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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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 Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:01 pm Post subject: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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Our cars are around 4 decades old and most have the original radiator fan which has a very well built German motor but the problem is the bearing inside uses the same grease from the 1980s and with all those rotations over the years it is bound to wear and start making noise due to lack of bearing lubrication. Also remember that the grease they used back then was nowhere near the quality modern synthetic greases are.
Mine finally started making a dry crusty noise as if the motor bearing ran out of lube so I sourced a new one from J Bugs for $100 made by JP Dansk. It is half the price of the same fan from GoWesty! Here is the link https://www.jbugs.com/product/251959455M.html
Anyways, after installation, it is so quiet that I realized that even before hearing the dry bearing noise the fan had probably become gradually louder and that I had simply gotten used to it. Even the scary high speed Mig29 sound now is more like a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that is taxiing. If your fan is original change it. If you are replacing your radiator, definitely change the fan while you are already there. |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7300
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| ALIKA T3 wrote: |
| While replacing a bad noisy radiator fan is a good thing, no way in hell I'm replacing my good ol' German fan until it kicks the bucket. I don't trust these new parts... |
Yes I know what you mean, I had no choice though. It looks sturdy and the copper windings I am sure are same as OEM so we will see. I will try to open up the motor on the ol' German one and see if I can replace the bearing with something from ACER Racing https://www.acerracing.com/collections/ball-bearings they have all the sizes and the bearings last forever. I got the bearings to change the door slider from them. Not sure how to open the motor though but I am sure it can be done.
I am shocked that GoWesty would charge DOUBLE J Bugs. That is outrageous especially considering J Bugs isn't exactly cheap either. |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4574
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| therastavan wrote: |
I am shocked that GoWesty would charge DOUBLE J Bugs. That is outrageous especially considering J Bugs isn't exactly cheap either. |
That may be because that is only your 96th post 
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| vanis13 wrote: |
| therastavan wrote: |
I am shocked that GoWesty would charge DOUBLE J Bugs. That is outrageous especially considering J Bugs isn't exactly cheap either. |
That may be because that is only your 96th post |
  Good point! |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7300
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| therastavan wrote: |
| ALIKA T3 wrote: |
| While replacing a bad noisy radiator fan is a good thing, no way in hell I'm replacing my good ol' German fan until it kicks the bucket. I don't trust these new parts... |
Yes I know what you mean, I had no choice though. It looks sturdy and the copper windings I am sure are same as OEM so we will see. I will try to open up the motor on the ol' German one and see if I can replace the bearing with something from ACER Racing https://www.acerracing.com/collections/ball-bearings they have all the sizes and the bearings last forever. I got the bearings to change the door slider from them. Not sure how to open the motor though but I am sure it can be done.
I am shocked that GoWesty would charge DOUBLE J Bugs. That is outrageous especially considering J Bugs isn't exactly cheap either. |
It's a lot of work to open them and to close them, rivets have to be made etc.... Not for the faint of heart...
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Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2024 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| Still amazed every day at how quiet this fan is. I can hardly hear it turn on. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4008
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2024 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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Have you heard it at high speed, or only on low? high speed can be a much louder thing than low speed.
And gowesty, yes oft over priced, and customer service is dismal. To many bad experiences with them. |
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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2024 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
Have you heard it at high speed, or only on low? high speed can be a much louder thing than low speed.
And gowesty, yes oft over priced, and customer service is dismal. To many bad experiences with them. |
Yes I have heard the high speed too and although it’s obviously louder than low speed it’s not anywhere like the F22 Raptor noise Vanagon fans make. I would say it is at least 90% quieter and makes driving a joy. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52636
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2024 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| They likely used computers to improve the shaping of the fan to make it quieter. Think back forty years to how noisy heavily lugs tires were and compare that to how quiet they are today, with a bit of programing they can do the same to the fan blades as they did to tires. |
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therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 116
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: I replaced my radiator fan today and it is super quiet |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| They likely used computers to improve the shaping of the fan to make it quieter. Think back forty years to how noisy heavily lugs tires were and compare that to how quiet they are today, with a bit of programing they can do the same to the fan blades as they did to tires. |
The shape of the fan is identical. I really think it is simply the ball bearings going dry after decades of use and heat. Since my last post I have only heard my fan turn on once, that is how quiet it is. You have to really listen hard to hear anything. |
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