The Ford Barn

stickshift · 10-31-2023, 05:51 PM

My fan pulley hub needs new bushings. The car came with some spare parts and one of the parts was a complete fan/brass hub and pulley. The bushings looked good so I installed it. When I was adjusting the belt tension, I noticed that the brass surface of the pulley became dented...crumpled like paper. I removed the fan and saw that the metal was paper thin. When I pumped grease into the fitting, grease was oozing out of cracks I couldn't even see. I think someone may have turned this on a lathe. My steel fan pulley is crowned and the brass pulley perfectly flat. I hate to think what would have happened if this failed while driving. Long story-short...has anyone tried an electric fan on a "T"? I know mounting could be complicated with the exposed front of the radiator. It would probably take away a lot of "character" of the T, but solve some weak links in the mechanics.

redmodelt · 11-01-2023, 12:48 AM

Just buy a replacement fan pully that would be correct for your year with modern bearings installed. You will have to rivet on the blades for the early style.

A bones · 11-05-2023, 05:57 PM

Use the crowned pulley. It does what the flat pulley can't.
The flat pulley will allow the belt to walk fore and aft.
The desigh or the crowned pulley keeps belt centered on its path.

Dan McEachern · 11-06-2023, 12:14 PM

An electric fan would drain your battery pretty fast. Just replace the parts and move on.

stickshift · 11-06-2023, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan McEachern

An electric fan would drain your battery pretty fast. Just replace the parts and move on.

Makes sense, I'm overthinking again. I ordered a new pulley bushing set and I'll rebuild my original pulley and put fresh grease it it. It should probably outlast me. By the way, I did a cross-section of my brass pulley and it was so thin, I could have used it to gap my spark plugs. I'm not sure what went on there, but it's in the trash now.

15max · 11-06-2023, 06:40 PM

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That is so common on the brass hub pulleys. I cut a trans bushing in half and brazed it in place. Then machined it with the proper crown in it.
https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtop...rt=100#p289513
Buying a new one is much less work.
Rich

10-31-2023, 05:51 PM	#1
stickshift Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Grass Valley, Ca Posts: 247	Thin metal on fan pulley My fan pulley hub needs new bushings. The car came with some spare parts and one of the parts was a complete fan/brass hub and pulley. The bushings looked good so I installed it. When I was adjusting the belt tension, I noticed that the brass surface of the pulley became dented...crumpled like paper. I removed the fan and saw that the metal was paper thin. When I pumped grease into the fitting, grease was oozing out of cracks I couldn't even see. I think someone may have turned this on a lathe. My steel fan pulley is crowned and the brass pulley perfectly flat. I hate to think what would have happened if this failed while driving. Long story-short...has anyone tried an electric fan on a "T"? I know mounting could be complicated with the exposed front of the radiator. It would probably take away a lot of "character" of the T, but solve some weak links in the mechanics. __________________ Stickshift 1915 Model T touring 1931 Ford Model AA Flatbed Last edited by stickshift; 10-31-2023 at 10:54 PM.

11-01-2023, 12:48 AM	#2
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Thin metal on fan pulley Just buy a replacement fan pully that would be correct for your year with modern bearings installed. You will have to rivet on the blades for the early style. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

11-05-2023, 05:57 PM	#3
A bones Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: CLAYTON DE Posts: 1,283	Re: Thin metal on fan pulley Use the crowned pulley. It does what the flat pulley can't. The flat pulley will allow the belt to walk fore and aft. The desigh or the crowned pulley keeps belt centered on its path. __________________ Enjoy yer day. Tom Hate can't fix what it started.

11-06-2023, 12:14 PM	#4
Dan McEachern Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 194	Re: Thin metal on fan pulley An electric fan would drain your battery pretty fast. Just replace the parts and move on.

11-06-2023, 06:40 PM	#6
15max Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 327	Re: Thin metal on fan pulley Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That is so common on the brass hub pulleys. I cut a trans bushing in half and brazed it in place. Then machined it with the proper crown in it. https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtop...rt=100#p289513 Buying a new one is much less work. Rich