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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / September 2006viscous fan drive repair?
Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; unfortunately there are no replacements available. I'd prefer not to have to swap to a flex fan. thanks, nate  Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My > old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > nate Why not just buy a new fan clutch from AutoZone? s > > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My > > old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Why not just buy a new fan clutch from AutoZone? s Not possible. the "nose" of the water pump is significantly larger than the hole in any available fan clutch; I've been told by at least one mfgr. that it is not possible to machine the hole larger without compromising the flange and another wouldn't return my emails. There is a non-thermostatic replacement available, but I'm not sure what the point of that is. nate N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article <1159369404.175958.29150@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>... > > > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My > > > old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > nate The non-thermostatic connector will work all the time as opposed to a viscous drive that only works when above a certain temperature. Its "purpose" is, likely, to maintain the distance relationship between the fan and radiator. The only gain from a viscous drive is a reduction in fan noise, and a fractional, mostly immeasurable gain in horsepower. I'd go with the direct-drive fan rather than take a chance on the fan taking a trip out through the radiator. One other alternative might be to machine up an aluminum adapter with a female to fit the water pump stub and a male to fit the replacement drive hole. Could probably make one less than one-inch thick - which should not affect fan/radiator spacing. You just need to buy a fan drive that has the correct bolt hole spacings for the water pump flange and the fan.....and the fan is no real problem since you could buy the correct fan for the drive is absolutely necessary. If you were nearby, I could probably knock out an adapter in a couple of hours on my lathe....... > N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article > <1159369404.175958.29150@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>... [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > If you were nearby, I could probably knock out an adapter in a couple of > hours on my lathe....... I've got a little issue with fan spacing as it is; this is a '63 MY engine in a '55 chassis, and the fan is oh-so-close to the fan shroud as it is. In fact, on hard cornering, the fan will hit the shroud, which is less than optimal, so I am trying to avoid spacing the fan even farther forward. (yes, I will attempt to rectify the issue rather than just keep driving it.) So the spacer/adapter idea won't work. I could just purchase the non-thermostatic replacement; it's not that expensive, I just like the reduced noise and as you say slightly less parasitic drag of the thermo unit. I'd prefer not to go with a solid fan; I'd be worried about over-revving the fan as I have the full pulley setup for the viscous drive fan which includes a smaller water pump pulley. I can't change to the solid-fan pulley without losing my A/C pulleys because both the alternator drive belt and the A/C drive belt go over the water pump, and A/C was not available without the viscous drive fan. this is why the only options seem to be a) find the one old guy that can rebuild these things b) use the non-thermostatic viscous drive or c) use a flex fan. nate N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article <1159384326.658546.231180@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>... > > N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article > > <1159369404.175958.29150@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>... [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > engine in a '55 chassis, and the fan is oh-so-close to the fan shroud > as it is. Just another thought.....Maybe you can find a viscous drive unit that is shallower than your current one - which might allow for the added thickness of the spacer? > N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article > <1159384326.658546.231180@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>... [quoted text clipped - 93 lines] > shallower than your current one - which might allow for the added thickness > of the spacer? Hmm, I like that idea. I know I've seen a spec sheet for various VD's online, it's worth looking into. I just assumed they were all pretty much the same depth, but "pretty much" and "exactly" aren't necessarily the same thing. Thanks! nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Nate Nagel <njnagel@flycast.net> wrote in article <eff4se0c66@news3.newsguy.com>... > > Just another thought.....Maybe you can find a viscous drive unit that is > > shallower than your current one - which might allow for the added thickness [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > nate Since your only concern now is matching the bolt pattern, you can "adjust" the size of the dowel on the adapter to anything that fits. * Wrote: > N8N <njnagel@hotmail.com> wrote in article > <1159369404.175958.29150@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>... [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > of > hours on my lathe....... I have a question. Have you ever driven a vehicle with a hydro fan that locked up? The ones I've driven felt like they were pulling a trailer above 2500 rpm or so. Those fans, with those acutely pitched blades, really don't wanna turn above 2000 rpm or so, and some are prone to failure (blade seperation, etc) if they do for prolonged periods...also I'd imagine it's gotta put a large amount of traction pulling outward against the pump bearing...don't know if that would reduce it's life or not, but seems like it could... I just realized, you were probably meaning in comparison to a solid fan that was made to run engine speed, sorry. I like the spacer idea, or turning the pump shaft down.... Signaturejeffcoslacker http://www.automotiveforums.com > > > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My > > > old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > nate What about just having the nose on the pump turned down a size.... I know that Jeep has the same issue. Some years of waterpumps have a different sized nose to fit different fans. Mike 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590 (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page) >>>>Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My >>>>old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > I know that Jeep has the same issue. Some years of waterpumps have a > different sized nose to fit different fans. It's a thought, and one that actually occurred to me, but it kinda gets rid of the ability to buy a water pump at the parts store in an emergency. Yes, you can still get Stude water pumps at Autozone, amazingly enough. nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel SignaturePlease Note New address daniels_sam@bellsouth.net > >> > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > nate The non-clutch I call a solid mount would pull air all the time. Worst consequence would be probably a non-noticeable drop in fuel mileage and slightly more cooling capacity and possibly a noticeable increase in noise--esp. if it has a shroud--kind of a roaring noise, but not so loud as the word 'roar' may portray. HTH,s >>>Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My >>>old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > nate I have a foggy memory of an article in either 'Cars and Parts' or 'Antique Automobile Restorer' from about 10 years ago where they did a feature on a little shop that rebuilds viscous clutches. Yes, I know that's not a real help... but there is at least HOPE. :-p >> > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? >> > My [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > one mfgr. that it is not possible to machine the hole larger without > compromising the flange and another wouldn't return my emails. From the old Dick Datson days, several people reported that there was a late seventies Cadillac that had the large hole like the Stude only it was about .005" too small. Never followed up on it myself. >>>>Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? >>>>My [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > .005" too small. > Never followed up on it myself. I know what you're talking about; I think I tried to get one of those and found that the Caddy part was NLA (at least through the aftermarket) as well. nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My > old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; > unfortunately there are no replacements available. I'd prefer not to have > to swap to a flex fan. Try this fellow, he doesn't specifically list Stude but might be able to fix you up: http://www.gate.net/~foliva/clutch.htm Is an electric fan out of the question? -phaeton > Is an electric fan out of the question? > > -phaeton Not entirely, but they ain't cheap, at least for ones that are rated for cooling engines of this size/power. nate >>Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs viscous fan drives? My >>old Stude has a thermostatic viscous drive that's a little wobbly; [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > http://www.gate.net/~foliva/clutch.htm Brilliant! I knew there had to be something like that available. I've dropped him a message and if he can do it I'll tell my Stude-loving buddies to stop throwing out their old busted fan clutches. thanks, Nate (whose Googling skillz are apparently inferior to John's.) Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
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