New fan clutch not working

[Sedition]

I have recently replaced my fan clutch and thermostat but the new fan clutch does not engage when it gets hot. It is engaged for a moment when I start it in the morning but then it will not engage after that. What could be the issue here?

 

[Turdle]

I thought it was a "thermal" thing. When the clutch spring gets hotter it "grabs" more.

It should free wheel when cool, that is the benefit of it.

 

[Sedition]

Yeah, but instead of the fan clutch "grabbing" when it gets hot it just lets the temp gauge on the dash rise.

 

[Turdle]

That isn't right. Is it the proper application? are all explorers "reverse rotation" ?I know the v8 is. Can you return it for replacement?

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I have recently replaced my fan clutch and thermostat but the new fan clutch does not engage when it gets hot. It is engaged for a moment when I start it in the morning but then it will not engage after that. What could be the issue here?

It's normal for the fan clutch to engage momentarily
and then freewheel when started on a cool morning.
This has to do with the viscous fluid settling to the
bottom of the unit overnight.

But it should indeed engage when the air flowing
over it gets warm. There's a valve inside the clutch
that might be sticking and preventing engagement...???

Are you sure it's not engaging? Even when hot the
clutch won't actually lock up, but gradually increases
resistance until it reaches about 80% of the pulley speed.

If you shut a hot engine off and try to move the fan, it
will still move but will have considerable more resistance
than it does when cold.

 

[Sedition]

That isn't right. Is it the proper application? are all explorers "reverse rotation" ?I know the v8 is. Can you return it for replacement?

Sadly return postage back to the US would not make it worth while to return it, I would probably just get another one sent over if it come to that.

Now that you mention something about reverse rotation, I think the outter part of the central spring may have two slots to attach to. The slots are 180 Degrees apart. I'll need to remove my fan and shrowd again so I'm off to the store to get a 36mm wrench.

 

[Sedition]

Biggest wrench I can find is only 32mm, So I have decided to make some fan clutch tools out of scrap high tensile steel and will remove it tonight.

 

[merbs]

I bet!

Sounds like a plan!I like making tools.And I`m sure you know but anyway Napa sells them,and advanced and autozone both loan them with a deposit.But usually they are wrecked from someone missusing them.I bet it is the wrong rotation one,that is just what happens when someone gives you the wrong one,if you drive it without the hood you can often see the thing turn backwards in the wind.GOOD LUCK DUDE!

 

[Sedition]

Still in test phase.

Thanks for the info but here in Austalia we don't actually have places like Autozone to rent the tools from and postage here from the US usually takes a long time and can be costly. Even though I try to buy American when ever I can, I also enjoy the satisfaction of making my own tools.

I must admit the home made tools worked perfectly and I have changed the postion of the central bi-metal spring but haven't had a chance to get it hot enough to test it out as it is the dead of winter here at the moment.

Why do we do it? For the love of our All American made vehicle.

 

[merbs]

what?no napa-in-the bush?

Yeh as soon as I sent that post I noticed you were down under!Thanks for busting me for my stupidity!Question though;don`t you get headaches being upside down all the time?Seriously, I guess you have to make your tools after all.And you do have it alot easier when you want a set of australian cleveland heads huh?Got any to sell?I`d love a set.

 

[Sedition]

Reconditioned clevland heads, milled 80 thou, ported & polished and sitting on a shelf wrapped in plastic = $550 inc tax. Our currancy is about level at the moment but postage to the US for such heavy items would probably break the bank.

 

[merbs]

cool

Pretty much the best production heads Ford ever made.What do you have therm for?Have a falcon or something?I have a 73 351cobrajet block 4 bolt mains with 70 boss heads on it,better for high rpms but fuel tends to fall out of suspension at low ones.God I`d love a set of them.bet you are right, probably cost more to ship them than buy them.
Love your online name too,sedition.

 

[pjtoledo]

Biggest wrench I can find is only 32mm, So I have decided to make some fan clutch tools out of scrap high tensile steel and will remove it tonight.

not a problem, since its an American vehicle just grab a 1-7/16" wrench. measuring about 36.5mm that will work.

Changed the fan clutch on my ranger this week. used a very large adjustable wrench to remove it. also custom made a tool to hold the pulley.
the reverse rotation also deals with the threads inside the coupling. if the belt goes over the top of the pulley its one way, if the belt goes under the pulley it rotates the other way. the direction has to do with the pulley screwing into the nut when running, not screwing off the nut. if it screwed on its obviously correct. I suppose turning the fan blades correctly is in the mix too. the bad unit would not spin the fan, the new unit immediately spun the fan at startup with a cold engine & radiator. if it didn't spin the fan until the radiator was hot, the AC won't work as no air is cooling the condenser.





Perry

 

[Sedition]

Solution

I would just like to say the solution for this problem was to exercise the mechanism back and forward from limit to limit about 50 times to free it up. This will make it free enough for the bi-metal spring to easily engage and disengage the clutch with normal temperature change.