The Ford Barn

nickair · 07-24-2014, 05:20 PM

Took the wife to lunch today and upon return I checked the engine compartment to see a new 1/2 inch crack in the two blade original fan an inch from the hub. Dang it. Although, thankful I noticed it since there is a new radiator inches from it. Time for an upgrade. Thoughts?

hangarb7 · 07-24-2014, 05:35 PM

Question: is it a new fan, relatively new fan, or an old fan?

I have a steel four blader on my '30, and I examine it occasionally for cracks. I have been told to replace it as it will eventually work harden from vibration and crack.

Yet, what to replace it with? I have heard of folks having problems with repro fans....

Thanks

1931 flamingo · 07-24-2014, 05:48 PM

"a new 1/2 inch crack" Are there others?? This is an aluminum fan??

Paul in CT

nickair · 07-24-2014, 06:33 PM

Yes, the fan is an original steel 2 blade. This crack is the only one. Photo attached

Bob C · 07-24-2014, 06:43 PM

Are you sure that is aluminum, looks like an original to me. Almost
looks like one one I have.

Bob

glenn in camino · 07-24-2014, 07:23 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

On an aluminum fan, the hub is molded into the fan. That's not an aluminum fan.

Flathead · 07-24-2014, 07:42 PM

Try a magnet on it.

Steve Plucker · 07-24-2014, 07:43 PM

nickair,

Take a magnet and see if it sticks to the fan or not.

I am with the others as it does not look like a aluminum fan, at least not the current ones out now.

BUT...Who knows what old Henry was experimenting with during the Model A era!

Pluck

Tom Wesenberg · 07-24-2014, 07:49 PM

Holy cow, where's the duct tape when you need it?

Yep, it's steel. I just put a magnet to the picture of it, and it stuck.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 07-24-2014, 09:23 PM

Dog here,
Well, personally, my Buddy, Ol' Bill & I don't trust anything made out uf BEER CANS, Vermin sports a 6 blade, BLACK plastic fan NEVER seen one BREAK!
Buster T.

Purdy Swoft · 07-24-2014, 10:51 PM

Quick, get the JB weld !!! just joking. Actually my thought also is that it looks like an original. The sides of the pulley look too thin to be an aluminum repro. No harm meant and I'm not tring to make you out to be a lie. Do the magnet test, but by all means replace the fan before it does greivious harm !!!

Kurt in NJ · 07-24-2014, 11:47 PM

Plastic fans break too, i have replaced several, along with the radiator sliced by the blade and dents in the hood

700rpm · 07-24-2014, 11:50 PM

Just buy a new repro aluminum fan. The quality is good. No worries.

nickair · 07-24-2014, 11:54 PM

I just did the highly technical magnet test on the fan. It is an original steel two blade. Thread post is now edited to reflect correct fan material. I assumed it was a replacement rather than an 83 year old original. We all know what assuming gets us. Oops. Thanks guys for pointing it out from my photo.
Now what about replacement options? Thoughts...

Mike V. Florida · 07-25-2014, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickair

I just did the highly technical magnet test on the fan. It is an original steel two blade. Thread post is now edited to reflect correct fan material. I assumed it was a replacement rather than an 83 year old original. We all know what assuming gets us. Oops. Thanks guys for pointing it out from my photo.
Now what about replacement options? Thoughts...

Simple, repop aluminum from any of the vendors.

Synchro909 · 07-25-2014, 12:26 AM

I've run one of those 6 blade plastic fans for many thousands of miles with no sign of trouble - not that the aluminium fan on my other car has been found wanting. As I see it, if you want things to look close to original, go for the Al fan, otherwise consider the plastic one.
Good pick up before it separated!! Well spotted.

Tom Wesenberg · 07-25-2014, 04:54 AM

You were very lucky because that's a major crack and soon would have been in two pieces.

You can also see rust pits where the fan meets the hub. I'd buy an aluminum fan.

mshmodela · 07-25-2014, 05:51 AM

Geee!!! Lucky it did not fly apart!!!

neds29 · 07-25-2014, 09:02 AM

Just some advice: Don't start the motor until you replace the fan.

BangerMatt · 07-25-2014, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neds29

Just some advice: Don't start the motor until you replace the fan.

Unless you want to replace the hood and/or radiator.

07-24-2014, 05:20 PM	#1
nickair Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 132	Cracked Fan Took the wife to lunch today and upon return I checked the engine compartment to see a new 1/2 inch crack in the two blade original fan an inch from the hub. Dang it. Although, thankful I noticed it since there is a new radiator inches from it. Time for an upgrade. Thoughts? __________________ Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. L.D. I have 40 horses in the garage. Only feed them when I want to take them out. 31 Model A Tudor 55B Nick Last edited by nickair; 07-24-2014 at 11:37 PM.

07-24-2014, 05:35 PM	#2
hangarb7 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: North Versailles, PA Posts: 146	Re: Cracked Fan Question: is it a new fan, relatively new fan, or an old fan? I have a steel four blader on my '30, and I examine it occasionally for cracks. I have been told to replace it as it will eventually work harden from vibration and crack. Yet, what to replace it with? I have heard of folks having problems with repro fans.... Thanks

07-24-2014, 05:48 PM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: Cracked Fan "a new 1/2 inch crack" Are there others?? This is an aluminum fan?? Paul in CT

07-24-2014, 07:23 PM	#6
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Cracked Fan Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) On an aluminum fan, the hub is molded into the fan. That's not an aluminum fan.

07-24-2014, 07:42 PM	#7
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,497	Re: Cracked Fan Try a magnet on it.

07-24-2014, 07:43 PM	#8
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Cracked Fan nickair, Take a magnet and see if it sticks to the fan or not. I am with the others as it does not look like a aluminum fan, at least not the current ones out now. BUT...Who knows what old Henry was experimenting with during the Model A era! Pluck

07-24-2014, 07:49 PM	#9
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Cracked Fan Holy cow, where's the duct tape when you need it? Yep, it's steel. I just put a magnet to the picture of it, and it stuck.

07-24-2014, 09:23 PM	#10
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Cracked Fan Dog here, Well, personally, my Buddy, Ol' Bill & I don't trust anything made out uf BEER CANS, Vermin sports a 6 blade, BLACK plastic fan NEVER seen one BREAK! Buster T. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

07-24-2014, 10:51 PM	#11
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Cracked Fan Quick, get the JB weld !!! just joking. Actually my thought also is that it looks like an original. The sides of the pulley look too thin to be an aluminum repro. No harm meant and I'm not tring to make you out to be a lie. Do the magnet test, but by all means replace the fan before it does greivious harm !!! Last edited by Purdy Swoft; 07-24-2014 at 11:02 PM.

07-24-2014, 11:47 PM	#12
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Cracked Fan Plastic fans break too, i have replaced several, along with the radiator sliced by the blade and dents in the hood

07-24-2014, 11:50 PM	#13
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,902	Re: Cracked Fan Just buy a new repro aluminum fan. The quality is good. No worries. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

07-24-2014, 11:54 PM	#14
nickair Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 132	Re: Cracked Fan I just did the highly technical magnet test on the fan. It is an original steel two blade. Thread post is now edited to reflect correct fan material. I assumed it was a replacement rather than an 83 year old original. We all know what assuming gets us. Oops. Thanks guys for pointing it out from my photo. Now what about replacement options? Thoughts... __________________ Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. L.D. I have 40 horses in the garage. Only feed them when I want to take them out. 31 Model A Tudor 55B Nick

07-25-2014, 12:26 AM	#16
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Cracked Fan I've run one of those 6 blade plastic fans for many thousands of miles with no sign of trouble - not that the aluminium fan on my other car has been found wanting. As I see it, if you want things to look close to original, go for the Al fan, otherwise consider the plastic one. Good pick up before it separated!! Well spotted.

07-25-2014, 04:54 AM	#17
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Cracked Fan You were very lucky because that's a major crack and soon would have been in two pieces. You can also see rust pits where the fan meets the hub. I'd buy an aluminum fan.

07-25-2014, 05:51 AM	#18
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Cracked Fan Geee!!! Lucky it did not fly apart!!! __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

07-25-2014, 09:02 AM	#19
neds29 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ahwatukee, AZ Posts: 115	Re: Cracked Fan Just some advice: Don't start the motor until you replace the fan. __________________ Retired civil engineer. Winters in Phoenix, summers in Ipswich, Mass. and North Dakota. '29 closed cab pickup- Excellent AZ truck. '29 roadster- Owned for 21 years but now sold. '28 CC pickup- My first car in Andover, MA back in '62- '63.