Mini heater question

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:19 pm

Does the heater from the mini cooper Spi fit the minor? I saw one on offer and it states it is two stage. Worth doing?

Post by **LouiseM** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:18 pm

Not all Mini heaters will fit. Not sure about the Cooper Spi but hopefully someone will be along to advise soon. In the meantime there's a couple of useful threads here:

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ini+heater

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.php?page=321

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:21 pm

The later fancy Minis have a larger heater - yes - two speed. I imagine it can be made to fit ok - but it won't be a direct swop as the earlier Mini heaters are. These two speed heaters usually fetch a good price!

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:24 pm

Thanks Louise, thanks Roy.

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:35 am

I managed to get a mini heater from ebay and dismantled it for a clean up. This is what it looks like for information.
The rotor has two cages with both forward and rearward curved blades which would indicate that the fan is polarity sensitive.

The actuating linkage

The matrix

The flap

The other side of the casing with the pretty much rotten non return valve

Now to clean it all up and replace the foam seals-gives me plenty to do over Christmas.

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:11 pm

I'm intrigued as to how the two squirrel cages work in the same direction, but with opposite blade curves! Also, where does the motor fit in that assembly? Any chance of another picture of the impeller assembly showing the motor?
In exchange I can try and draw a sketch of my timing chain tensioner pivot mod- not going to take it out again just for a photo, in retrospect I should have taken a snap before assembling it! Next time it sees the light of day will probably be when the MG cam goes in!

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:24 pm

Ok Linearaudio,
The motor is in the centre. I think this photo shows it better.

Close-ups

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:59 pm

Oh God! It looks like Rover couldn't afford to re-tool for a reverse pitch impeller, so just fitted the existing one on both ends of the motor!
Adaptive engineering at its' worst

Thanks for the clarified picture,looks like the motor has seen some service!

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:11 pm

Linearaudio,
Might not have been Rover as "Sofico France" is cast into the casing.
And, yes both impeller cages are identical.
I saw the sketch for the tensioner-thanks

Post by **PSL184** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:15 pm

Sofico would be the supplier acting on Rover's instructions....

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:44 pm

One sucking in - and the other blowing out ? Will your Minor front plate fit on the heater in place of the Mini one ? That looks like the 'later' Mini heater - I have only done the swap onthe earlier one with metal case.

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:21 pm

bmcecosse wrote:One sucking in - and the other blowing out ? Will your Minor front plate fit on the heater in place of the Mini one ? That looks like the 'later' Mini heater - I have only done the swap onthe earlier one with metal case.

This is the same situation as your mini fan situation, BMC, they are both running the same direction, so one impeller has to be working backwards. May work, but not as efficiently as it should!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:37 pm

Not if one is sucking in air from the fresh air hose - and other is blowing it out after it has been warmed ?

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:49 pm

bmcecosse wrote:Not if one is sucking in air from the fresh air hose - and other is blowing it out after it has been warmed ?

NO! One of them is running backwards whatever it is sucking/blowing!

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:44 pm

Not quite correct inmy opinion. I don't think it's an issue of sucking or blowing. Reversing the vanes does not change the direction of flow- this as it is determined by the direction of rotation. As far as I know it's a pressure / flow issue. At work we use industrial fans with rearward vanes for pressure. Cross flow fans usually have forward facing vanes. They spread a constant flow over a greater area running at a constant speed.
BTW it can't blow out as there is a non return valve-in my case delapidated but will be replaced.
I will fit the minor front plate to hide the obvious.

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:52 pm

Declan_Burns wrote:I don't think it's an issue of sucking or blowing. Reversing the vanes does not change this as it is determined by the direction of rotation. As far as I know it's a pressure / flow issue. At work we use industrial fans with rearward vanes for pressure. Cross flow fans usually have forward facing vanes. They spread a constant flow over a greater area running at a constant speed.

Makes you wonder why they bother to design the blades with a nice curve, instead of just straight, if they work the same either way??

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