Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) cooling fan

[sleon]

Hello:



Anyone know of a reason for fan to come apart. ends of three out of seven blades broke off. tore up the shroud pretty bad but saved hitting the radiator. Perhaps metal fatigue? 410,000 miles on 1994.

 

[Nyoest]

Are your engine mounts good? Only thing I can think of is the engine rocking up into the shroud. Either that or a gsk gone haywire

 

[GAmes]

Have you been using a sheet of cardbourd or something to block airflow during the winter? Still using my original fan, but I do check for cracks around the rivets every now and then.

 

[RMidgett]

Fatigue is the only thing I'm aware of. . lost a blade on mine two years ago. . same as you. . sliced the shroud but not the radiator. The blades on mine are aluminum, considering the centrifugal force on them and the number of turns in 400k+ miles. . not surprised it comes apart.

 

[RMidgett]

Meant to also say I have 281k on a 1996; probably had 250+ on it when the blade broke.

 

[sleon]

Thanks for replies:



This item is fairly hard to find. You would think it would be easy. Dealer wanted $257. 00 and a week to deliver. Found it on internet for $56. oo +$20. 00 for fed-ex overnite. Should have it today. Oh and that is brand new not recycle. Dodgetruckparts.net. There are about six trucks and six different fans in 1994. Why cant' they design them alike? Seems simple to me,but what do I know.



sleon

 

[RMidgett]

Thanks for the reply & link. . ordering now.

 

[sleon]

Hello All



Fed-ex brought the fan and it took all of 10 minutes to install, considering the shroud was cut in half at the top. Bolted the shroud together with a piece of heavy metal 18" by 1. 5" Super strong but will be getting a new shroud soon. Luckily I had a 1 7/8 end wrench, thats all it took.



sleon

 

[GAmes]

Perhaps you could do a varianceof this mod.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ission-discussions/197499-fan-shroud-mod.html

 

[Extreme1]

There was a problem with the '94 fans. I tried to buy a new clutch for mine many years ago and Dodge would only sell a clutch with a new fan. NAPA has the clutches but they don't freewheel (or lock up) like my Dodge unit did.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

I've also found that if the fan clutch is bad and locked up, the fan blade spins faster than it is rated for and will eventually come apart. Same is true if you remove the clutch and install a "fan clutch eliminator".

I've used the NAPA fan clutch and have to replace it every 2-3 years (~12,000 miles) (free replacement but I still have to do the work).

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Perhaps you could do a varianceof this mod.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ission-discussions/197499-fan-shroud-mod.html

I know that it's like comparing apples to dumptrucks, but my '93 D-250 (RIP) fan shroud cracked dead center in the bottom and made it very easy to remove it without pulling the fan assembly. I cut the bottom of the shroud in my '92 w-350 (shortly after buying it) in the EXACT same location and it has more than proven itself for ease of access!!



I haven't had a broken blade yet (knock on wood), but it will be pretty easy to change since the mod that is similar to the above link.



PS to the OP: Glad to hear that you got it going again!

 

[K.L.Schumacher]

I was experiencing some vibration issues at idle and after reading about the harmonic balancer was prepared for the worst. I was surprised to see that the problem turned out to be a missing fan blade. It had cracked across 1 blade and disappeared. Luckily no damage to shroud or rad. Ordering 1 from dodgetruckparts . Delivered to Sumas Washington 70. 00$. Cant beat that.

 

[GAmes]

I was experiencing some vibration issues at idle and after reading about the harmonic balancer was prepared for the worst.

For the record, it is not a harmonic balancer. It is a damper.

 

[K.L.Schumacher]

Maybe its an elastomeric type balancer. Google harmonic balancer and see what you get. I have been calling them harmonic balancers for close to 45 years. vibration or harmonic ,Same thing on the front of the motor. Don't be so damn picky. K. L. S.