I installed the replacement (and the replacement speed switch, whose threads had broken years ago.) No dice. It turns out, the motor had gone bad too. That's odd, considering the fan was still happily spinning when I stopped it. But what are you going to do but buy a new fan? $50 later, I'm back in business. A fifteen minute job turned into half a day. Ah, hell...
I should probably fix the downstairs bathroom ceiling this week. My grandmother's in town (Oceanside is close enough to qualify,) so that would be a Good Thing™. Not that I've heard from her yet. With her timing, she'll probably call wanting to go to lunch, just after I've walked into the convention center on Friday for Comic Con...