One of my Model T pals suggested rather strongly that I change out the original style fan on my mostly 1923 Runabout. His concern was that the originals were suspect and liable to throw a blade. I like the shape of the original, it reminds me of a pre WWI aeroplane propeller - very elegant!
After some thought I decided to enjoy the original fan as a wall hanging and install one of the new repops. Dave at Chaffin shipped out the new fan PDQ and it arrived beautifully made, ready to install resplendent in fresh black powdercoat. The fan is off the motor to work on timing issues but when it goes back together the new safer if less attractive fan will start its work.
We, myself included, complain about a lot of repop parts on this forum, but there are some things so nicely made they are worth letting other folks know.
Vintage Paul
Original - elegant but dangerous:
Here is the new one ready to install:
Comparison:
If you don't plan on doing parades, Paul, you don't need no steenking fan!
Paul,
The old style fan does o.k. as long as you check it for cracks periodically. But then, that's true for all styles of T fans, even the later style.
I agree that the new fans are excellent quality and also very reasonable. They also have a better pitch than your old style and should move more air.
You didn't mention it, but the fan on the left (the repro) looks identical to the fan on my '26 coupe.
Jim Patrick
Heres another type model T adjustable fan I found at Chickasha----Paul
Heres another type model T adjustable fan I found at Chickasha----Paul
Ralph - I have driven my car in very hot weather and done plenty of hill climbing and it never got more than just good and warmed up. Yesterday on an unseasonably pleasant August evening evening we ran the motor with no fan while experimenting with the timing and it rapidly got hot enough to steam & gurgle. Less than 10 minutes and it was all hot & bothered. I'll keep the fan in service!
Jerry - When I first got this car I spent a long time with Bondo & sandpaper filling in all of the rust pits. Perhaps it has other damage that I covered up and painted over. It has been good so far but it seemed safer to just install the new one and dismiss that particular worry.
Vintage Paul
Paul,
Agreed!
Yes, mine gets hot in five minutes stationary, too.
Like the doctor told the guy who complained that it hurt when he hit himself with a hammer, "Don't do that."
Interesting subject Paul, Your original fan is of a two-piece design, isn't it? Two piece just like the repop of the later '24-'27 design Dave sent you? So, your concern is over age brittleness and metal cracking to the point of releasing while under centrifugal force? Someone correct me if I'm wrong (and I know you're gonna) but I thought blade releasing worries were only from the 16 rivet -4 rivets per blade - early design fan. This actually happened to me with the '14 runabout and a new Brass Works top tank. But the failure occurred when 4 rivets let go
George,
It is a problem with all T fan designs. I have replaced cracked examples of Paul's original blade and of the later style. They didn't actually break away, but only because I periodically inspect them and didn't let it go that far.
Heres an aftermarket adjustable fan---found it at Chickasha but never mounted it...Paul
/image{fan}
sorry--try that photo, again
I took this out of the junk pile for the photo.
Model A fan blades aren't exempt from cracking either......typically at the sides where the steel was rolled over to stiffen the blades.
Any fan blade can fail. A friend of mine had a very nice '52 Chevy that let loose a blade and left a nice slit in the hood. Dave