Noisey Fan Bearing

[jack orchard]

I have an 8BA with a 4-blade fan. What are my options for curing a noise problem (bad bearing)? It looks like a sealed system to me. Thanks to all...jack

[jimvette59]

Is it a bushing type or a bearing type? Try VanPelts they should have the parts for either. Please post some pictures.

[jack orchard]

Here are some pics - i hope
IMG_0494.jpgIMG_0495.jpgIMG_0496.jpg

[1931 flamingo]

Is there an oil "cup" on it. A few months back there was an extensive writ-up about the fan brg's and how to lube in Street Rodder. Not sure if it applies to what you have, but it was f/head related.
Paul in CT

[Mac VP]

Jack....your fan looks like the 1949 Ford passenger car fan assy. For whatever its worth, Ford only sold that in service parts as the complete assy like your pic (fan, hub, pulley & bracket). The sealed ball bearing was, I believe, crimped into place in the hub. I've heard of guys taking the assy apart, sourcing a match to the bearing, and pressing it into place, then securing it with a snap ring. I believe some maching to the hub may be involved. Perhaps someone else can chime in on this. I have no more of those in my NOS parts. Probably have some used ones left.

[jack orchard]

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Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Is there an oil "cup" on it.Paul in CT

No. No cup on it.

Mac VP: Thanks for your help. Are the bearings in the truck fans (the ones with the ring of bolts) replaceable? Would the bearing for a seven bladed truck fan be the same as a four bladed truck fan? Do you sell them? Thanks again to all...jack

[Mac VP]

Jack...none of the 8 bolt fans use a conventional ball bearing. So, no interchange there. Couldn't say on the 7 bladed fan....

[jack orchard]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Jack...none of the 8 bolt fans use a conventional ball bearing. So, no interchange there. Couldn't say on the 7 bladed fan....

Thanks Mac VP. When you say "no interchange there" do you mean the bearing can not be replaced? Can they be dis-assembled, cleaned, and reassembled? Thanks, again...jack

[Mac VP]

What I was saying is that you cannot swap the bearing used in your fan hub (a sealed ball bearing) with the "bearing" used in the 8 bolt oil filled type fan hub. It has no ball bearing or roller bearing in the 8 bolt style. I do not have a bearing interchange for the ball bearing in your fan, but I'm betting that its a common type.

[Ross F-1]

I have this kind of fan in my truck, plus a couple of equally worn spares. I had one opened up to find out how they are made. There is a cap on the inner side of the pulley that is spot-welded to the main tube. Once that is off, the bearing shaft can be pressed out of the pulley and mount. I also ground off the fan blade rivets and removed the end cap under it.

After much searching, I found a replacement bearing, and cheap, no less. Plus it has some interesting possibilities... The bearing is an NSK 885586 "water pump bearing". Cost was $20. It is physically identical except that it has an extra-long shaft sticking out of both ends. The shaft is made with special steel so it can be trimmed to fit without carbide tools.

What's interesting, potentially, is that the extra shaft length on the fan end can be used as a center hub for a different fan blade. For instance, a polymer fan or a flex-blade fan, or (in my case) one with more than 3 blades. (My truck has a car engine). The shaft diameter is 5/8" which just happens to be the most common pilot diameter on modern replacement fan blades. I haven't gotten too far along with this but I'm hoping to have it finished this month. Just replacing the bearing on a stock fan would be really simple.

[Mac VP]

Interesting....that bearing/shaft assy looks just like a Ford water pump shaft and bearing assy.

[oldskool]

I think you could swap the the complete fan hub unit from a 49/50 8ba truck unit

[Ross F-1]

Originally Posted by Mac VP

Interesting....that bearing/shaft assy looks just like a Ford water pump shaft and bearing assy.

I thought so too! The basic bearing and shaft dimensions were used on many many vehicles well into the '70's according to some charts I found.

Originally Posted by oldskool

I think you could swap the the complete fan hub unit from a 49/50 8ba truck unit

I have narrow belts. The truck fans are very heavy for the amount of air they move.