The Ford Barn

JBohannon · 07-05-2012, 09:23 PM

I had just taken about a 5 mile drive in my 29 A this evening and I noticed a vibration that I have not had before. I lifted the cowl on the carb side and revved the engine. Suddenly I eard a metal tearing sound and a whoosh of air go by my head. I shut off the motor and realized that one of the two fan blades was sheared off near the center . I appears it did no damage at all to the engine compartment so it must have just went by my head. I still have not found it because it was getting dark and I live next to a grassy field. Thank God I was near the firewall end listening to the engine. I dont know how bad it would have been but I think it would have been very bad if it had hit me. Still shocked about it. Has anyone ever died from one of these things. Joe B.

James Rogers · 07-05-2012, 09:29 PM

A guy I went to school with was killed when a fan flew off a V8 and hit him. They are deadly and you are EXTREMELY lucky!

Steve Wastler · 07-05-2012, 09:35 PM

Glad you were able to post about it, very close on that one....

JBohannon · 07-05-2012, 09:42 PM

Yea I am still pretty shook up about it. At first I was not going to tell my wife but I did . Can you imagine the shape I would have been in if she had found me. I don't think I will ever rev the engine again while standing at the engine even with the new blade I am getting. This newbie wants to warn all others keep an eye on your blades. I guess I should have checked that first but it gave me absolutely no warning that I ever saw.

700rpm · 07-05-2012, 09:49 PM

I run an original two-blade on my Tudor, but the new aluminum replacements on the others. I'm thinking I need to change out the Tudor too, though I am in the habit of checking it every time I drive it. But someone said, and I think it's true: there are only two kinds of original fan blades: those that will explode and those that have exploded.

tbirdtbird · 07-05-2012, 09:57 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"there are only two kinds of original fan blades: those that will explode and those that have exploded."

The absolute truth. Don't become a statistic. Henry did a great job on 95% of the car, and he is revered, but on the fan blade, he takes a fail. Sorry.

TinCup · 07-05-2012, 10:15 PM

Best 50 dollars you will spend is for the aluminum fan.

JBohannon · 07-05-2012, 10:16 PM

I cannot believe it did no damage to engine area. It went right out on my side. Their was no time to react. For a few seconds I was just thinking what the heck was that.

JBohannon · 07-05-2012, 10:17 PM

Yes I believe you may be right I just bought my aluminum fan online.

bogdonj · 07-05-2012, 10:59 PM

I had one that broke but it still hung on and didn't fly away...shut the engine off quick and i was shocked..... This lead me to ford barn

FL&WVMIKE · 07-05-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

"there are only two kinds of original fan blades: those that will explode and those that have exploded."

The absolute truth. Don't become a statistic. Henry did a great job on 95% of the car, and he is revered, but on the fan blade, he takes a fail. Sorry.

tbirdtbird ..............

In Henry's defence, I don't think that he planned on those things spinning for over eighty years.
MIKE

oldmanandakid · 07-05-2012, 11:16 PM

Is it just the 2 blade fans that are a problem? How do you tell if your fan is is an original in need of replacement? Mine is a 4 blade on a 30 coupe....any clues?

28ACoupe · 07-05-2012, 11:55 PM

On the four blade fans, look for cracks forming down at the base of the blades where the flex point is.

Bill Cal. · 07-06-2012, 12:25 AM

Years ago I had an original 2 bladed fan blade break lose on my 30, 2 door sedan and it cut a clean hole through the top of the hood. Never did find it but I had the start of a loovered hood and proof of the story. I left it that way as long as I had the car but went to a 4 bladed fan.

Tom Wesenberg · 07-06-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Cal.

Years ago I had an original 2 bladed fan blade break lose on my 30, 2 door sedan and it cut a clean hole through the top of the hood. Never did find it but I had the start of a loovered hood and proof of the story. I left it that way as long as I had the car but went to a 4 bladed fan.

I've read here about the 4 blade fans breaking also. The aluminum 2 blade fans are very much improved over what I saw about 5 years ago.

Richard Wilson · 07-06-2012, 06:51 AM

Two words......"lottery ticket". Amazing story for the wise.

JBohannon · 07-06-2012, 07:03 AM

After thinking about it over night I am pretty sure the fan was the reason for the vibration. I should have shut the engine down to look. When I revved it up that sent it loose. I have to work today but I am going to post a pic of what is left and find the fan to see how far it went.

Benson · 07-06-2012, 08:36 AM

Here is another thread with much discussion on the fan subject:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumd...esc&sort=views

The hood on my Coupe has jagged 3 point hole about 5 inches across where a fan blade went through it and off into a field.

The hole looks a little like a Mercedes Benz emblem ... Adds a little more class to the car!

Steve Plucker · 07-06-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBohannon

After thinking about it over night I am pretty sure the fan was the reason for the vibration. I should have shut the engine down to look. When I revved it up that sent it loose. I have to work today but I am going to post a pic of what is left and find the fan to see how far it went.

Thank God it went further than what it could have!

I would of hated to think what would of happened if that were a MARC or MAFCA Regional or National Meet.

Pluck

modelAtony · 07-06-2012, 08:46 AM

Like mike said, Henry didn't think they would be on the roar 80 years later. We even drive them a little faster also think about it this way . 80 years forward for us to think about the years but 80 years before the model A would be 1848, , think about it how many people would think a farm tool would still be good in 1928. have fun modelA tony lafayette,la

07-05-2012, 09:23 PM	#1
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Serious close call !! I had just taken about a 5 mile drive in my 29 A this evening and I noticed a vibration that I have not had before. I lifted the cowl on the carb side and revved the engine. Suddenly I eard a metal tearing sound and a whoosh of air go by my head. I shut off the motor and realized that one of the two fan blades was sheared off near the center . I appears it did no damage at all to the engine compartment so it must have just went by my head. I still have not found it because it was getting dark and I live next to a grassy field. Thank God I was near the firewall end listening to the engine. I dont know how bad it would have been but I think it would have been very bad if it had hit me. Still shocked about it. Has anyone ever died from one of these things. Joe B.

07-05-2012, 09:29 PM	#2
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: Serious close call !! A guy I went to school with was killed when a fan flew off a V8 and hit him. They are deadly and you are EXTREMELY lucky! __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

07-05-2012, 09:35 PM	#3
Steve Wastler Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,987	Re: Serious close call !! Glad you were able to post about it, very close on that one....

07-05-2012, 09:42 PM	#4
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Re: Serious close call !! Yea I am still pretty shook up about it. At first I was not going to tell my wife but I did . Can you imagine the shape I would have been in if she had found me. I don't think I will ever rev the engine again while standing at the engine even with the new blade I am getting. This newbie wants to warn all others keep an eye on your blades. I guess I should have checked that first but it gave me absolutely no warning that I ever saw.

07-05-2012, 09:49 PM	#5
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Serious close call !! I run an original two-blade on my Tudor, but the new aluminum replacements on the others. I'm thinking I need to change out the Tudor too, though I am in the habit of checking it every time I drive it. But someone said, and I think it's true: there are only two kinds of original fan blades: those that will explode and those that have exploded. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

07-05-2012, 09:57 PM	#6
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Serious close call !! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) "there are only two kinds of original fan blades: those that will explode and those that have exploded." The absolute truth. Don't become a statistic. Henry did a great job on 95% of the car, and he is revered, but on the fan blade, he takes a fail. Sorry. __________________ '31 180A

07-05-2012, 10:15 PM	#7
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Serious close call !! Best 50 dollars you will spend is for the aluminum fan. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

07-05-2012, 10:16 PM	#8
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Re: Serious close call !! I cannot believe it did no damage to engine area. It went right out on my side. Their was no time to react. For a few seconds I was just thinking what the heck was that.

07-05-2012, 10:17 PM	#9
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Re: Serious close call !! Yes I believe you may be right I just bought my aluminum fan online.

07-05-2012, 10:59 PM	#10
bogdonj Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Walkerton, Ont. Canada Posts: 623	Re: Serious close call !! I had one that broke but it still hung on and didn't fly away...shut the engine off quick and i was shocked..... This lead me to ford barn __________________ _________________________________________ 1931 Ford Model A Tudor 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster 1930 Ford Original Rolling Chassis- Restoring

07-05-2012, 11:16 PM	#12
oldmanandakid Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southern Nevada Posts: 149	Re: Serious close call !! Is it just the 2 blade fans that are a problem? How do you tell if your fan is is an original in need of replacement? Mine is a 4 blade on a 30 coupe....any clues?

07-05-2012, 11:55 PM	#13
28ACoupe Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 559	Re: Serious close call !! On the four blade fans, look for cracks forming down at the base of the blades where the flex point is. __________________ 1928 Model A Business Coupe Rebuild picture gallery here The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due to budget cuts.

07-06-2012, 12:25 AM	#14
Bill Cal. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 174	Re: Serious close call !! Years ago I had an original 2 bladed fan blade break lose on my 30, 2 door sedan and it cut a clean hole through the top of the hood. Never did find it but I had the start of a loovered hood and proof of the story. I left it that way as long as I had the car but went to a 4 bladed fan.

07-06-2012, 06:51 AM	#16
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Serious close call !! Two words......"lottery ticket". Amazing story for the wise.

07-06-2012, 07:03 AM	#17
JBohannon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 180	Re: Serious close call !! After thinking about it over night I am pretty sure the fan was the reason for the vibration. I should have shut the engine down to look. When I revved it up that sent it loose. I have to work today but I am going to post a pic of what is left and find the fan to see how far it went.

07-06-2012, 08:36 AM	#18
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,599	Re: Serious close call !! Here is another thread with much discussion on the fan subject: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/forumd...esc&sort=views The hood on my Coupe has jagged 3 point hole about 5 inches across where a fan blade went through it and off into a field. The hole looks a little like a Mercedes Benz emblem ... Adds a little more class to the car! Last edited by Benson; 07-06-2012 at 08:47 AM.

07-06-2012, 08:46 AM	#20
modelAtony Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: lafayette,la Posts: 459	Re: Serious close call !! Like mike said, Henry didn't think they would be on the roar 80 years later. We even drive them a little faster also think about it this way . 80 years forward for us to think about the years but 80 years before the model A would be 1848, , think about it how many people would think a farm tool would still be good in 1928. have fun modelA tony lafayette,la