How do I remove the locking washer on a Neff u1721 oven fan to allow replacement of the element? I have realised that the nut is reverse threaded and have now removed it but the fan is locked solid and I can't figure out hoe you remove the locking nut.

Gordon McConkey, March 2007

I had to replace the fan and also found the impeller locked to the spindle. Because I was changing the whole fan anyway, I was happy to undo the fixing screws for the fan at the back of the oven then found that tapping the spindle gently with a small hammer from inside the oven released the impeller easily with no damage to the oven as the force is spread over the whole impeller base inside the oven.

Geoff, May 2017

Very useful. Followed instructions and had no problem. I had to remove fan to get at final screw for element removal. Fan nut came off easily and used small amt of penetrating oil on nut and shaft and easily pulled fan off with mole grips.

Chris, May 2014

I don't know if other people's ovens are different to mine but there's no need to take the locking nut or the fan off! If you look at it there is a section of it on the perimeter that is lower than the rest and when you turn that section to the top, lo and behold, the screw is no longer hidden and you can remove it without risking damaging the fan! Simples!

Chris Byrne, April 2013

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

HI, I have just changed my element.

The fan is a little tricky to get off. If you have a pully puller then it is easy - it has two arms that reach behind the edges of the fan and a central spindle that bears down on the centre nut, loosen the nut but leave it on with the threads below the nut. then it pops off.

But they will come off by hand, take the nut off. Then put your finger behind one side of the fan a small lever 180 degrees opposite, then gently lever on the edge it will then move a bit. reposition 90 degrees and then do it again it should then come off. I use the handle of a small pair of pliers.

Be safe make sure the fuse to the cooker is pulled before you start.

Roy Horn, August 2011

I needed to replace the element of the main oven, my heart sank when I saw the screw behind the fan, was really hoping I didn't need to take that off.

Managed to get the nut off the fan. The only thing I'd add is that you can put a screwdrewer at the bottom of the fan on the ledge, it does a really good job of jamming the fan in place, when you come to remove the nut. Used WD40, no need for a lighter.

Ordered the replacement element and it is a real result that I don't need to remove the oven, which would be difficult in the fitted kitchen, I can just put it in from inside the main oven, I haven't even had to take the door off.

Jon, November 2010

I too needed to remove the fan to get to the top fixing screw that holds the heating element. I used a lighter to heat up the spindle, then pushed the fan inwards in the centre that released it enabling me to remove it.

Jonathan Charles, September 2010

Thought i'd never get the fan out but this worked a treat for me. After removing the locking nut and washer ( this should be easy use a little wd40 and, using the correct size spanner, turn nut clockwise to remove, washer should pop off using a flat head screwdriver or just pull it off ) use a small blow torch to heat the centre of the fan/shaft, about 15 seconds, then grip the the raised centre part of the fan with a molegrip wrench and pull towards you.

Johnny W, April 2010

Ive Just Struggled to do the same in the prcess screwed the nut back on as the others suggested to remove the fan after pulling, wd40, beating !!! heat, ETC later to no avail SCREWED IT BACK ON TO FAR IT WILL NOW NOT COME OFF BEWARE !!!!!
Oh Sh-t
so time for a rear entry out of the units and got it disconected from the back via removeing the back panel( the only problem you have to bend the element steading bracket at the top of the element
considering the cost of a new oven i will try and put a £30.00 part back & hope for the best !!! will update
Ime a bit worRied as i had to pull knock & hell out of the fan in the process. So it my not now work. her goes 30 quid i hope !!!
& not down the drain then to the shop for a new oven

simon c, December 2009

I used a triangular (wedge) shaped piece of wood 80mmx30mmx15mm thick to stop the fan turning whilst I undid the nut. The hardest thing was to remove the fan. After trying everything else I put a small blow lamp on the centre of the fan/shaft for 10 seconds and the fan just pulled off by hand easily.

Tony Powell, October 2009

Remove the l/h thread nut, then the tab washer; the fan was stuck so I put the nut back on flush with the top of the thread, then grip the fan with a self grip wrench if you have one and tap the nut firmly with the end if a pin hammer handle or similar so the fan disc comes loose without risk to the thread or violence to the fan motor.

mike cookson, July 2009

All of this can be done with the oven in situ. Take the back off if you like, but its un-necessary, dirty and time consuming. So here we go: WD40 the nut. Wait a minute or so and using a socket wrench and a flick of the wrist the reverse thread nut should losen v easily. Having mastered the lock nut, tap the washer and it should become loose enough to remove by hand. If not, it just needs a little gentle persuasion with a flat head screwdriver where it sits on the fan itself. The grime will loosen and it will pop off. Squirt some WD40 onto the fan spindle, and wait a couple of minutes. Ignore all previous advice to lock onto the threaded spindle because if you damage it, your relatively cheap repair will become pretty expensive. Simply use a locking mole grip on the fan itself where the locking nut sits against it and pull and twist gently away from the spindle. You will be surprised how easy this is. Very little chance of damage.

Si Boon, September 2008

You can hold the spindle with a molegrip wrench but remember to protect the threads with some cloth wrapped around one of the jaws of the wrench.That way the other jaw will grip the flat side of the spindle. Then hold the wrench whilst rotating the fan with the other hand--it helps if you have left some penetrating oil soak in for 15 minutes or so beforehand.
This worked for me so good luck!

Keith, July 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

Hi

Don't know if you're still struggling with this but I needed to remove my fan (one of the element retaining screws behind it was loose and it jammed up the fan) and mine was jammed on as well.

The way I removed it was
(a) remember it's a left-hand thread screw!
(b) using a claw hammer, get the claw behind the fan and pull it as far forward as you can
(c) put a couple of drops of penetrating oil on the central pin,
(d) with another hammer, bash 7 bells of hell out of the central pin whilst "encouraging" the fan forward with the claw hammer.

It popped off very easily.

...and, as they say on the telly "that's all there is to it!"

Best of luck
Sam

Sam Shiell, May 2007

i have just had the same problem. First remove the washer. The fan will probably be seized on. I had to get a lighter and heat the part of the fan that goes over the shaft. You might have to bang the fan a bit to shock it off or get a good set of pliers and pull it off. It does come off that way its just hard work to get it off. Then you will have to take the back of the oven off to disconnect the wires that go to the element.

Craig, March 2007

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griff, March 2007

I don't have the answer, but I am at exactly the same stage as you. The element has blown (an all too common Neff problem) and would be easy to replace were it not for the fact that one of the fixing screws is unhelpfully obscured by the fan. I have removed the locking nut and washer, but like you, I have come up against a fan impeller that does want to move. I am reluctant to use brute force, but find it hard to see what other option there is. I assume that the fan is reverse threaded on the D section spindle, but I am nervous about forcing it and find it hard to see how I can stop the spindle rotating while I try to force the impellor.

Wish I could be of more help.

Stephen Minter

Stephen Minter, March 2007