How hard is to remove dust from the fan of a T41p?

[ashat]

While I keep on looking for a replacement for my T41p I would like to do something for the noisy fan.

I know I could simply order a new one to Lenovo and change it, but I don't think to be able.

I have put my hands inside desktop pc to change ram, cpu fan, hard disk, video and ethernet card, power unit (which I know is enough surprising for a girl ) but I never disassembled a thinkpad.
I have just experience of taking off the keyboard from a R40, but I haven't done nothing more than looking inside that time, and put the keyboard back in place.

So I was wondering, is there anything that I can do to clean a bit the fan from dust?
Something that I can do without doing nothing more risky than taking off the keyboard?

What do I need?
Canned air? Vacuum cleaner?
Can I use something that I have at home without buying any specific item?

I am almost convinced I should look for a new-used machine, but I want to keep this alive as long as I can with my own abilities without risking too much. The LCD is dim and getting reddish when I resume from sleep, so it is likely to die in few weeks? months? but I can always plug an external monitor in that case, while for the fan if it dies suddenly I won't be able to fix.

For now it is just noisy when I switch on, then it comes back silent as usual almost all over the normal usage.

thanks advance

Annalisa

[craigmontHunter]

T4x is easy - four screws, all labeled, then slide the keyboard back, pull it off, and theres the fan. Try vacuming/blowing/using compressed air to get all the dust out, then WD-40 it to make it quieter (Long Live WD-40, and Duct Tape, and Google...)

Good luck

[goofyGAguy]

You can clean the dust build-up with a can of compressed air, but a note of caution: you must use a pencil or a small screwdriver, or similar, to keep the fan from spinning whilst using the air.

[Navck]

If you have one of those blower bulbs for cleaning DSLR sensors, get a small SOFT BRISTLED paintbrush and lightly brush at the fan blades while using the bulb to agitate the dust off.

[ashat]

T4x is easy - four screws, all labeled, then slide the keyboard back, pull it off, and theres the fan. Try vacuming/blowing/using compressed air to get all the dust out, then WD-40 it to make it quieter (Long Live WD-40, and Duct Tape, and Google...)

Good luck

Ok, thanks to all. This is something I should be able to do.
I just have to discover how is it called here in Italy your "WD-40".

Annalisa

[craigmontHunter]

Sorry - it is a spray lubercant, there are lots of diffrent types, you can get them in most hardware stores. (Not nescessarly WD 40, but the others work well)

[RealBlackStuff]

WD-40 is also available in Italy. Get the smallest version available.
Rather than spraying with it, use a small plastic bag, hold it around the nozzle (small tube) and spray a couple of times into that bag, until you have a drop or 2 of liquid. Then apply that using a toothpick or similar.

Italy
(Regional Office)
WD-40 Company Ltd.
Via Dante 6
40125 Bologna
Italy
Phone: 39 051 341063
Fax: 39 051 349040
http://www.wd40.it

[ashat]

WD-40 is also available in Italy. Get the smallest version available.
Rather than spraying with it, use a small plastic bag, hold it around the nozzle (small tube) and spray a couple of times into that bag, until you have a drop or 2 of liquid. Then apply that using a toothpick or similar.

http://www.wd40.it

Thank you!

Annalisa