Fan cracked!!
 

I've read many times to beware of cracks on the fan blades. Mine looked and I actually thought it was a solid fan until I took it off yesterday. Strange construction that I don't believe I've witnessed before. It is an original two blade that has a crack close to the hub on the back side. I was going to just grind it and weld it back but I'm afraid that's the wrong route????

What's recommended today, are the aluminum two blades good to go from Snyders??? Thanks for advice or suggestions.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

I've had good luck welding all the cracks on the hub and then tacked the back edge of the pully too. I check them form time to time & all is well.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Yes, the two blades from Snyders and Bratton's are good. A lot of folks are using them.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Personally I would not weld on metal that is most likely fatigued from almost 90 years of use. Other hidden cracks could be lurking and could cause a major failure resulting in a lot of damage. The new aluminum fans are pretty decent and work well.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

How many new aluminum fans could you buy for the price of fixing and repainting the hood ?

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

A cracked blade is a real eye-opener isn't it !
I don't have a big issue with welding much of anything, but, for the price of a new blade,,,,,,, I'll stick on a new one.
Which I did recently only to find once the engine warmed the pulley and the pump housing started to argue with each other. The pump housing sometimes needs to be 'relieved'[ground] in some cases.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

I have had fan blade break while driving. Not a pretty thing under your hood.

Replaced with two blade aluminum, no problems since than.

I would just dump your old one in the trash.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

I've used one of Snyders original appearance , aluminum two blade fans since Snyder offered them in the late seventies . I've never had a problem with Snyders aluminum fan . I prefer the Snyders fan than an original steel fan that will eventually sling a blade . Many can't tell the difference between original and aluminum without a close inspection .

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

The problem with original fans is one of "rust" - well besides cracks.

Hold the blade between your fingers and feel if there is any "thickened" portions of the blade - a "bubble" if you will. What has happened is water/moisture gets between the two leaves and rusts - and rust occupies more space than the metal it came from. You're feeling the rust pocket.

THIS is why I would never try to repair a cracked fan - you're repairing something which is fatally flawed in its inception - and with 80 years of service to boot.

The last iteration of "airplane" type fan MIGHT be worth fixing as it is "single thickness" for 70 percent of its blade length, and what is doubled near the pulley is "seal welded" all the way around the perimeter.

Vince Falter calls the last fan iteration a "Model B" fan which is probably closest to fact as very few Model As were fitted with the better fan at the end.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/twobladedfans.htm

Joe K

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

I could see a real market for an original appearing fan made with a steel pulley to which a plastic blade is molded. The fan blades would flex to lower drag at higher speeds and unit would be less likely to be out of balance. If a blade did break off it would probably cause no damage.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

The problem with the original fan is its poor structural design and its low fatigue life. Anyone running an original fan is playing with a time bomb! Welding / brazing can further aggravate a fan's fatigue life.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Bob, you did a service to Model A owners still driving their cars with original style fan blades by posting that image of the hood damaged by a failed blade.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

I went ahead and ordered one from Snyders. No need taking the risk and those photos helped me decide. ;)

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

When I lost my fan blade, I was peaked out in second gear and about to shift to third. My broken fan blade took out my hood. Now my off balanced fan broke the water pump off from the block and the water pump's remains then went through the radiator. I wish that the hood was the only problem possible with a broken fan blade.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

As for the single thickness 2-blade fan, I had a NOS one. It ran on my Coupe and in less than 10,000 miles it cracked.

So I caution you all, "There is no original Model "A", "AA" or Model "B" 2-blade fan that is safe to run regardless of how good it looks, regardless of how much it was welded/brazed, and regardless of how much it was reinforced! Original fans are all time bombs!"

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Here’s another one from one of our club members just last year.

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Does anyone make/supply a 2-bladed original looking fan with plastic blades ? Or, is the 2-bladed aluminum fan from Bratton’s and Snyders the best option currently ?

Thanks - Jim

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Run the aluminum fans...I sure do not want to see the day come when more than a hood, radiator or water pump gets damaged by a broken original fan blade, or worse...if you know what I mean.

Pluck

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Some things are worth replacing

Re: Fan cracked!!
 

Put mine on this morning but haven't had a chance to run the engine. It turns easily by hand (doesn't seem to rub the water pump). We'll see what happens when I crank it.

It looks like they took an original and just made a mold from it. In the casting what looks like two pieces of metal on the rear of the blade. Has anyone else noticed this?