trexterra Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 So I replaced the fan clutch when I did the T-belt job because I was told that you shouldn't be able to stop the fan while the motor was running and it was up to temperature. Basically if it is supposed to be spinning it shouldn't stop spinning. I made a video to show what's happening even after the new fan clutch. I knew I should have just gone E-fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Are you sure it's up to temperature? The clutch itself has to hit a certain temp to lock up the fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trexterra Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 I am fairly certain, before the swap I drove it the 20 miles to the shop and it was happening then. I guess i'll try again tomorrow after my work commute and see if it's locking up. I don't have an infrared or anything to try and measure temps, just the temp gauge on my dash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 When you first start the engine, even when cold the fan should be spinning like crazy, if you rev the engine you should hear that the fan is moving some air, you can't not tell it is working. If it is not spinning fast when the engine is hot or if it looks like it's just kind of turning than the new fan clutch is bad. Take it back if you can and get another one. It's not unusual these days for a new part to be bad out of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I generally go by two factors. How much can I freewheel it cold (about 1/2 spin, the less the better generally) and does the engine temp rise when slow or stopped. Both generally indicate poor fan performance. That one doesn't seem to work at all... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 That looks completely failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Since I replaced my fan clutch, the temp gauge never goes above a 1/4, mid 90's down here, AC on, in traffic, always stays in the same place. And as I said you can definitely hear the fan is engaged when it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trexterra Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 yeah I don't ever notice the temp gauge going up past about 1/2 here in Alabama but it just doesn't seem to be doing very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Looks like a failed clutch to me. Aftermarket fan clutches are mostly junk. I got tired of them failing and just went E-fan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trexterra Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 yeah I think i'm going to have to go that route after all... I just don't have time for a while to do any playing with toys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 just try another fan clutch first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 You may be able to get a junkyard one from like an Xterra and that should work. Any VG clutch should work really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreus009 Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Yeah. Fan clutch replacement is a lot simpler than going E-fan. BTW, where is your fan shroud? Do you normally run without it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trexterra Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Ok so today after my commute instead of popping the hood right when I got home I let it sit and idle with the AC going for a few minutes. I saw the temp rise just slightly but it staid fairly constant. Took a towel and tried to stop it again and this time it was working correctly. Problem avoided. Just had to go about troubleshooting a different way instead of believing everything a mechanic says. Yeah. Fan clutch replacement is a lot simpler than going E-fan. BTW, where is your fan shroud? Do you normally run without it? Yeah that got ripped off about 4 months ago and been doing fine without it. Might be different wheeling but I get around town/traffic just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 It'll work even better with the fan shroud in place. Good to hear the fan clutch is a non issue though... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 I ran my '87 for almost a year without a shroud. It never overheated but it did run a little cooler with a shroud on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 The shrouds on these trucks are surprisingly weak and break very easily. I didn't believe it at first until I broke mine taking it out. They seem very flexible but yet they're not as tough as they seem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trexterra Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 The shrouds on these trucks are surprisingly weak and break very easily. I didn't believe it at first until I broke mine taking it out. They seem very flexible but yet they're not as tough as they seem. exactly, after the body lift it didn't fit right and when I hit a bump the fan started chopping away at it so I had to pull over on the side of the road and yank it out in a gas station parking lot. I broke the bottom out of frustration and lack of tools to get it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 The shrouds on these trucks are surprisingly weak and break very easily. I didn't believe it at first until I broke mine taking it out. They seem very flexible but yet they're not as tough as they seem. Not from my experience. I've removed/installed them on 3 WD21s and 2 Rr50s drivers plus many from the junkyard and never had one break in any way. Not an issue... If you lift, you should remove the bottom 1/3 piece that is designed to come off for clearance. It will cool well enough but leave the rest of the shroud to help with cooling and for general safety, it succeeds with both. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 They will differ! The shroud is like some of the plastic in the interior. It's decent until it stays on a hot radiator for quite some time. The shrouds seem to lose their plastic bonding and turn brittle from heat. Mine was weird where it was like a cracker on one side and reasonably flexible and strong on another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 The shroud that was on my 87 hardbody, which I owned from brand new for 14 years, and it lived thru NY winters and summers, mud, pressure washing at the car wash, body lift, etc, was in as good condition when I got rid of the truck as it was when I picked it up new, no problem at all with the plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 There may have been more than one supplier or at some point in the 90s they may have updated the formula in the mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 How about no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 maybe the pollution in Jersey eats the plastic??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 A well known member (and vendor) here, Mr510, actually had his shroud break apart and he is on the other coast. I have no idea what is up with these shrouds now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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