just now getting to posting on this. took me a while and a few beers and a few wrenches tossed across the garage to finally get that fan lowered. if i could find out who had the bright idea of putting a screw in the very back making it close to impossible to get out, i would love to tell them how i feel. so.... once i got that d@mn screw out, i couldnt pull the fan out.... like mentioned above.... luckily the object was right at the fan so i was able to shake the fan a little and what falls out? a propeller seed about one inch long.... WOW.... i cant believe the fan wasnt able to just chew it up. i would have rather had a bunch of little propeller particles blow out into my face than have spent close to 4 hours trying to get that little tiny thing out!

thanks for the recommendations all!