Eight Blade fan on 1486?

Larry B 1486 · Feb 19, 2010

Getting ready to pull the radiator off my 1486 and have it cleaned out at a radiator shop. In the summer when temps get around 95 - 100 degs it runns close to the red with a load and around half way on the temp guage runnin with out a load. This is running with the AC on. It has a 6 blade fan on it now but one mechanic told me to go to a 8 blade fan. Looked in books but can not find a 8 blade. Do they make one for a 1486 and will it make that much difference?

Wardner · Feb 19, 2010

This is what you might call an empiracle question. More blades are not necessarily better. It would have to be tested.

Some time during the '50s, automotive cooling fans started to be made with staggered blades. The uneven air pulses were an improvement.

One should also consider that most airplane props and windmill generators are three bladed. Don't ask me why water pumping windmills and Turbo Prop-Jets have more. I dunno.

the tractor vet · Feb 20, 2010

If the rad checks out good with proper flow then i would be looking at several other things that would cause it ti warm up. Fist i would check the horse power and see just how far up she is above stock setting and pump timing . then also i would install a manual gauge of good quality and check against that . also i would watch for any coolant loss that might be a tell tail sign of compression getting into the cooling system under load . Might be even leaking injector cups or a cracked cup . there are a lot of things that could cause this but ya got a starting point.

Bob · Feb 20, 2010

Also, check the crankshaft and waterpump pulleys for excessive wear that would cause the fanbelt to "bottom out" and slip.

mkirsch · Feb 20, 2010

Wardner,

Airplane props have three blades because the engine has more horsepower than two blades can effectively use without making it too long. The airplane would end up with tall spindly landing gear that would collapse easily on a hard landing. Turboprops have even more horsepower so they need even more blades to soak it up.

When you're talking propellers, ONE blade is most efficient, but it's really long, looks really stupid, and is tough to balance.

So you're right, more blades on a fan isn't better. It's actually less efficient, and when you get too many blades, it actually starts working against you.

Eight Blade fan on 1486?

Larry B 1486

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Wardner

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the tractor vet

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Bob

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mkirsch

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