Philips M702/M704 microwave

[boater sam]

We used to graphite lube with a pencil.  With these draught driven stirrers its usually the air exhaust that lets them down, bits of fluff and grease or too near the wall to get enough air.
Tangential or blade fan?
They are minimal when new so that the stirrer doesn't go too fast.

[ppppenguin]

Everything looks clear of muck. Simple blade fan that's working nicely and chucking a large amount of air about. There's some perished sealing strip between the innards and the lid. Presumably there to ensure enough of the fan's air goes where it's needed. I'm sure I've got some somewhere.

I may be able to detect rotation of the stirrer using a small metal detector (pipe and stud finder type).

[ppppenguin]

I found a small metal detector and it seems like the stirrer is actually rotating. I don't know if it did before so it will be a subjective test to see if food seems to heat more evenly now. We don't use it very much anyway.

I managed to break part of the moulding of the "on" button. Fortunately it defaults to "on" which makes the oven easier to use. No longer need to set time, close door and press "on" button. Just the first 2 steps as you would with most simple modern microwave ovens.

Or should I say "meecrowahvay". My best attempt at transliterating what Nigella Lawson jokingly says. Many of us just a call it a "nuke" and refer to "nuking" food.

[Murphyv310]

Don't use any lubricant at all. They are assembled dry. Clean and polish the pivot point any bushings etc only clean. There is likely excess friction but you and I will think its fine. Some stirrers only spin once the food warms and convection starts.
Come to think of it the holes you mention are to do with the rotation of the stirrer from microwave energy.
Fire it up with a cup of water and see what it does.

[ppppenguin]

Not too visible in the photo but there are 4 plastic vanes on the stirrer that are clearly designed to help it rotate in an airflow. There are also air guide channels in the fixed part of the stirrer assembly.

The bearing is a pretty crude thing. A plastic part on which the metal rotates. Looked too fragile to push it apart for cleaning.