Fan disintegrates!

[rodneyn]

Have to disagree with the water pump failures on Kubota, I have about 8 here ranging from 650-4000+hrs and all on the original WP, at least 4 of them are over 3000hrs. The newest one is 2010 and the oldest is sometime in the 80's.

As for the fan, guessing either improper material selection or as stated just a bad mix.

That’s good news you are the exception however I was not as lucky well neither were my other colleagues here northern states. We all had water pump replacement around 700-1000 hours.
As far as fan material they are molded out of nylon 6/6 common material. However nylon does not like adverse dry no humidity conditions. It will stress crack leading to failure. Need to ask the question we’re there any concentrated white spots where the fan cracked. This would be defined stress point. Thanks for sharing your opinion and longevity of your water pump. I was also told to inspect water pump yearly which meant to relieve pressure from belt. Then grab the fan and see if it wobble or move side to side. Dealer stated clearly once the water pump goes the engine temp can rise quickly under load and risk taking a head gasket if not caught quickly. I can only speak for my first hand experience, I caught my pump failing.

 

[grsthegreat]

That’s good news you are the exception however I was not as lucky well neither were my other colleagues here northern states. We all had water pump replacement around 700-1000 hours.
As far as fan material they are molded out of nylon 6/6 common material. However nylon does not like adverse dry no humidity conditions. It will stress crack leading to failure. Need to ask the question we’re there any concentrated white spots where the fan cracked. This would be defined stress point. Thanks for sharing your opinion and longevity of your water pump. I was also told to inspect water pump yearly which meant to relieve pressure from belt. Then grab the fan and see if it wobble or move side to side. Dealer stated clearly once the water pump goes the engine temp can rise quickly under load and risk taking a head gasket if not caught quickly. I can only speak for my first hand experience, I caught my pump failing.

What brand of tractor

 

[rademamj1]

Well I searched the TBN archives, and could find no references to tractor cooling fan failures. So regardless of brand its definitely a rare occurrence. I agree with the OP, its hard to get a branch to penetrate inside the engine compartment, and especially without leaving some some trace of its presence. I suspect it may have been a faulty factory fan from the start, and only a matter of time it self destructs. Kioti does not provide warranty is surprising, its a rather low cost part, but labor cost is going to be big issue.

 

[ruffdog]

Remember all the bad rubber coming from over seas back around 2006? How many valve stems for tires had to be replaced because the rubber disintegrated?

https://pitstopswfl.com/blog/view/warning-chinese-made-valve-stems

 

[tradosaurus]

Well I searched the TBN archives, and could find no references to tractor cooling fan failures. So regardless of brand its definitely a rare occurrence. I agree with the OP, its hard to get a branch to penetrate inside the engine compartment, and especially without leaving some some trace of its presence. I suspect it may have been a faulty factory fan from the start, and only a matter of time it self destructs. Kioti does not provide warranty is surprising, its a rather low cost part, but labor cost is going to be big issue.

Had a kitten decide to get warm by camping in my fan shroud of my F250 diesel. When I remote started the truck I didn't realize there was a kitten in there.
The plastic fan blades broke in three places after shredding the kitten. Fortunately my homeowner policy covered the damage.

 

[PILOON]

Generally UV is what destroys many plastics.
White suffers the worst while dark colors are the most resistant.
You'll probably have seen plastic signs that totally turn to powder after a year or so.

Then UV resistant tie wraps are always dark grey or black.

 

[YLee Kioti]

I had a plastic fan blade failure on my old LG (LS) 47hp. Tractor had done less than 1000 hours, but was able to get a new one from Korea (vis the Australian dealer) in about 10 days, for not a lot more than AU$100 delivered, so pretty happy with that service and price. Old one just was falling apart:

View attachment 719504

View attachment 719505

Thanks for the pics....I'm at 800 hrs now. So my inspection routine will now add a closer look to the fan.
After several pasture jobs I normally take the time to use simple green to clean the blades.
It just never occurred to me to look for this.
Shoot even an obvious crack like in the pics would probably get overlooked.
While washing and cleaning, the old gray matter is focused on what the next honey-dew on my list and would clean miss it...!!

 

[PILOON]

Plastic fans:

Just recalled that my dehumidifier fan totally blew apart suddenly.
Now that appliance never saw UV so what caused it to blow apart.
Harmonic vibration?
When I searched online for a replacement fan I noticed that that fan was totally sold out and no signs of replacement.
OK, it was 'of a certain age' but needing a new fan I had to scrap it, and that for need of an essential part.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

How ya liking your plastic tractor?

 

[ruffdog]

Maybe a bad batch of recycled plastic to save money?

 

[PILOON]

Maybe a bad batch of recycled plastic to save money?

I'd suspect that heat might be the culprit.
Heat, like in the 'cooking' process of fabrication.

 

[ruffdog]

I'd suspect that heat might be the culprit.
Heat, like in the 'cooking' process of fabrication.

....or the curing process of different materials. It's a bad thing when too much shrinkage occurs.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I agree that plastic can become brittle after time but less than 400 hours? It does get pretty hot here in the summer. 100 plus with humidity around 80 to 90%. Makes it feel like 115-120. But this summer wasn’t too bad. Only a few days like that. And we really haven’t had a cool snap yet. Until today. Never got out the 50s. Reckon four years could dry rot the plastic. And there’s two fins I still haven’t found. Just lucky it didn’t mess anything else up. New one should be in by tomorrow and get it back going Sunday or Monday.

There could have been a material defect, I dunno, but I've seen plenty of engine-driven fans self-destruct. Electric motor fans, not so much. Anyway, yes, it is good that the busted bits tangle with your radiator or dance with a belt.

 

[grsthegreat]

is simple green ok to use on plastic? or can that cause the issue. ive never used it on plastic. but i really have no idea if its safe for plastic.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

is simple green ok to use on plastic? or can that cause the issue. ive never used it on plastic. but i really have no idea if its safe for plastic.

Should say on the side of the bottle. I will say for tough grease, I use either mineral spirits or WD40.

Simple Green Household Cleaning Site

Simple Green | US | Household | Surfaces | Plastic | Learn about Simple Green's full line of environmentally safer household cleaning products. Discounts, cleaning tips, reviews, special offers and more.

simplegreen.com

 

[Clintock]

Got the old fan off. New one still not in. Question here for the mechanics. Can I just unbolt the bottom two bolts on the radiator and lean forward enough to get new fan on or do I have to completely remove radiator?

 

[pmsmechanic]

Got the old fan off. New one still not in. Question here for the mechanics. Can I just unbolt the bottom two bolts on the radiator and lean forward enough to get new fan on or do I have to completely remove radiator?

You do what you need to do to get the fan in. If you can lean the radiator forward enough to get room to slip the fan in... do it. I wouldn't remove the bolts completely to lean the rad forward. Just loosen enough to do the job. It makes it a lot easier to put everything back together.

 

[Oz_Kioti]

It's a job for people with very long and slender fingers who are careful not to damage the fine fins of the radiator, while at the same time don't mind skinning their knuckles! In my fan replacement job, my wife wouldn't step up to the job, and my fingers are kinda fattish, but I finally got the new fan in and bolted. I seem to remember I had fun removing and replacing the fan shroud too. I don't think I loosened the radiator mounts. BUT - it was an LG (LS) tractor, so it might be somewhat different, although all the Korean ones I've seen have very similar design characteristics!

Also, to be fair to the failed fan, I bought the tractor in 2004 and the fan failed in 2018! So probably a good innings (that's a cricket term...)

Good luck.

 

[34Willys]

I always cut a piece of cardboard to put behind the radiator. It protects the back of my hands and the radiator fins from damage.
Patrick

 

[Clintock]

Good tip with the cardboard. Ordered fan and belt from somewhere else today. Got tired of waiting. Ima tell y’all something. Nolts power equipment is by far the best place I’ve ordered from.