Fan blades

[treeman53]

I have a John Deere H in great condition, except for one detail... All 4 fan blades are bent in toward the radiator at each tip. Very uniform bends, I assume they all hit the same place sometime in the past. Here is the question: can I put heat shield material in front of radiator, then hest each blade with a torch, and bend them back to where they should be? I do not want to pull all the sheet metal, and the governor, and then find a way to compress the spring to replace the fan.

 

[Dieseltech]

If they got bent cold, I'd try bending them back cold. I've done that before with no trouble when done.

 

[treeman53]

Thanks!

 

[olddavid]

Thanks!

It isn't a factory bend I take it. If just the tips are bent I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone. At least consider taking it off the tractor to bend it?

 

[YosmiteSam]

I have a John Deere H in great condition, except for one detail... All 4 fan blades are bent in toward the radiator at each tip. Very uniform bends, I assume they all hit the same place sometime in the past. Here is the question: can I put heat shield material in front of radiator, then hest each blade with a torch, and bend them back to where they should be? I do not want to pull all the sheet metal, and the governor, and then find a way to compress the spring to replace the fan.

It sounds like they are supposed to have the bends at the tip. A Ford 600 has a three blade fan like that. Those bends at the tips increase the air pressure of the fan a lot. A whole lot more air pressure. Tractors need that, trucks do not, so truck fans don't have the tip bends.

It's like an airplane wing, some have the tips bent upward. A newer Boeing 737 for instance.

Here's a photo of the Ford tractor fan I'm talking about:

I've noticed that new aftermarket replacement fans have four blades and don't have the tips bent. I've also noticed the three blade fan really kicks out the air, and blows it clear back to where I can feel it while I'm driving.


So don't straighten those blades. Especially if they are all lined up with each other, and they are clearing the face of the radiator well. About an inch of clearance I would think.

 

[treeman53]

Here is a photo. All 4 blades are bent exactly the same. There is at least 1.5 inch clearance between tip of fan blade and radiator. I guess if it doesn't overheat, I will leave it alone, just looks weird...

 

[treeman53]

It isn't a factory bend I take it. If just the tips are bent I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone. At least consider taking it off the tractor to bend it?

Did the H ever have factory bends like the one in my picture?

 

[Dieseltech]

Here is a photo. All 4 blades are bent exactly the same. There is at least 1.5 inch clearance between tip of fan blade and radiator. I guess if it doesn't overheat, I will leave it alone, just looks weird...

I'd leave it alone...

 

[flying belgian]

Here is a photo. All 4 blades are bent exactly the same. There is at least 1.5 inch clearance between tip of fan blade and radiator. I guess if it doesn't overheat, I will leave it alone, just looks weird...

That don't look right to me. Like someone else said I'd try and bend the back cold.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

If it aint broke don't fix it!

 

[YosmiteSam]

Here is a photo. All 4 blades are bent exactly the same. There is at least 1.5 inch clearance between tip of fan blade and radiator. I guess if it doesn't overheat, I will leave it alone, just looks weird...

I think that looks the way it should, and the tips are bent toward the radiator face, that's the direction they ought to go.