Lubricating the Outback Fm80 Cooling Fan.

My outback mppt fm80 is a key component in my solar powered home. The main differences with the fm80 and the fm60 is the inclusion of a cooling fan and the firmware. After 2 years of steady service I decided to lube the fan.

First step is to remove the holding screw.

The hood has two plastic tabs that are removed by squeezing inwards. The hood will easily come off now.

A small sharp knife, general purpose oil and some tissue paper.

While I had the fan exposed I carefully wiped the surrounding area to get rid of dust. I used the knife tip to remove the nameplate sticker off the fan. Next a little oil on the bearing with tissue to wipe the excess.

Reassembly is the reverse of the prior steps.

Now the fan is working as expected and this little preventative maintenance will help ensure longer fan life.