Remove fan on a Neff U1721 oven?

A blow torch works well. Just heat the fan spindle for about 30secs and should pull off straight away without any need for hammering.


Nigel
March 2022

Just did mine, got to the pulling the fan off part and just like everyone else it wouldn’t budge. Some penetrating oil, grips around the thick fan hub and a good tug and it was out. All to gain access to the top element screw. A tip if you’re struggling to get the element to come out through the hole because of the wiring, take a look at the new element to see how the terminals are angled. Refitted it all in about 5 minutes compared with over an hour to get it out!

Darren
October 2020

Well....first off, Neff need to be strung up for coming up with this idea. I noticed that the helpful element removal video is always the easy one...Neff said...
Now I used mole grips, pliers and WD40 and brute strength to get the fan off.
I couldn’t use my hammer as it was too long so I had to use pliers to tap the spindle.
The mole grips slightly damaged the alloy but after a combination of WD40, plier tapping, mole gripping and patience the ****ing thing came off.
The last effort was pulling on either side of the fan and it came off.
To sum up, I’m not sure what really helped but it took over an hour of trying this combination.
Once again...Great idea Neff. I hope your newer models don’t have this fun and games.
Good luck!!!

Neff Fan
May 2020

Hi Guys, I realise this is an old thread but I recently tried to do this on my oven and failed miserably which is how I found myself here. I removed the central nut (left hand thread) but couldn't remove the central washer and didn't come close to budging the fan and I have to say, I was reluctant to use molegrips on the thread of the central spindle or squirt WD40 into the oven. I did try one or two light taps of a hammer but very quickly realised I was wasting my time. That said, there is a method which works and works well - forget all the foregoing pieces of advice and do this . . . . .
Turn your oven on to max temperature but without the fan running. I figured that a static fan would aid temperature buildup in the fan itself and besides, I had already removed the central nut at this stage. Now once up to temp, leave the oven for about 15 minutes or so before turning it off and switching off the electric at the wall.
AT THIS POINT, YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL!!! If you aren't extremely careful, you are going to burn yourself and so take great care. Wear long sleeves and some heavy duty oven/fire gloves and simply open the oven door, reach in and grab the fan blades with from both sides - hold the vanes, one in each hand from opposite sides and a single sharp tug and the fan will come flying off - no problem whatsoever. This will work because the oven heat softens up the residues sticking the fan in place but moreso because with heating, aluminium expands at twice the rate of steel and the fan is simply much looser on its spindle. Believe me, it works. Just put away the WD40, the molegrips and the hammers - you won't need them - nor will you need to drill a hole in the backplate of your fan. Try this method first and don't waste your time trying anything else - just learn from MY mistakes!!!!!! :-)

Alan G
January 2020

Martin B and his circular centre on the fan itself? Spot on. Thank you very much.

Katie P
January 2018

You have to remove the fan to access and undue the middle top crew securing the element which you want to replace. Unscrew the nut holding the fan clockwise. Remove the washer. You're left with the almost semi-circular threaded drive spindle (which comes from the motor behind). Then as 'Streaky' says, hold that spindle with mole-grips firmly but carefully (so as not to damage the thread); holding it still with mole-grips, turn the fan by hand - it will soon turn. After a few turns it should come free and then you can pull it off by hand. WD40 before may possibly help. Hammers, drills, etc shouldn't be needed.

RG
December 2017

I tried all the above and after an overnight WD40 soak and 4 hours pushing,pulling and bashing, I gave up all together trying to remove the fan blade (for the sole purpose of getting to the element screw). SOLUTION, drill a 5mm hole in the edge of the blade (this hasn't upset the balance), this allows you to undo the screw without removing the blade.
As has been said, unbelievable design error on NEFF's part.

Bluebumblepig
June 2017

When I eventually get the fan off I am thinking of drilling a hole in the backplate of the fan to access the screw without removing the fan. Will also have to drill another hole diagonally opposite so the fan is not unbalanced.

Richard L
December 2014

Thanks All - I was getting a little worried 2 hours after the WD40 treatment - but suddenly bingo !
, off came the fan after the actions described above .

What a stupid design my Neff , but I guess they don't want us to fix it ourselves

Brian B
December 2013

My neff fan won't come off tip is after you remove the drive washer, grab the actual motor drive shaft with a pair of mole grips, then holding that in place so it doesn't spin, grab the fan and turn it till it moves much more freely.

It might take some effort to pull still but it'll come off much more easily.

streaky
November 2012

I needed to replace the element and my heart sank twice. First when I found that the screws securing the plate at the back of the oven covering the element and the fan wouldn’t undo with a Philips screwdriver. You need a Torx bit. The one I got says Faithfull T15 S2 on it. My heat sank again when I saw the top screw securing the element hidden behind the top of the fan. But getting the fan off is really is a doddle. WD40 is the answer. I used it liberally at three eight-hour intervals. Whether that was necessary I don't know, because I didn't try to get the fan off until after doing that. You need a size 10 spanner. Turn the nut clockwise - it's a reverse thread - and the nut's not very tight. The washer came straight off and I pulled the fan off by gripping the centre with a mole wrench and pulling. To remove the element see this video at www.tinyurl.com/cyqp5j9 It’s a different oven without the stupidly positioned third screw behind the fan, but the principle’s exactly the same. (I assume that the person who commented that he blew up his oven when turned the power back on didn’t insulate the spade connectors).

Piers Whiting
July 2012

Great help especially the reverse thread bit and WD40

Doug
April 2012

I had a fan blade that clattered as if it was loose. When I eventually got it off I found it was buckled and it was the buckling that caused the noise, not because it was loose. It took a long time to get it off and I think the reason it gets stuck was that the spindle has a flange to which the back of the fan blade gets 'welded' with grease, oil etc. Apart from undoing the nut (clockwise not anti - I used a 10mm socket) the next step is to get the washer off. Prise it of with a flat bladed screwdriver. After that there is nothing holding the fan on - apart from the 'weld' mentioned above. The fan should spin freely on the spindle but won't because of the 'weld' I tried holding the spindle with a pair of pliers and bashing the fan with a hammer to try to free it but to no avail. What actually worked was turning the oven back on and getting up to speed. I then turned the oven off. The oven was warm but not hot at this stage. Next I clamped a pair of molegrips on the spindle then whilst holding the molegrips firm tried to turn the fan back and forth on the spindle by hand and it eventually moved. I think the warmth might have just 'melted' the weld. After that a bit of back and forth movement got the fan off, however for the last bit my wife was holding the motor to stop it moving as I rotated the fan off the spindle. Yes the oven was out at this stage, on a workmate with the power off.

Martinb
March 2012

All hail the power of the internet!!!! Thanks to the previous answers I was able to remove the fan blade quite easily, no need for WD, just grabbed the centre boss with mole grips and pulled whilst wriggling it about and it soon came off complete with washer. Putting back just take note to line up the flat of the washer and the lug on the boss so you don't have to pull it off again. I agree, b****y silly design!

Simon
March 2012

I couldn't get the fan to budge at all. But Huw T
solution worked a treat for me! Neff again, only an idiot would hide the 3rd screw behind the fan!!!!
incidently, there's some good info about removing the door on this forum, i was struggling with the door on before i read how easy it was.
thanks for everybodys input, it really is invaluable to people like myself

Chris T (cat)
August 2011

Thanks for the all the advice, with a mixture of WD40 and some force, gently prising it, I eventually got it off. It did take some time but I got there in the end ! The design definitely needs to be looked at by Neff.

Huw T
January 2011

i was having the same problems removing the fan even after spraying with wd40 overnight.
in the end i turned the oven on until the fan got up to full speed then turned it off again, then it slid off the shaft easily.
never will i buy a Naff...sorry Neff again, only an idiot would hide the 3rd screw behind the fan!!!!
incidently, there's some good info about removing the door on this forum, i was struggling with the door on before i read how easy it was.
thanks for everybodys input, it really is invaluable to people like myself

paul bryan
November 2010

Absolutely mad. Bash it? Grip the spindle? It really is simple. There is a raised circular centre 20mm diameter which is part of the fan itself. Jut grip it firmly (not to cause damage) with some medium to large sized mole grips and then just pull! A little WD40 may help. Simples!

Martin B
October 2009

Thanks so much for the advice, once fan spindle given few sprays of WD40 and twisting fan as discribed the fan was easily removed. Replacement of the element was quite a simple job and has saved me loads.

Merchandiser
August 2009

I couldn't get the fan to budge at all. But Davey's solution worked a treat for me! removing the oven must be the easiest way to do this job that looks so simple on other ovens (see youtube...).

Andrew K
August 2009

If you remove the oven from the cupboard it's sitting in - 4 screws. Then pull out the oven until you see the two handles on top - then grab these and pull the oven the last bit.... not too fast as you need to ensure the mains cable is not caught up. Once out, undo the 8 or so screws - you'll need a torex screwdriver - T15 (I think). The you can undo the three screws holding the fan in the back. This allows it to JUST !!! about let you unscrew the offending screw from inside the oven and get it out. Putting it back it s bit more of a challenge... so much so I didn't bother.. and there hasn't been any issues with this.

Once complete don't forget to let the WD40 burn off before you use it for cooking !!.

Davey
June 2009

I agree with Tim (March 09) it worked a treat and was really easy. You must use WD40 or similar to help free it first.

Mark
March 2009

No need to bash the fan blade with a hammer. Just use some Plus-Gas, grip the centre spindle with a mole-grip and by hand, turn the fan one way then the other. To start with, it will seem locked solid, but eventually it will turn on the spindle, more and more freely and then you can slide it off.

tim
March 2009

Thanks for the advice. I tried it just like you said and eventually freed the fan. Mind you its a bit of a rubbish design. Bashing the fan to free it no doubt puts unnecessary strain on the fan motor bearings....all that just so you can reach the hidden element screw. Back to the drawing board Neff.

Morevolts
May 2008

After removing the reverse-threaded locking nut and prising off the washer, put some penetrating oil on the spindle. Then use a locking wrench to grab and immobilise the spindle (mind that thread)while you use a hammer in the other hand to bash a fan blade until the fan starts to loosen. At that point drop the tools, grab the fan and pull it firmly off.

John J
January 2008

Remove the locking washer and then stop the spindle from turning ensuring that you don't damage the thread. Then spin the fan vigorously round and round back and forth until it releases or detaches from the shaft, then pull off.
P.S. turn all power off first

Julie Brake
February 2007

I am having exactly the same problem and can't find anyone or anywhere that provides a solution! If you have found a way PLEASE let me know!!!

Julie Brake
February 2007