Fan Clutch Testing and Repair

[seerex]

great post guys , getting ready to remove my electric fans that are horrible , got a fan/clutch from ebay , now I know how to rebuild before installing , well let you know how it goes , thanks Jeff P.S. anyone have much luck with the fan shround from msa? in florida here need all the cooling help I can get

[Bambikiller240]

I found a web page that describes a fan clutch rebuild and it gives a specific product (w/ part number) to use for the fluid in the fan clutch.

Here's the Link to the Information

[ZmeFly]

Its from a toyota forum.

I dont see where though you got the oil would be thinned out by laquer thinner???

Its an old trick to add some life to worn or dried oring type gaskets to give them some life. You just give them a quick soak and clean in some laquer thinner.

I wouldnt be putting it in my oil for the clutch fan.

Most people that I know that have done the clutch fan rebuild usually use a 20/50 oil in the clutch fan.

If you could contact Nissan maybe they have a specific oil that goes in there? Who knows

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by ZmeFly

Its from a toyota forum.

I dont see where though you got the oil would be thinned out by laquer thinner???

Hi James:

I quote from the instructions previously posted "Refill back half with oil and a few cap-fulls of lacquer thinner".

I've also found on a Porsche forum a recommendation to use the same Toyota fluid for rebuilding 928 Fan clutches.

RENN List

For myself, I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and get something (Nissan or Toyota, or whatever brand) that was meant for the purpose, rather than trust me to mix up a home brew, that may or may not match the viscosity, and thermal charectoristics of the original fluid.

Just my $.02

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by Bambikiller240

I found a web page that describes a fan clutch rebuild and it gives a specific product (w/ part number) to use for the fluid in the fan clutch.

Here's the Link to the Information

The factory manual for my '78 mentions silicone oil, so the description in the link is consistent as well. Thanks for the link!

[ZmeFly]

I didnt notice that, it is from anothe forum, hes a good member and has posted several good how to's and tutorials. Thats something that I missed.

I surely wouldnt as I said before though put that in my oil irregaurdless.

[SteveK]

Just a question

Does the viscous coupling on the Z have the same bimetallic strip on as some fans or is a straight "dumb" coupling relying purely on the viscosity of the oil and not any form of temperature reaction

I have seen both used on differant vehicles thats all (non Zeds)

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by SteveK

Just a question

Does the viscous coupling on the Z have the same bimetallic strip on as some fans or is a straight "dumb" coupling relying purely on the viscosity of the oil and not any form of temperature reaction

I have seen both used on differant vehicles thats all (non Zeds)

It uses a bimetallic coil that opens and closes oil passages depending upon temperature.

[venom42]

The link provided says to use "50mL of 3000Cst. silicone fluid " to refill the clutch. Do they sell this stuff at autozone?

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by venom42

Do they sell this stuff at autozone?

I have not found any parts store that carries it. Use the part number provided and order it at your local Toyota Dealership.

[st0878]

I've been going through the same delima. I bought a Z afew months ago and the fan blade had about a 25% carve off I guess it came in contact with a radiator. I had a 75 parts car and I took the clutch and blade off and installed on the new Z. First of all the car ran like it just had an engine overhaul or something....fricken fantastic! And whole lot quieter because before it was making a sound that kinda made it sound like IRL car (I thought it was the muffler making the noise). Anyway, the car ran much better but I noticed that the temp guage creeping up on prolonged idles. So it turned out that the new clutch and fan that I put in was just the opposite in that it wasn't catching like it should. Even hot the fan spun freely. So I yanked it off again and did the 20/50 fill up (I didn't put the thinner) and I used a sythetic oil. I did this today but after a test drive the clutch still doesn't seem to be catching.

The clutch and fan are pretty cumbersome on the water pump and can reek havock should they sheer off. I was so impressed with the power and noise reduction that now I'm wondering if going electric is such a sin?

[venom42]

You can get electric fans off eBay for about the cost of a new fan clutch if I remember correctly.

I have a spare set of fans off my parts car for the Talon, wonder if one of them would fit? Would you wire them directly to the battery (they have a thermostat on them)? I just do not know if I want to go that route though. I wanted to try and keep her pretty close to orginal.