fan belt: how to replace
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fan belt: how to replace
just shredded the belt from the alternator to the fan on accident when doing some other work. going to replace it tomorrow. assuming rad and fan have to come off? anything special after that? i couldn't find any threads on taking the fan off but assume its all self explanatory once i'm in there....
Cargo Master
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From: California
No.
just put the belt on. You don't have to take the fan off. I'm not sure if you are referring to the radiator when you say "rad," but if you are, do NOT take your radiator out to replace a belt. You might need to unbolt the fan shroud but i'm 100% that's unnecessary too.
If I'm reading your post incorrectly, just feel free to elaborate. I've replaced belts on lots of vehicles and never had to remove the rad or fan to do it.
just put the belt on. You don't have to take the fan off. I'm not sure if you are referring to the radiator when you say "rad," but if you are, do NOT take your radiator out to replace a belt. You might need to unbolt the fan shroud but i'm 100% that's unnecessary too.
If I'm reading your post incorrectly, just feel free to elaborate. I've replaced belts on lots of vehicles and never had to remove the rad or fan to do it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Madison, WI
What year truck (and no, "it's in my sig" is not an answer)? Serpentine or V belt?
In either case, there's room between the fan and radiator to snake the belt on/off. Shroud can stay in place as well.
In either case, there's room between the fan and radiator to snake the belt on/off. Shroud can stay in place as well.
Logistics Pro
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Where are you seeing a sig? OP's signature area is blank.
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its an 85 e350 van. got the belt today. last night when i posted i didn't realize i was going to be able to fit it around the fan. thats great!
the old belt seemed to be tangled behind (side farthest from radiator) the fan pulley. i did my best to untangle it but am wondering if there is still some back there...because those pulley's aren't moving. i haven't installed the new fan/alt belt, but turned the van on to see if i had freed all of the old belt and the remaining belts just ran around the fan pulleys, which remained in place.
that mean i have to get those pulley's off somehow? got all but one of the nuts on the front of the pulley's off, hoping it would free them up, but the one is seized and i wasn't even sure that i was going to be able to do it with out some sort of puller? any thoughts? thanks so much!
the old belt seemed to be tangled behind (side farthest from radiator) the fan pulley. i did my best to untangle it but am wondering if there is still some back there...because those pulley's aren't moving. i haven't installed the new fan/alt belt, but turned the van on to see if i had freed all of the old belt and the remaining belts just ran around the fan pulleys, which remained in place.
that mean i have to get those pulley's off somehow? got all but one of the nuts on the front of the pulley's off, hoping it would free them up, but the one is seized and i wasn't even sure that i was going to be able to do it with out some sort of puller? any thoughts? thanks so much!
Cargo Master
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From: California
sounds like your fan clutch is shot.
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When you say 'spins freely,' there should be a little resistance in the fan. I can usually only count 2 or 3 fan blades before the fan comes to a stop. It should not spin on forever.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Mi'kma'ki
Engine cooling fan clutch test
"2. Before starting the engine, rotate the fan by hand. It should have some viscous drag, but it should turn smoothly during the full 360 degrees of rotation. The fan clutch should be replaced if it does not turn smoothly, or if it does not turn at all."
yours is likely costing you $ needlessly @ the pump mu2b.that and lost engine performance.run the complete test.it wont cost ya anything.see what ya find out.
if its time for a new clutch anyway,figure out the price diff to upgrade;
Electric Cooling Fans
yours is likely costing you $ needlessly @ the pump mu2b.that and lost engine performance.run the complete test.it wont cost ya anything.see what ya find out.
if its time for a new clutch anyway,figure out the price diff to upgrade;
Electric Cooling Fans
Cargo Master
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From: California
what he said. And what fordf250hdxlt said.
Junior User
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My fan does spin smoothly through full rotation but if I were to try to spin it like on the Price is Right with the engine off, it won't spin on forever. The drag you mention will slow it and eventually stop it within about 2-3 fan blades, depending on how fast I try to spin it. The electric fan upgrade does look good for when the time comes to replace the clutch. Should I expect to get more 'spin' out of it when I manually spin it?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: California
My fan does spin smoothly through full rotation but if I were to try to spin it like on the Price is Right with the engine off, it won't spin on forever. The drag you mention will slow it and eventually stop it within about 2-3 fan blades, depending on how fast I try to spin it. The electric fan upgrade does look good for when the time comes to replace the clutch. Should I expect to get more 'spin' out of it when I manually spin it?
A fan clutch replacement shouldn't be a crucial thing on your list unless you...
do a lot of towing
do a lot of hauling
need your A/C condenser to function well
live in a hot climate
or anything else that could put stress on the motor and therefore put stress on the radiator.
If you get some drag and it spins to a stop in one rotation, you are probably fine. If you are really freaked out though, just do the cardboard fan clutch test in your driveway. It takes forever, but at least then you'll know.
(and of course, the e-fan is definitely the way to go. no sense in losing HP or fuel economy from a functioning fan clutch.)
Lead Driver
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From: Madison, WI
Maybe I misread the thread, but I think the only time the OP couldn't turn the fan pulley was when part of the belt was still stuck in the pulley. And that was just the pulley, not the fan itself.
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mdpague that's correct. my situation was that the pulley's were jammed with some of the old belt. once i got the old belt out the pulley's moved again. seemed like other people had clutch questions though so i just let the thread roll on.
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