3 speed standing fan. #1 the blade barely rotates.#2 a little faster. #3 it starts slow then speeds up like it's going to take off. It also makes an annoying sound like it's rubbing on something or is thirsty for lubricant. Is it the switch or the motor?

definitely sounds mechanical. try prying open the motor area and see if anything happens when you turn it on. i'm guessing it might be a short somewhere that's making the other parts have to compensate

also check into servos, relays, and whatnot

bad motor "burned out"
get a new one

First thing I would do is remove fan blades again and carefully clean them with a non-petroleum based cleaner. Wipe to remove any small bits of dust,dirt or pet hair. Most units like this use a very small motor and it dosn't take much to slow them down.Some as small as 1/20 H.P. Next I would check to see if there are any oiling ports on top of motor.Some do some don't. If yours does it should have a plastic or rubber plug. Remove plug and use 2-3 drops of fine grade oil,such as 3-in-1 oil.Reinstall plug and see if that helps. If no oil ports are available you can use a aresol cleaner rated for use on electrical equipment. If you can get to them I would also clean,spray and/or lube around blade shaft ends,wiping off all extra.Hope this helps.Thanks

mcdevito75 here, Sounds like that oscillating swtich is either a little loose or could use a drop or 2 of 3 in 1 oil. Try to twist offf the oscillating swatch button and see if you can tighten it or put a drop of oil on it.

If you have played with them the only way is to get it going pretty well is" ....
find the idle screw - usually larger - and turn in 1/2 a turn - hopefully that will keep it running - then find the 'slow' running screw turn it in until it stops then turn out 1 and 1/2 turns. Leave the fast one alone.
Get it started then adjust idle screw so its faaster if need be.,, now slowly turn the 'slow' screw in then out say 1/2 turn and listen for it either speeding up or slowing down leave it at the point where it sounds ok and try giveing a few 1/2 speed rev ups. If it goes back and idles as before - leave it.

The fast screw... (first make sure your exhaust outlet is totally unblocked - the slightest restriction here will cause it to never run right at high speed). Start it up and then try full throttle - same thing as before try adjust the fast screw first in a little then out until it runs well at what seems the faster speed it can - then check that it accelerates well from idle to full speed. If not adjust it a little more until it does.
Once it will idle ok and return to idle and also run full speed, then you can back off the idle screw until it will idle without the chain racing arond the bar.

Bear in mind th chain wil be racing around while you adjust it so keep fingers kids and idiots well away..because you are adjusting it with that chain moving..

The thrust bearing or ball is worn out or missing. When you tilt it, the motor shaft spins freely. When you set it down, the shaft goes to the rear and creates drag on the motor.

I jtoo, ust bought The Altura (68" fan from home depot)
Home depot makes hampton bay through various chinese manufacturers.................
The fan ran slow on high speed, and barely ran on medium or low.
home depot gave me a number for their tech department that knew right away.....that the capacitor(s) are defective in many of the Altura fans.
They are sending the capacitors in 3 days to me no charge.
They are located under the fan ( remember the white square plastic plug you had to connect and the 2 wires for the optional light kit?.....)That plug is for the capacitors that everyone is having a problem with.
My guess is they are under rated for a fan that big and are sending better ones to those with problems.
Hope this helps.
The number is:
1-800-330-3267

I called King of Fans and the rep that I spoke with gave me the correct wiring for the 3 speed switch:

L White
1 Yellow
2 Blue
3 Black

The problem is that after I wired it this way I am getting the same result (off on 3 settings and a motor hum on 1 setting). So, either the Westinghouse switch that I bought at Home Depot is not compatible or it is the capacitor. The saga continues.

1. Set the remote to run the fan on high.
2. Pull the fan speed chain until the fan reaches high speed.
3. All speeds should work normally now.
The remote is modulating the maximum speed as set by the pull chain.

Your best bet is to UNPLUG the fan, remove the protected cage and the cover that protects the motor and take a can of compressed air and blow out any dust that you happen to see that has built up in the fan. Then look for a bushing that is towards the front of the shaft and the rear of the shaft and place a drop of 3 in 1 oil where the bushings are located. I would place a couple drops on the front and rear shaft, spin the shaft by hand, move it back and forth, then then put it back together again and try it.
This should extend the life of your fan as long as the motor isn't burnt up, and the fan hasn't been left on for a long period of time when the blades where not moving.
Hope this helps.
Keep in mind.. a little maintenance goes a long way.