1275 fan clashes with radiator

Post by **jameswallace** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:59 pm

Greetings to all wise beings .......

I'm currently installing a 1275 Midget engine into my convertible and running into all sorts of little challenges !

The latest ist to do with the yellow plastic fan that comes with the 1275 engine - when I started it up the fan jammed into the top of the radiator and I couldn't run the engine until I moved the rad up a couple of inches - which means the bonnet can't close - any ideas ? Should I chop off some of the fan blades to make them shorter ? Or would this reduce the efficency of the cooling system ?

Looking forward to your answers

Jim

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:23 pm

Just fit a normal Minor fan blade - if that's not enough cooling (and it should be) - then fit 2 x Minor fans in a cross shape.

Post by **ColinChandler** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:33 pm

Yes, you're not alone. My plastic fan did exactly the same. I toyed with taking a piece off each blade but wasnt sure I could take the same off all the blades and keep it even. As already said, the standard metal blade is fine. I've never needed to fit 2 of the blades but see how you go. The Midget engine is a nice one to fit.
Cheers, Colin.

Post by **jameswallace** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:59 pm

Tahnk you gentlemen,

I'll go for the old fan then.

Post by **downsey** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:31 am

the yellow fan is much more efficient- i just sanded about an eighth inch off of each blade and it never hit, and the fan is so light you would never notice a difference in balance.

Post by **jameswallace** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:13 am

downsey wrote:the yellow fan is much more efficient- i just sanded about an eighth inch off of each blade and it never hit, and the fan is so light you would never notice a difference in balance.

Thanks for this last bit of info. I've recently refitted the 1275 fan and was able to do so by filing bigger holed where the Radiator is held to the front valance - at the top. This has enabled me to shift the radiator forward by about 1cm and has given enough clearance.

Post by **dunketh** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:23 pm

Personally I'm a lazy so-an-so and opted to just fit the Minor fan and squash the breather collection pot a little with a big hammer.

It does the job just fine regadless of its efficiency in comparison to the newer plastic joby.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:54 pm

JW - make sure the security cable on your gearbox is a) present and b) correct! In a hard stop the engine can otherwise lunge forward and the fan will make mince of your rad.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:42 pm

JW - make sure the security cable on your gearbox is a) present and b) correct! In a hard stop the engine can otherwise lunge forward and the fan will make mince of your rad.

Completely agree with that - I've seen this happen on standard cars where there's a BIG clearance between fan and rad, so it's even more important with a small clearance to the rad.

Post by **jameswallace** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:33 pm

rayofleamington wrote:
JW - make sure the security cable on your gearbox is a) present and b) correct! In a hard stop the engine can otherwise lunge forward and the fan will make mince of your rad.
Completely agree with that - I've seen this happen on standard cars where there's a BIG clearance between fan and rad, so it's even more important with a small clearance to the rad.

Thanks for that last bit of info chaps, I shall bear that in mind especially if I ever get around to upgradeing the brakes to go with the extra power. The cable is good and tight on the back of the gearbox.

Post by **alainmoran** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:41 am

Be sure to check that the cable is still fairly intact ... tightening/untightening the nut without holding the flats on the other side spins the cable about and ends up breaking a few strands ... it may get to the point where there are only a couple of strands left and it's as good as not there when it gets to that point ;)