MTFCA Forum

Hello! I’ve noticed my fan belt is rubbing on my timer and has created a small groove. I know that part of the problem may be the belt, which I plan on replacing. But I’ve noticed there’s a slight wobble in the fan and shaft itself. I’d like to rebuild it so that it doesn’t have play and so that I know it’s good to go. Can someone help guide me with perhaps a parts list so I can buy them from langs? It’s a 24 coupe. Thank you all!

Photos please. There is a variety of fans, pulleys/shafts/mounting arms. The recommended fix will vary.

Allan from down under.

Allan wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:50 pm

Photos please. There is a variety of fans, pulleys/shafts/mounting arms. The recommended fix will vary.

Allan from down under.

I’ll get better photos tomorrow, but here’s the only one I have so far

A worn shaft, perhaps?
https://www.modeltford.com/item/3966B.aspx

Lots of parts here:
https://www.modeltford.com/pl.aspx?t=s& ... ley&page=1

Tim, play is usually due to wear in the pulley bushes and/or the shaft, both of which are available from the vendors. New bushes should not be a precision fit on a new shaft. There needs to be some clearance to allow oil to lubricate the bushes. The shaft is stepped so that it is screwed up firmly against this step when installed in the arm. If this locks or causes drag on the fan, then there needs to be some material removed from the thrust face on the bush to free it up. Do not be tempted to back the shaft off the step and rely on the castle nut to hold it in place as a locknut.

The water pump is a complication, and the belt may be too long. A standard fitment allows the fan arm to be lower, making the belt track further away from the timer housing.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

A shorter fan belt will help with the rubbing issue, as Allan states.

Now is a great time to check your fan blade for cracks. Flex each fan blade and look for cracks near the base of each blade. I would have sworn my blade was "good". I check it regulary. Having recently removed the radiator, I got a good look at it. Two blades were cracked 1/2 way through.

Your waterpump may also allow the belt to ride forward on the crank pulley. I would loosen the water pump pulley and adjust it on the waterpump shaft. Depending on where the crowns of the tensioner pulley and the WP pulley line up it might be in or out, moving the belt in from the outer edge of your crank pulley, helping keep the belt away from the communicator rod and TEMPORARILY help keep a worn tensioner pulley closer to the block.

Flame away now but I do have a waterpump ready to put out the fires!

Tim,
A little slop in your fan shaft and bushings may be OK, and as others have stated, too tight a fit is a problem, so you may or may not have an overly worn fan hub. Your issues appear to be self inflicted, your fan belt looks too long which is positioning your fan pulley and belt too close to the timer, caused by using an unnecessary water pump and belt aligner. The fan belt should be loose enough to allow the belt to slip and let you turn the fan blades by hand with just a little resistance (when the engine is not running). Water pumps need a tighter belt, something the T was not designed for. If you intend to run a water pump you might consider upgrading to a ball bearing fan hub so that you can keep your belt tighter.

That style fan is prone to cracking, as mentioned. The new ones available are the late style, not prone to losing a blade into the radiator.
They used to be $9.95 Powder coated ready to mount. Cheap insurance.

Secondly, look @ the pulley To insure it still has its crown in tact. That crown makes the belt want to track & stay in centered position.
You might consider a new ball bearing hub.

Thirdly, The stock brass bushings dont wear well with all the extra tension on the pulley to run a water agitator.

I have two 1913's. Both of them required a thin washer between the fan bracket and the front cover to allow the belt to track properly.

Is that a crack on the blade at 3 o'clock as you look at it from the front?

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:29 am

That style fan is prone to cracking, as mentioned...

They are all prone to cracking. My late style fan has 2 cracked blades. (New one on the way!)

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:05 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:29 am

That style fan is prone to cracking, as mentioned...

They are all prone to cracking. My late style fan has 2 cracked blades. (New one on the way!)

I cant say I have ever seen one of the new blades cracked. Good to know.

TimCarlson92 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:32 pm

Hello! I’ve noticed my fan belt is rubbing on my timer and has created a small groove. I know that part of the problem may be the belt, which I plan on replacing. But I’ve noticed there’s a slight wobble in the fan and shaft itself. I’d like to rebuild it so that it doesn’t have play and so that I know it’s good to go. Can someone help guide me with perhaps a parts list so I can buy them from langs? It’s a 24 coupe. Thank you all!

If you have a slight wobble in the fan and shaft, more than likely the fan wobble is cause by the pulley riding on the shaft.
Take it apart and inspect what's worn. The new bearing pulley is also an option. I have bearing that fit original pulley for a DIY
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Upgrade.....Ball bearing fan pulley?

Rather than consider the ball bearing fan hub an upgrade, in this application it has an upside. It will be more forgiving of the extra belt tension needed to run the waterpump.

Allan from down under.

Also, regarding fan belt tension, many times too much tension is used and that can cause undue wear on the bushings.

Same with water pump, if too much belt tension.

The long shaft of the pulley will be flexed and causes rapid wear of the shaft packings, resulting in leaks that deplete the cooling system.

The belt is to be tighten to a 5 lb. pull says Ford.

IMO, use two fingers, placed under a blade,* and pulling up with minor resistance to have the fan pulley slip on the belt.
That works to test tension.




*Engine off

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:27 pm

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:05 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:29 am

That style fan is prone to cracking, as mentioned...

They are all prone to cracking. My late style fan has 2 cracked blades. (New one on the way!)

I cant say I have ever seen one of the new blades cracked. Good to know.

I had to replace the fan on my '27 due to a cracked blade.