Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - can't get ceiling fan down

I'm to replace my ceiling fan but I cant get the screws out of the canopy there are four screw holding it up but the motor is to high up to fit a screw driver of a L bracket . I don't know how else to take it down without riping it out the ceiling.

...but the motor is to high up to fit a screw driver of a L bracket.

L Bracket? Maybe that is the tip-off right there. Never heard of L-brackets involved with mounting ceiling fans.

Have you tried one of those angled screw drivers? Those jobbies that are like 4 inches long and each end has a 90 bend in it? (one flat and one phillips)

Someone got it up there.

If you really think this is impossible, for sure, no matter the tool - maybe they did something unorthodox and went up in attic and drew the slack out of it up there and tightened it up there with some threaded nipple and nut or something. Do you have easy access to an attic area where this would be mounted? Or do you know somehow that someone did not/could not go up there to draw it tight up there?

Does your ceiling fan have the ability to wobble? Or is this one of those low-ceiling type cans that are mounted pretty rigid?


This is where a pic would come in handy.

your canopy screws go parrallel with the ceiling... right???

you can also try to use a wood shim (from big O or big Blue)....
slide that between ceiling and canopy mount and pull slightly down.... not too hard or you will snap the shim ....

never met a canopy that was that tight it could not be forced down a little ..... might give you enough room to use good ole' fashioned elbow grease and remove screws without scraping your knuckles on the ceiling. You can always tighten up the ceiling box later before installing new fan.....

also, is your canopy supporting the weight of the fan motor or do you have one of those ball/canopy socket types?? if ball/canopy type AND you are replacing the fan anyway then maybe just break open the canopy... cannot do this well with the other version as all the weight will come down to you at once... Not to mention it is still wired together!! hard to handle!! ha

sorry, just shooting ideas if this were me.
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If the canopy screws are parallel to the ceiling you could just remove them all the way. The fan should continue to hang on the mounting shaft.

If you have doubts have someone support the fan while you back the screws out.

He can't fit the screwdriver to the screws. That is what has ME puzzled, guys.