Jerry & Audrey Holloway, SHE, and I left Patterson yesterday morning about,
I'd guess, 0830. The trip was uneventful until Alabama milepost about 80
on I-65, where traffic Stopped at about 1400. Many of you have heard about
the BAD accident at I-65 X69 at about 1700 in which there were 3 trucks, 2
cars, and one death involved. That was behind us. We were probably only
delayed for about 45 minutes to an hour by "our" accident, which was
apparently an SUV towing a large trailer down a steep embankment -- we
couldn't be sure. And because of the intense coverage of the later, worse
one, I can't find any information on the 'net about "ours".

The worst part, for us, was that the GMC's thermostatic fan don't thermo;
it just stays static. For 30 minutes or so the temp only crept up to
243*F. Then the traffic began to move in slow spurts so that I didn't dare
shut the engine down. By the time we crept the couple of miles to the
accident site, the temp was up to 260. Since the Cad had an OEM cutoff
switch set at 265 (OEM--no longer installed), I was beginning to think the
engine was getting HOT. Just as we got abeam of the accident, the engine
died and wouldn't restart while rolling on past the last obstacle.

I didn't hold up the caterpillar traffic and SHE was soon in the CRV
helping me up the slight grade to a parking spot on the shoulder a few
hundred yards further north. Sure glad she learned how to do that on our
trip back from CA.

Jerry provided an electric fan for my Troy-Bilt generator to power, helping
to evacuate the hot air from the engine compartment. Within about 30-45
more minutes, the starter was able to turn the engine again (about 240*F),
so we carried on as normal; the engine was back to 196*F, as always,
within 3-4 miles. It seems no worse for the experience.

The bad part: The extension cord for the fan came out of the back of the
refrigerator compartment. But didn't go back there in the rush to get
rolling and cooling again. So the compartment cover is part of the
wreckage back at MP 80. With its 4-color Topeka Graphics paint job.
Duplication of which will cost a lot more than the $40 door.

After a quiet, restful night in the Greenville, AL WalMart campground, we
had a nice drive across the beautifully green rolling hills of central
Alabama, through Troy. Since that's my birthplace and frequent childhood
stomping grounds, it was a nice day.

It was a great convention, as they always are since we get to spend time
with old friends and learn new things.

Y'All Come,

Ken H.
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...the GMC's thermostatic fan don't thermo;
it just stays static. ...

Sorry to be dense but are you saying the fan clutch did not engage to pull air through the radiator? If so that is an unusual failure mode isn't it? I thought the normal failure mode is that they don't cycle off?

So moral of the story--- if you don't have fan noise in the morning at start up, you have a fan clutch problem. As you are low on siilicone fluid. The only way I can get mine too hot is continuous high speed driving. Hot stop and go traffic doesn't phase it.

Under the GMC today to check out the fan -- spun very easily. So, I found
a "probably good" 2747 in my storage shed and installed it. Probably took
15 minutes (love that split fiberglass fan shroud held on with 8 machine
screws) to swap them out. I didn't drive it, so I don't know whether
there's any difference in fan action after initial warm up.

Regardless, I think I'll re-install at least one electric fan, hopefully
large enough to prevent such extreme overheating if the engine fan does
fail again. Because I know how un-aerodynamic a free-spinning prop (fan)
can be, I may even put a mechanical lock on it while it's just along for
the ride.

Ken H.


On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 9:48 AM, Johnny Bridges wrote:

> Welcome to the Dead Fan Clutch Society. You're luckier than me - the
> Atlanta I75-85 run through the city got us, and Sam can't drive the Kia to
> push
> (he bit a cop and got his license lifted). I've got the JimK recommended
> and suppled clutch in the original box, it goes on as a part of
> repairs.upgrades for the summer. We had to have a trooper block traffic
> and a HERO pull us off the freeway. Hour l;ater, fired up and ran.
>
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A windmilling airplane propeller definitely creates more drag than a stationary propeller. Windmilling would probably also reduce the airflow through a radiator if the propeller was closely shrouded.