Replacing: 3 speed pull chain ceiling fan switch- someone brilliant please tell me where Blue, Yellow,Black, and White go on the @#$% L,1,2,3 terminals . I am SO exasperated with trying just to find the info on-line. I have tried two- suggested configs. One hummed, one barely moved. Thank you in advance

Here are some possible diagrams:

Ceiling Fand wiring Diagrams

What make and model is the fan?

Ceiling fan pullchain replacement and repair - Ceiling Fans N More

I have run into the same problem. I have a couple of wirings, however the colors vary and so do the switches. What I have found is that knowing the fan (Brand and model-you need that switch)Switches may look the same but internally are wired different. Example, I wired the new switch exactly how the old one was, wrote it down and did one at a time, easy but I only had 2 speeds and it never shut off. The fan brand is OLD, that is all I know and the switch was a westinghouse 77021 for 4 wires.
My wire colors are Black, Grey, Brown and Purple. Black is the power so you can touch the colors to the black and see what color is what speed. Black for me is the power/feed and my grey is slow, brown medium and purple high. This may be similar for you, different colors. Then the switch has it's markings, and they vary. L, 1, 2, 3. But some have 1 over the chain, some have L and even 3 over the chain.
So starting at the chain position and going clockwise it may be, 1, L, 3, 2. or 3, L, 2, 1 or l, 3, 2, 1.
So you see that are many variables and important to get the correct switch.
Did I get mine to work, Yes but not correctly, after trying so many different ways, I am only using 3 wires, my Black, power or feed is not going to L but the 1 position. Grey is not used and nothing goes to L, Brown is three and Purple is 2. This may be reversed because my speeds from off go to slow, then high to medium and I use three wires. I willreverse them today.
Here is a link that showed the switches vary and that is that brand. (Cut and paste)

http://www.dansfancity.com/techhelp/parts/sw33nn.htm

Also some typical wiring for a 4 wire 3 speed pull chain switch. The first line was my colors and I hooked it up that way. It never shut off, only 2 speeds so again it is not clear cut! I hope this is helpful because you may research the fan brand and contact the manufacturer, best bet! Feel free to contact me. I do Audio Engineering, so wiring and tracing wires is easy but this switch was a curve.

Doug at [email protected]

L - Black, 1 - Grey, 2 - Brown, 3 - Purple
L - Orange, 1 - Black, 2 - Yellow, 3 - Purple
L - Black, 1 - Grey, 2 - Brown, 3 - Green
L - Grey, 1 - Yellow, 2 - Purple, 3 - Black
L - White, 1- Black, 2 - Blue, 3 - Yellow