remove and reuse evaporator fan blade?

See if you can get a thin screwdriver behind it . Pull/push ONLY at the hub ! If you can get a thin pair of pliers behind it is even better . Use a screwdriver as a fulcrum to pry it off .

I looked at 8 or 10 youtube videos for this - none seemed to have the metal collar piece that yours has .. so take care - the youtube repair guys all just carefully pried off the fan blade - John T.

It is a compression ring. When I used the screwdriver, it finally popped off to parts unknown. Lots of open boxes in the room where I was doing the changeover, so no idea where it went. However....

The new fan is installed. It did not go well as I really don't think it is the right fan, the body is smaller than the original, and the quick connect terminals were too far to make the connections, so I had to extend the ones from the frig.

For the blade, I placed a piece of electrical tape across the shaft first, then pressed the blade onto the new motor. Seems pretty firm. Not sure how it will hold until I can find the retainer.

Running the frig now. Fan is spinning and I placed the cover back over the area, but not bolted down yet in case there are problems.

When I removed the old fan, it wasn't spinning but it sure was hot even in the frozen freezer! Something definitely was wrong with it.

I see that you are past this part already, but ftr there are "pliers" that open at one end when you squeeze the other end. Many are snap-ring pliers and they might work. Wrap a towel around everything in case you actually get the ring off.

Stronger are these bow-opeing pliers, but even they might not stick in place when squeezing, and they are $32. Maybe harborfreight or temu has them.

Or maybe a screwdriver between the single tab and one of double tabs and twist, while pulling on the blade. Probably need an assistant. Wear glasses or cover with a towell

BTW, why do some of our post appear in English while the second post here required extra effort on my part to read it. Was it confidential, national security, a secret for some reason. I'd like it if everyone posted in legible form.

Yeah, the special pliers that nobody ever has make it easy. I finally did break down and buy snap ring pliers after using everything including ice picks but I still try to fudge those things.

Did it previously turn freely, or did it resist turning as if the lubrication had turned to tar? I suspect the second, and cleaning and oiling would probably have fixed it if that is the case.

Looks like it should pull off relatively easily - it's just slotted nylon - basically a collet - tightened on with a band spring. If it is fragile enough to break coming off it needs to be replaced anyway.

If you are worried pop the spring off first to allow the "fingerd" to spread

Put a spring hose clamp on it