n00b ? : Why are case-fan screws so difficult to put in?

[evilsaint]

Maybe just a dumb question, and not a n00b one, but while originally installing LED case-fans (80mm) in my current machine, and in replacing one currently that just died, i'm having inordinate amounts of difficulty tightening and loosening the screws... I even had to resort to a pair of pliers to get the last two screws out of the old fan; I feel like i'm working on my car, not my computer :

I'm probably just doing something wrong, but can anybody elaborate on what is so freakin' hard about this?

 

[Brock123]

they arn't threaded. Reason being this helps them stay tight when vibrating

 

[CrispyFried]

theyre similar to the way nylock nuts work - its for high vibration use.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I have never worked with LED fans but I do know that the clear plastic they are made out of is much harder than the black plastic fans. So the self tapping screws maybe more difficult to install and remove. Try using screws with nuts, 8-32s should work or use the rubber pull through, sound damping thingies.

I have read that clear plastic fans tend to transmit more noise because the clear material is much harder.


...Galvanized

 

[Howard]

Why use screws if they're so annoying?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: evilsaint
Maybe just a dumb question, and not a n00b one, but while originally installing LED case-fans (80mm) in my current machine, and in replacing one currently that just died, i'm having inordinate amounts of difficulty tightening and loosening the screws... I even had to resort to a pair of pliers to get the last two screws out of the old fan; I feel like i'm working on my car, not my computer :

I'm probably just doing something wrong, but can anybody elaborate on what is so freakin' hard about this?

Here's a thought for you.
With the fan on a flat surface, lightly lube the hole and the screw thread, now drive the screw in, this will create a thread, remove the screws, then install the fan.
This should make it a whole lot easyer.

...Galvanized

 

[Jeff7]

Get a sharper phillips head screwdriver, or something like that. Some screwdrivers just have really badly made heads that don't grip anything.

 

[evilsaint]

Wow, i'd like to quote just about all of the replies individually to say thank you... but that'd be entirely too much post-wh0ring, so i'll just suffice it to say you guys f*****' rock

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: evilsaint
Maybe just a dumb question, and not a n00b one, but while originally installing LED case-fans (80mm) in my current machine, and in replacing one currently that just died, i'm having inordinate amounts of difficulty tightening and loosening the screws... I even had to resort to a pair of pliers to get the last two screws out of the old fan; I feel like i'm working on my car, not my computer :

I'm probably just doing something wrong, but can anybody elaborate on what is so freakin' hard about this?

Here's a thought for you.
With the fan on a flat surface, lightly lube the hole and the screw thread, now drive the screw in, this will create a thread, remove the screws, then install the fan.
This should make it a whole lot easyer.

...Galvanized

Note Confucious Say-- never use a sledge hammer to drive screws in....

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Howard
Why use screws if they're so annoying?

silicon gommits are better, but only work with some setups, and seem annoying to use too heh. better to have it already engineered into the case

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Howard
Why use screws if they're so annoying?

silicon gommits are better, but only work with some setups, and seem annoying to use too heh. better to have it already engineered into the case

Zip ties, foam ear plugs, whatever you can think of.