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Fan Blade Tried To Escape

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by SoFla8300, Jun 10, 2021.

  1. Jun 10, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    I can say that I've never had this happen with the many vehicles I have owned over the years.

    The fan:

    Fan Blade Missing Resized.jpg

    The damage under the hood:

    Inside Hood Damage Resized.jpg

    Damage from the top, looks like repairs have been done by some PO:

    Outside Hood Damage Resized.jpg

    The culprit:

    Fanblade Fracture Resized.jpg

    From what I can tell the blade had a crack in it at some point and it was just tired of holding on by the two edges. I can see rust in the fracture through most of the middle so it looks to have been hanging on to the sides where you can see clean metal where it broke.

    Anybody have a stock '73 4 blade fan they would like to part with? (No pun intended)

    As far as the hood goes, do you guys think the damage can be repaired with body shaping tools or is it too stretched out and would need to be welded with a patch?

    Just wanted to share the pain with people that understand.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2021
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  2. Jun 10, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Many years ago someone posted a pic of a fan blade sticking up *through* a hood. There's a lot of energy in those things at speed, not worth the risk of re-using one that's been dinged in any way at all.
     
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  3. Jun 10, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    It was a shocking amount of energy and very loud.

    After re-reading my post the question about the fix is for the hood, no way I would try to fix that missile. I'll edit the post to reflect that.
     
    Steve Wilkerson likes this.
  4. Jun 10, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    In Germany I met a man who'd just put a fan blade through his radiator on the Autobahn. The steam meant he suddenly couldn't see anything, at over 100mph.

    If the hood dent stretching is problematic, the metal can be "heat-shrunk."
     
  5. Jun 10, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    That could throw you off your game at 100+ :shock:

    I watched a guy heat shrink on a flat fender once on some video, heat wet rags heat again. Not sure I'm that talented but it would be worth a try.
     
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  6. Jun 10, 2021
    Rodney

    Rodney Member

    Sierra Foothills
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    I had a fan blade come off a 671 Detroit Diesel in a 32Ft bus. It went right through the radiator in the town of Tyler Tx. Heading from San Diego to Daytona Fl. Of course it happened on a Sunday afternoon.
     
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  7. Jun 10, 2021
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    The reason why you always stand off to the side of a running engine while in the vicinity.
    Never ever lean in over the front of the engine.
     
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  8. Jun 11, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    Always on Sunday and after closing. Know that too well.

    Essentially it had a little less than 180 degree arc of hitting asphalt or wheel well but it let go directly into the hood. I guess sometimes its just the way the it rolls.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2021
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  9. Jun 11, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    The blade stayed in plane with the fan. Came off, stopped by the hood and fell to the ground. There is no damage to the radiator at all.

    The one thing I considered was standing to the side checking timing with a light. Tough not to be inline somewhere with the fan, or close to it anyway.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2021
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  10. Jun 11, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    So just break off another blade on the opposite side, and carry on.
     
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  11. Jun 11, 2021
    Rodney

    Rodney Member

    Sierra Foothills
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    The Bus was mid engine laying on it's side. with the Radiator mounted at about a 45% angle. So when the fan blade went up it went right into the radiator.
     
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  12. Jun 12, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    X2!
     
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  13. Jun 13, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

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    Now that's the forward looking approach I can sink my teeth into! Well said.
     
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  14. Jun 13, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    An old Chevy work van had a Stainless Flex-a-Lite fan we installed when the truck was new. About 10 years later, we noticed the engine had a little shake at idle. The fan was missing two blades. When we removed it, all the remaining blades had serious stress cracks. No damage was found from the wayward blades.
    -Donny
     
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  15. Jun 14, 2021
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Mass liberation event.. In the turbine world that's a really bad day..
     
  16. Jun 14, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    It would have been nice if it didn't use my hood as a containment ring though.
     
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  17. Jun 14, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    I need some technical help now. Sourcing a 4 blade fan hasn't proven as easy as I expected and the 7 blade fan appears to be more accessible but the bolt pattern seems very different. Looking at the TSM, the 1973 CJ5 was available in a 4 and a 7 blade configuration, if I am reading it correctly.

    73 TSM Highlighted resized.jpg



    If I remove the 4 blade fan, and I am assuming the spacer as well, will I be able to bolt on a 7 blade fan? Is that a good idea?

    I don't have a shroud and both say "no" in the fold which is hard to read in my photo.
     
  18. Jun 21, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    For anyone that may want to know how it looks, here is the fan removed. Kind of scary thinking about how long it was like this on those two blades. If anyone has any ideas how to source another 4 blade 4 bolt fan it would be greatly appreciated. The closest Jeep restorer to me still hasn't got back to me.

    The back:

    Fan Front Resized.jpg

    The front:

    Fan Back Resized.jpg
     
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  19. Jun 21, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Speedway motors sells them brand new.
     
  20. Jun 21, 2021
    SoFla8300

    SoFla8300 Member

    South Florida
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    Kyle, thank you sir. I will look into it right away. Google searches have been coming up empty except one used one on ebay.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2021
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