shouldn't matter. The hum makes it sound like there is something with the motor. Is there a way to lubricate the motor?

 

Well the only designated lube points are the brass ball bearings on the shaft on the front and back. I guess I could rub in some dielectric grease on the cylinder and put it back in. Hmmmmm.......

 

That's one reason I was confused, cause I KNOW the wiring shouldn't matter hahaha

 

Not with stuff that old.

 

could also be binding when you put it back together, put the screws in almost all the way , shake it down, and then tighten it . Polarity doesn't matter as it is ac .

 

Old fans are pretty simple I've fixed a few. Wires go to switch and ground, then wire goes from switch and ground to brushes and to the electromagnet that makes it turn. If it worked before you took it apart, but now it doesn't, but it does hum, then it is either binding like lloyd said, or it is a problem with the brushes. Unplug it and try turning by hand - if it doesn't spin freely (it should keep going for at least a few turns) then lloyd is right and likely screwed up when putting together and it is now binding. If it spins freely but nudging it by hand when plugged in doesn't work (use a stick), then likely the brushes aren't making good contact.

 

All my first thoughts too.