Shattering Fan Blades - myth or ?

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Flintlockshooter

Junior Member
I'm new to the Model A world and hobby ( another word for money sink, as if I needed another one - grin ) and have been trying to read all I can.
I read about the dangers of fan blades that come apart, which I suppose/certainly has happened before.
I see in catalogs a aluminum replacement, but also saw on the MAFCA site Q&A a comment that they "aren't very good"
What started this was my looking at my fan blade after reading all that and seeing a rusty line on it, which I can feel with my finger. So now I have the horrors about starting it up and bang there it goes. Could I get your expert been there done that comments on a replacement?
 
I have personally seen 2 fans that have failed with one going through the top of the hood. It is a real danger. If you have an original steel 2 blade fan that is 80 plus years old it is a failure point on your car that can cause real damage. I have also personally installed at least a dozen of the new 2 blade aluminum fans and while there may have been early problems I have had no issues with them. They are all manufactured for Snyder's which he sells to all the other dealers.
 
I like the 6-blade plastic fan. Of course it doesn't look at all original, but then neither do my alternator, oil filter, seat belts, or turn signals. It just depends on what you want your A to be like. If you want a show car, you don't want any of the above stuff.
 
No myth! It cost me a $1,000 to repair the damage from an original that flew apart. Fortunately, I was in the driver's seat at the time and not walking around the engine or with my head under the hood.
 
I've run an aluminum 2 blade fan since 1988 without issue. I put in on after losing two original fan blades on one trip, one going and then the spare coming home.
 
Yes fan blades can and will come apart.
I believe you will find instances of every type of fan blade causing problems. From poor fit, to flying apart.

The originals will let you know if they are unhappy if you pay attention.
First you must take the fan down to bare metal. It must not be swollen and the blades must be properly inline (this is written up else where). You must look close for the starts of any cracks. Other then very light surface rust they must be clean.
Do NOT trust a restored fan. You MUST only trust a fan you have taken to bare metal and inspected. I say this because I know of a Professionally restored car with a 'restored' fan the came apart. The fan was rust pitted and filled to look smooth, the fan should have been trashed by the professional restorer. I have personally thrown away fans in similar condition as being unsafe and useless.

The fan must be lightly painted. Any thick finish coats will hide the signs of cracks starting.

A well selected original fan will work fine and last a long time for the person who understands what they are doing.

The currently available aluminum fans are supposed to be good. With the correct taper for a proper fit. As I recall some early production fans had quality issues. I believe you also will want to check the balance of the fan.
The rule of thin paint and regular inspection still applies to the aluminum fan.
 
There is good reason to be cautious with an original fan, the design of the first version is somewhat hollow and can internally rust and is prone to cracks near the hub, the late 31 design is better, the blade ends are 1 layer and made of thicker metal, they can still crack usually near the weld seam near the hub.
I am not afraid of mine, I bought the later version NOS and figure I have a lot of miles to use in it, but I still look close for the beginnings of cracks

To me the repro alum ones are ugly, there have been some problems with the machining for the waterpump shaft, and with machining of the shaft itself , I can't comment on the quality of the current repros, my parts buying strategy is --first-nos, then quality used/quality aftermarket nors (name brand parts made in the 30s, 40s)many of the repro parts are in a class of parts Ford called "GYP"parts although the better parts dealers are trying to fix the problems and are making some good parts

Once properly restored to original tolerances the model A is very reliable and will need little for many years and miles, and will be a joy to drive.
 
Flintlockshooter,

I'm giving you a heads up on the urgency here....
If you have a rusty line on your fan it has already failed.. and could potentially fail on the next drive or two. I would immediately replace it with one of the aluminum fans that are currently available.... or as Kevin said Restore an original one correctly.. which includes bead blasting, fixing cracks properly ( tig welding) and welding up the natural seam at the hubs as insurance. Just know.. that like having insurance... accidents do happen at any time with originals!

The older aluminum fans had some issues.. the new current ones seem to be good. Other than a little variation in appearance from the original for us purist... they performe and fit well these days. I have installed at least 25 or so in the last couple of years on various cars and all are doing well or I would hear about it.

Especially when traveling on trips.. I always bring an inspection mirror and make inspecting my fan a daily ritual.... just to make sure.
Install a new aluminum 2-blade and you can not worry.

Larry Shepard
 
I have a fan with a small crack in it. Don't use it of course. I'm tempted to destroy it simply because of the safety factor. As long as it exists there is the potential for the unknowing to put this on their Model A and drive off into the sunset - or beyond.

Sort of like the Civil War era gun picked up by Great-Great-Granpaw that hangs over the mantlepiece in someone's study. One wonders if it might be still loaded.

This has happened a lot.

I think like the gun, I keep the fan around simply because its the only original fan I have - and it was on the Ford when I bought it.

Still...

Joe K
 
See my thread of 12 days ago. Mar 31 2013. This is definitely no a myth and happens on four blade fans as well.

Don't take a chance. you will be sorry. Good advice on the aluminum two blade fan. I am personally going with a plastic six blade fan because I have cooling problems at higher speeds.

Dick
 
All the aluminum fans that I've checked for straightness and balance over the past 3 years have checked out excellent. I'm still running my original 2 blade fan, but my first choice for a replacement would be a new aluminum fan.
 
If you're not showing the car in national judging put a 6 blade plastic fan on it. The blades won't break off, and if for some reason the hub seperates the blades won't do as much damage as a metal blade would.
 
BudP said:
No myth! It cost me a $1,000 to repair the damage from an original that flew apart. Fortunately, I was in the driver's seat at the time and not walking around the engine or with my head under the hood.
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Would that be something your antique insurance would pay to have fixed?
 
I just repaired & repainted 2 0f the 4 sections of the Hood on my friends 31 Slant Window, because the original Fan Blade came apart and bounced around ,Luckily it did'nt hit the Radiator.make sure the Waterpump Nut is secure and not allowing a WoBbLe
 
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The early aluminum fans were junk. I have a great example here in my shop. They were poured with an incorrect taper and required shims which never fit properly. The new ones from Snyders are great, have never had a problem with one and put them on over a dozen cars.
 
TinCup said:
I have personally seen 2 fans that have failed ... I have also personally installed at least a dozen of the new 2 blade aluminum fans and while there may have been early problems I have had no issues with them. They are all manufactured for Snyder's which he sells to all the other dealers.
Click to expand...

I have had two let go myself (one while waiting "for time" to install) luckely very little hhod damgage but total distruction to two radiators and two water pumps.

It's your car do as you wish.
 
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