Fan blade breakage update and further question

Zachary Hoyt · Jul 18, 2013

I put the Allis Chalmers fan on the Massey 35 and it ran fine for about 5 hours of raking hay and then broke a blade off that fan too. I am thinking that it is time to replace the radiator, fan and water pump and that should address the problem. Is there anything that could cause fan blades to break that would not be dealt with by replacing all of these parts? I am thinking that maybe the radiator being blocked and the water pump having a slight amount of play are working together to fatigue the fan blades. Any advice will be much appreciated.
Zach

casecollectorsc · Jul 18, 2013

A bearing going bad may set up a vibration that would cause the blades to resonate and fail.

jon f mn · Jul 18, 2013

Does that engine have a harmonic balancer? A rubber mounted pulley on the crank? If so they can go bad and that could cause a vibration that would do that. Also check to be sure the crank hasn't been bent somehow. Just look at the pulley while the engine is running real slow to see if it is turning smooth.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 18, 2013

Chopped air excitation from a radiator that is partially blocked on one side or out of round pulleys or worn pulley 'V' groove on one side. More guesses but something to consider.

D beatty · Jul 18, 2013

I think you have pretty much answered your own question. By putting a new radiator or having old one boiled out should solve heating problem ( would not hurt to flush out block). By replacing pump you will have new bearings and the inside of a new water pump should give you better water flow.Also I would look for a new after market fan you don't want to put a old fan through a new radiator.

Rick Kr · Jul 18, 2013

Thinking out loud...

I would replace the water pump and possibly the pulley, and then see if the fan quits breaking. You may have to clean the current radiator to make sure you are getting good uniform air flow.

I would hate to see you replace the radiator too, then put another broken fan through a new radiator.

If the air is that choppy through the rad, I guess you may have to replace everything at once.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Jul 18, 2013

Could be bad luck in replacing one bad part, with another. Sounds like you learned your lesson, there. Nothing wrong with a rebuilt or recored radiator, as long as you have a guarantee from the rebuilder. Some days you're the bug, somedays, the windshield.

Hay hay hay · Jul 18, 2013

I was thinking about your post the other day as I tried to figure out what was causing a serious breakage in my baler. Why? Because so many times on this forum somebodies total reply is "buy a manual". I bet your manual does not say much about "breaking fan blades" and mine certainly does not mention the problem I am having.

Hope you can find the root cause soon. I also hope the folks on this forum have an idea how to help you besides.."buy a manual".

MarkB_MI · Jul 18, 2013

I'm guessing the water pump shaft is bent. I don't know what would cause that, but that would certainly set up an oscillation and would explain why blades broke on opposite sides.

504-1 · Jul 18, 2013

It just about has to be the water pump shaft or bearing. I did have a bent pulley on a car once, I went through two water pumps it two weeks.

Janicholson · Jul 19, 2013

Running the Water pump with an electric motor will let you hear and see bad reality. Leave the fan off for now. Jim

Fan blade breakage update and further question

Zachary Hoyt

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casecollectorsc

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jon f mn

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Anonymous-0

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D beatty

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Rick Kr

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Anonymous-0

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Hay hay hay

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MarkB_MI

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504-1

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Janicholson

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