home
Become a Member | Photo Gallery | Contact Us
The Antique Automobile Club of America discussion forum is a FREE online community for those interested in exchanging information about ALL antique, classic, and collectible automobiles. AACA membership IS NOT required to register. Explore, read, contribute, and enjoy!
Search

Participating Clubs
Sponsors








Topic Options
Rate This Topic
Hop to:
#514843 - 06/05/08 09:27 AM Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport
david Fox Offline
New Member

Registered: 06/05/08
Posts: 2
First , can someone tell me how it should operate ? Second how can I test it? I beleive that it engages constantly , but not sure what I should be looking for. I know that I know have a constant roar from the fan area , which I didn't have before.

Any help greatly appreciated !

Top
#514849 - 06/05/08 09:55 AM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: david Fox]
RocketDude Offline
Member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 440
Loc: So California
Constsant roar sounds like the fan clutch is locked up. Try spinning the fan with your fingers, with the engine off, of course. It should spin a little. It won't free wheel, but should spin a half a turn or so. You don't want it to spin too much, or too little. If it doesn't spin at all, it is locked up, if it free wheels, that is not good either. Free wheeling, or close, means it won't lock up and move air when the RPM's are low, so no low speed cooling. Completely locked up makes the roar, hurts MPG, and either can cause the W/P to fail. How much it should spin is hard to explain, it's something that comes with experience.
You can go to a little more trouble and remove the clutch, put the nuts back on and test drive it. If the roar is gone, you have your answer, but it sounds like it's a goner.

Top
#514850 - 06/05/08 10:11 AM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: RocketDude]
RocketDude Offline
Member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 440
Loc: So California

As far as how it should operate... In most American cars, the clutch is RPM sensitive. It's locked up at low RPM so air will flow through the radiator at stop and low speed operation. When you reach road speeds, it should unlock, as the movement of the vehicle provides enough air flow for cooling purposes. By free wheeling at road speed, it reduces the load on the engine, promoting better economy, and also, most importantly, eliminates the roar.
A lot of foreign car clutches have a heat sensitive silicone grease in the center, and it will disengage at a certain temperture.

Top
#514859 - 06/05/08 11:08 AM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: RocketDude]
ted sweet Offline
Member

Registered: 09/27/01
Posts: 1028
Loc: albany NY
depends if its a thermal clutch, does it have a coil on the radiator side?
_________________________
1974 Plymouth Cuda-360 Auto
1991 Chysler Lebaron Vert
1973 Dodge Dart Swinger-318 Auto
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T-440 Auto
1968 Chrysler 300 Convertible-440 Auto
1994 Ford Taurus SHO
1966 Chrysler Newport-383 auto

Top
#514870 - 06/05/08 11:58 AM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: ted sweet]
david Fox Offline
New Member

Registered: 06/05/08
Posts: 2
It is a thermo clutch and does have a coil.

Top
#515030 - 06/06/08 08:03 AM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: david Fox]
TexRiv_63 Offline
Member

Registered: 02/15/07
Posts: 273
The thermo clutch is supposed to lock up if the temp goes up so the air movement is maximized. Here in Texas with A/C on you'll hear the roar after sitting at a stoplight but it goes away once you get moving. It should definitely not be roaring all the time.
_________________________
Don Rundgren
1963 Buick Riviera, 1928 Pierce Arrow Model 81
AACA, PAS, BCA, ROA
McKinney, Texas

Top
#515521 - 06/08/08 04:41 PM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: TexRiv_63]
Jim_Cannon Offline
Member

Registered: 08/25/06
Posts: 326
Loc: Spring, TX
David-
Good functioning replacements are available at any good auto parts store, so if in doubt, it is a minor job and not much expense to replace it.

My main word of caution is to NOT get the economy clutch without the coil spring on the front face. It is not adequate. Get the more expensive OEM equivalent one with the coil spring.

On my '63 the clutch was not locking up properly when hot. With the new clutch and hot engine, it really roars.

One common manufacturer and part number for this clutch is "Imperial" and is their part # 215049. I'm sure there are others.

_________________________
Jim
'29 Ford Model A Phaeton (MARC #71406)
'63 Riviera, Fawn Mist, Saddle Leather (ROA #9774)
Jim's 1963 Riviera

Check out www.hoopstick.com for good deals at variable prices every Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Top
#515855 - 06/09/08 07:54 PM Re: Fan Clutch Operation 65 Riviera Gransport [Re: david Fox]
impala Offline
Member

Registered: 12/26/99
Posts: 61
Loc: Carnegie, PA USA
When the engine is cold the fan should turn with very little resistance. With the engine hot it will take noticably more effort to turn it.
Usually the bi-metal coil type that you have fail in the opposite where they never totally get up to engine speed.
As mentioned, a replacement hub can be found at auto parts stores.
Yes it does take experience to sense the proper resistance when testing.
impala

Top


Hershey Video

A DVD documenting the 2008 Hershey Fall Meet.
Makes A Great Gift!
Only $19.95
Last Pedal Car

The last of the special built pedal cars will be going up for sale at the RM Auctions in Scottsdale in January. Built by the renown restorer Fran Roxas, this "Dusey" is truly is another work of art.
SEMA

Go to SEMA Action Network for the most up-to-date legislative info related to our hobby.
Who's Online
14 registered (89REATTAJIM, 89TC-16V, Bob Kinker, CaptainBristol, El_Diablo, HMossAus), 40 Guests and 20 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Stats
27734 Members
92 Forums
122416 Topics
550956 Posts

Max Online: 479 @ 03/26/08 04:18 PM
Need Help?
Lost your password? Can't remember your username? Having registration problems? Answers to many of these problems can be FOUND HERE!