Fan clutch help
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Fan clutch help
I took my truck out wheelin over the weekend, and I'm pretty sure I messed up my fan clutch when I got into some mud that was quite a bit deeper than expected. Now there's just a light squeal when the fan kicks on, but I suppose I've been looking for an excuse to work on something anyways. My question is, does anyone make a selectable fan clutch so that I can turn it off when I got off roading, or should I just look into removing the fan completely and going electric? This truck is going to end up as a full time wheeler soon, so it's definitely going to see similar situations. I don't mind working on things, but I don't like replacing the same parts over and over again. Any ideas?
Post Fiend
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From: Texas Coast
Postmaster
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From: Levittown
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
If you are running at speeds under 20 MPH in hot weather for exrended time periods, no fan is not an option.,
If you run the AC at speeds under 25 or 30 MPH in hot weather, again no fan is not an option.
High engine loads at slow speeds, even in the winter can result in high coolant temps with no fan.
I tried two of the biggest fans Flex Lite has, and they did the cooling job just fine on my 6.9 turbo.
But they also only lasted a year or so at best.
The Horton EC450 looks like the best of both worlds.
It uses an AC type electromagnet clutch to send power to the fan blades from the belts.
So you have the capacity of the stock fan when locked, and no power drain at all when unlocked.
Also while I was experimenting with electrics with the stock fan removed, I was averaging about 1 to 2.5 MPG increase and a bit more power with the fan drag on the engine eliminated.
But that best of both worlds does have a price, here locally the best price I can get one at is slightly over 700 dollars.
If you run the AC at speeds under 25 or 30 MPH in hot weather, again no fan is not an option.
High engine loads at slow speeds, even in the winter can result in high coolant temps with no fan.
I tried two of the biggest fans Flex Lite has, and they did the cooling job just fine on my 6.9 turbo.
But they also only lasted a year or so at best.
The Horton EC450 looks like the best of both worlds.
It uses an AC type electromagnet clutch to send power to the fan blades from the belts.
So you have the capacity of the stock fan when locked, and no power drain at all when unlocked.
Also while I was experimenting with electrics with the stock fan removed, I was averaging about 1 to 2.5 MPG increase and a bit more power with the fan drag on the engine eliminated.
But that best of both worlds does have a price, here locally the best price I can get one at is slightly over 700 dollars.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Texas
You are right. No fan is not an option, especially if you want the ac working right. Without it really high pressures happen on the high side and with a proper charge above 80 degrees outside it will blow the relief valve in it.
The electric horton will actually pull more air than a stock one. It locks solid. Even the best thermostatic oil filled type will never fully lock. An air type horton is the best option though. Electrics wear out too easy and are expensive to rebuild. Air clutches are much much cheaper to rebuild. Easy too. You don't need much of an air compressor for them but you will need a tank. I'm working on this now on my 94.
The electric horton will actually pull more air than a stock one. It locks solid. Even the best thermostatic oil filled type will never fully lock. An air type horton is the best option though. Electrics wear out too easy and are expensive to rebuild. Air clutches are much much cheaper to rebuild. Easy too. You don't need much of an air compressor for them but you will need a tank. I'm working on this now on my 94.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
RRranch,
If you get an air setup to work, I would be very interested in a parts list.
Back in my big truck days we had our Hortons set up with a double throw switch so you had manual locked, manual off and automatic operation.
Just took a little wiring between the stock temp sensor and the electric over air solenoid valve.
Sometimes letting the engine get 10 or 15 degrees hotter than the stock switch setting made the difference in dropping a gear or not on smaller hills.
If you get an air setup to work, I would be very interested in a parts list.
Back in my big truck days we had our Hortons set up with a double throw switch so you had manual locked, manual off and automatic operation.
Just took a little wiring between the stock temp sensor and the electric over air solenoid valve.
Sometimes letting the engine get 10 or 15 degrees hotter than the stock switch setting made the difference in dropping a gear or not on smaller hills.
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