RussB

Ever notice the two 1/2" diameter hose connections that are on the rear of the (1986 and later) 5000's radiator cooling fan? They simply open the internals of the fan to the yucky air that's inside the engine compartment. Yesterday I pried open a fan motor from the junkyard and its gut was coated with dirty grease.

Jason (owner of Autobahn Performance in Fort Lauderdale) said that he thought that's seen some models with a hose from the engine air cleaner to the rear of the fan motor, and another small blower/fan to suck air through this, but couldn't remember where he'd seen it.

Has anyne else seen these two hose connectors connected to anything? . . . or are they always just left open to engine compartment air?

SteveAngry

Nope never seen a type 44 fan motor with any hose attachments...

Now a question: how did you pry open the motor? I've got one sitting in the basement waiting to be dismantled so I can put in new bearings...

Did you have to mangle the metal slant tabs that go all the way around it?

Steve
Michigan

RussB

I placed the motor in a 6-inch bench vise and used a hammer and punch to knock the tabs back. Not sure how I'll reassemble it -- prolly by trying to hammer/punch the tabs back into position. The motor appears to be well built, with sealed bearings.

My Audi mechanic tells me that he's taken a type 44 fan motor to a motor rebuild shop who told him that it's not rebuildable. I'd guess that those tabs are the problem; the rest of the motor looks very rebuildbale to my layman's eyes.

To my surprise, inside there's a hefty powdered iron core inductor in series with each of the four brushes, and a single capacitor across the 12V input. I guess that this forms a low pass filter to suppress electrical noise.

I still can't remove the nut from the fan blade proper.

SteveAngry

and hope it goes back together...

The fan blade came off, if I remember right, by bending the tabs on the funny looking washer under the bolt...

It's been awhile since I took it apart...

Steve
Michigan