Original steel fan blade dangers

[Mitch]

Many folks in the hobby are unaware of the danger that lurks when running an original style 2 or 4 blade fan. If your car has one replacing it should be a priority to prevent bodily injury or damage to the car. The suppliers sell a replacement aluminum 2 blade fan that is well balanced and safe. Here is a link to some more info regarding the construction and deficiency's of the original style fan.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/twobladedfans.htm

i had these pictures saved for years so i am not sure who's they were to offer the credit :

[Bob C]

This is what my original fan looks like. I was so lucky, no damage to the radiator or hood just a broken pump housing.

Bob

[Mike V. Florida]

A lot are aware they just don't think it could happen to them. A lot like wearing seat belts.

[Dennis]

I saw a radiator at the swap meet the other day that looked just like the one in your picture. Pretty obvious what happened.

[Boston Bruce]

Years ago, when I first got my coupe, I had a fan blade go right through the hood of the car. Sounded like a gun firing. I have a picture somewhere.

[Mitch]

Did they ever approve the use of using the aluminum blade for safety reasons in fine point judging?

[Mike V. Florida]

No

[BNCHIEF]

Too me that makes no sense.

[Mitch]

A related thread from the Fine Point area

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/model-a-fine-point/48992-known-dangerous-parts-for-judging

[BNCHIEF]

Mark says if done tastefully, and what about the judge who says it's wrong, how do you do an aluminum repop fan tastefully? Not trying to be funny but that is a lot of gray area. I think my stainless steel hoses are done tastefully.

[Mitch]

My guess is it will take someone to get hurt before things change

[Mark Maron]

NO it is not approved in Fine point and Mark never said anything about done "tastefully".

[BNCHIEF]

Mark Maron
#5.1
Mark Maron commented
01-02-2018, 11:58 AM
Actually all safety items are allowed in fine point if done tastefully..

[Mitch]

Chief you can click the post # and then copy / paste it here..It will link it directly to that response

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/questions-and-suggestions/feedback-area/1328-forum-posting-reading-and-picture-upload-tips?p=72843#post72843

[BNCHIEF]

Thanks Mitch but I knew I did not dream that up, but he never clarified safety items or that the fan is considered a safety item.

[Mitch]

Agree it was never clarified.

[Greynomad]

When I acquired my 1929 Phaeton, it had an original fan on it but I could see it had been braised up at some time in its life. I immediately ordered a new aluminium one and took the original off. What I found scared the $#!T out of me. It was cracked again along the blade, around the hub and through the middle of the pulley. I think I JUST dodged that bullet.
Because the car was new to me, I was spending a bit of time with my head in there learning and adjusting. One of those blades could do a lot a damage to a guy's head.

[Rowdy]

I havs had over 10 original fans over the course of time. Only one of them is usable. I have it in my parts cabinet. The others were all scrapped. Rod

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

On the way to the Porterville Jamboree, 3 guys lost 2 blade fans!!! One had a blade, literally WRAPPED around the pump SNOUT!! BUT, NOBODY lost a radiator.
Dennis bought a "SHOW" fan, stripped it & it was full of WELDS & BONDO!!!:
Bill Wallart

[jfreddie]

Echoing Boston Bruce's sensation when a blade separates. The whole hood jumped, I truly thought we'd been hit by a mortar. Huge vibration, instantly turned off the key.
The blade exitted the hood just forward of the front louver making a gash that looked like an extra louver. We never found the blade. Had been doing 50mph.
Radiator and pump were fine.
It took 30 mins of sawing with the Leatherman to cut off the remaining blade, and we were good to go.
True story...May the fourth be with you!

[Ayyy]

Thanks for posting this safety warning Mitch. Folks who are new to A's need to hear it as soon as possible.

When I got my '30 CCPU a few years ago, putting an aluminum fan on was one of the very first things I did.

I am hypersensitive to fans coming apart. In the early '80s I was helping a friend with his Chevy Chevette (OMG what a POS!). You guessed it, the fan came apart when the hood was open and the engine was running...and I was standing right next to it. No physical damage to me, just mentally scarred for life, LOL.

[Mitch]

It is very important. This info could save life or limb / head

The thread is copied into the PT tech forum so it never gets lost.

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/technical-reference

Some more failure pics would be great, hoods, radiators, sheet metal pieces

[2manycars]

This photo was taken at the 2001 New England Model A Meet.

[H. L. Chauvin]

FWIW: I still have my (2) blade steel fan that I ran for 40+ years ...... i.e., on the shelf.

Even though it had no cracks, I replaced it with a new aluminum fan after reading about so many dangerous (2) blade steel fan accidents.

After seeing a detailed (2) blade steel fan article with photos some time ago, (where the (2) blade Model B steel fans were built differently and were far better), I could see where I had a Model B fan in lieu of a Model A fan.

Anyway, appears most are already aware that the meanings of the terms "Bravery" and "Taking Chances" can usually vary substantially from Model A owner to Model A owner. LOL

[Ray in La Mesa]

In 1963 I was driving my '30 fordor home late at night. Heard a big clank, bing, bop! Engine vibrated terrible. Popped the hood to look with a flashlight and saw one of the 4 fan blades missing. Looked all over, couldn't find it but did see a neat new louver in the right hood top. Drove it on home slowly for 5 miles. Next morning I found the fan blade resting on top of the firewall mounted battery right BETWEEN the posts! Guess I got lucky, no sparks, replaced the fan, fixed the hood and moved the battery back to the stock position under the floorboards.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Good idea to put the battery back down low. You want to lower the center of gravity for taking fast corners.

[KenCoupe]

Does anyone have pictures of a broken 4 blade fan? I have a 4 blade fan that was on the car when I bought it. I have a new aluminum 2 blade fan that will be on before we head to Reno.

[CarlG]

My 4-blade fan didn't break a blade, but the 4 rivets that hold everything together came loose and wiped out my radiator.

[KenCoupe]

Ouch! That is not good. Did you change to the new aluminum 2 blade fan?

[CarlG]

No, I used the 6-blade plastic fan.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've seen pictures of two different 4 blade fans that had one blade broken.

[CarlG]

On one of our tours, the guy I was following lost a blade on his 4-blade fan. It didn't do any damage to his hood, but did take out his radiator and water pump. One of the other guys had a spare water pump, they made a 2-blade fan out of what was left, a couple packets of Bars Leak and a Leatherman got his radiator back in business and we continued the tour, another 200 miles back home.

[RockHillWill]

This has been a problem for a long time. It took me forever to find 'useable' fans blades for the FP projects. The late '31 project was some what easier to obtain because of the newer design of a 'single' blade. My friend and Model A mentor, John Klutz showed me a solution that he has used for many years, and that was a Model A original 'commercial' 4-blade fan. He cuts the forward blade off at the hub leaving the center section and the rivets intact. I do not put many miles on my '31 Tudor, but it has been used for 14 years.

[Jeff/Illinois]

A good reason to get into the habit of not standing in the line of fire when viewing a running Model A engine.

Revenge of the Last Mohicans!! You may end up with a 'tomahawk' giving you a new part in your hair.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Changed out the water pump & four blade fan on my wife's coupe a couple years ago and discovered one bade was cracked 2/3'rds way through! Got lucky again, now that fan is more yard art.

[Mitch]

Ray any pics?

[DaWizard]

Here is another victim of the original fan blade. Larry Ryan our club pres.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Sorry Mitch, I don't have the knowhow to post pictures, besides it was in 1963 & I was in high school, wasn't thinking documenting it, just getting it fixed.

[Mitch]

Hi Ray
Whenever you have time I would be more than happy to help you over the landline. It would take all of 5 minutes just use the contact us button

[Fixitphil]

Your warning, Mitch, finally pushed me over the "TOP" and I have a new one on now. The only thing I had to do was to shave the water pump housing a little as the new fan rubbed slightly. The manufacturer anticipated the issue and gives instructions on how to alleviate the problem.
Phil