RE: HELP - Radiator Fan croaks..

[Colin <cwass99@home.com>]

     I can't say I've looked at a lot of 'Rocco fans, but I know a bit about
electric motors.  Basically, the most common reason they cook is excessive
current through the windings which causes excessive heat which toasts the
bearings to a lovely charcoal black.  If the fuse isn't substantially above
where it should be (fuse replaced with 20 amp fuse or bits of tin
foil, etc) and it isn't popping, then the fan motors were probably shorted
somewhere in the windings before you ever started.  Having rewound electric
motors (AC ones, but the theory is the same) I know that you don't have to
screw  up by too much to end up with an electric heater instead of spinning
armatures.
     I'd take a look at fuses and such and a very long hard look at whoever
supplied the fans.  Even if the source is a respected and normally reliable
supplier, you need to know where the fans actually came from.  Sometimes even
good suppliers accidently end up sith substandard components, expecially
rebuilt bits.
     Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Colin


On 16-Nov-01 Cory Langford wrote:
> 
> Well I have the stranged problem and I am hoping someone can give me
> some advice (besides shoot the car)
> 
> 
> My problem is the old '82 beater (which I still need for the rest of the
> winter) is literally eating radiator fans.  I just lost the 4th fan this
> morning on the way to work (luckly enough the last fan I put in was a
> dual speed, so I swapped from lowspeed to the highspeed cct and it works
> again - for a while).
> 
> I can't have that much back luck to go through 4 fans in anout as many
> months.
> 
> The car has the stock 1.7 engine in it.  The thermo switch works fine,
> goes on when it needs to stays on when engine is off, and goes off when
> cool.  The cooling system runs right dead center on the little light all
> the time (until the fan dies).  So while the fans work, everything is
> great.  But one day they make a little "clunking" noise and then they
> quit.
> 
> When I pull them they all seem to have the same problem. When you try to
> turn the fans by hand they are very stiff (hard to turn) and they sound
> like they are grinding inside.  I assume the bearings in the fan are
> getting cooked and then the windings end up burning out when the fan
> takes too much toque to turn.
> 
> Question is:  Anyone know what can consistatnly cook an electric
> radiator fan bearing?  Or any other suggetsions?
> 
> I am running out of rad fans. Only one left in the garage so I would
> like to have that one last until spring atleast :)
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cory Langford
> '86 2L Oettinger Turbo Project
> '82 beater driver
> 
> --
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