spendy fan clutch

[Soundguy]

just replaced the fan clutch on my 99 f450 with 7.3 psd.. ford part was like 400$!! napa was cheaper but even the counter person reccomended i use the ford one... yikes..


soundguy

 

[Jim Thompson]

just replaced the fan clutch on my 99 f450 with 7.3 psd.. ford part was like 400$!! napa was cheaper but even the counter person reccomended i use the ford one... yikes..


soundguy

Did you check with Navistar?

Jim

 

[Soundguy]

naw I didn't..

 

[mmurphy]

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
May try a used part??

 

[YesDeere]

It really is unbelievable. There are some on our hinos that are over a thousand. But with you towing in the fla heat, don't mess around. I know you don't like problems on the road.

 

[deerefan]

just replaced the fan clutch on my 99 f450 with 7.3 psd.. ford part was like 400$!! napa was cheaper but even the counter person reccomended i use the ford one... yikes..


soundguy

Another reason I ditched diesels...everything is more expensive from parts to fuel. With all the tractor towing you do, you may not have any other choice.

 

[Soundguy]

i went with the ford one.. I figured it already had a 'used' one on there.. might as well put a new one on.
as a point of interest.. the part#/ date code on the one I took off was a 98 part.. so was obviously the oem fan clutch.

yep.. I'm hauling with that truck.. can't afford to be stranded out of state with a load because I save 200$ on a non oem part that cools the engine..

soundguy

 

[ModMech]

Did you check with Navistar?

Jim

Checking with the enigne OEM is an excellant idea for engine parts, this often saves 20% or more (in some cases 50%+) on common parts like fuel lines, seals etc that are not vehicle specific. In many cases I would include thermostats and water pumps in that recomendation, but Ford is known for high quality thermostats as is Navistar, so either would be acceptable.

As for the fan clutch itself, that and the fan are engineered by the vehicle manufacturer and not the engine OEM so I would prefer vehicle OEM parts to ensure they are right.

I use RockAuto for most of my OEM parts needs (Motorcraft/ACDelco). In fact they offer the YB559 (Motorcraft #F81Z8A616DA) fan clutch for just a touch over $200.

 

[bp fick]

A silly little electro-engagement PTO clutch on a Craftsman lawn tractor is $200 + list. It's a head scratcher. Good thing the economy is rolling white hot and we're all experiencing the great recovery. :laughing::laughing: Sorry.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, crazy. We had to replace a water pump on a V8 GM this week. $389 for the water pump. The year earlier model was under $40.:confused2:

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

is that rock auto actually selling an oem part or a 'like' oem part, as it sounds like the motorcraft 'crossed' umber that napa gave me.. same price too.

I've heard those clutches are more agressive, thus more overall fan noise from longer / faster lock up.. etc.

I also understand this is a centrifugal / hud style clutch.. or at least believe it is.

soundguy

 

[schmism]

so living in FL... you have to ask yourself... why replace the fan clutch?

Seems like the smart choice (for you FL enviroment) is to just go with a aftermarket hard mount fan. cost... $45-80

in short F the fan clutch....

 

[Soundguy]

that things pretty drn loud when it comes on! I don't want to hear it all the time.

Usually I can only get the fan to come on when towing.. just tooling around town isn't enough load.

soundguy

 

[Highbeam]

The 7.3 diesel has a very oversized cooling system. Most of the time, regardless of outside temp, you don't need the engine fan. International/Ford decided to equip this engine with a monster fan that will suck seagulls off of a landfill when it is engaged. These features lend themselves very well to a non full-time fan. You did right to replace the failed clutch.

I work around dumptrucks and those are also equipped with a fan clutch but it is electric and when that bugger engages it squeals the belt and makes a hurricane of wind. Very similar to the 7.3 diesel.

The idea of an HD fan clutch system is that the fan needs to be able to move enough air to cool that huge engine under full load while the truck isn't moving fast. If it moved that much air all the time it would be a problem in terms of noise and fuel consumption.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. it is a monster fan.. and you are correct. when it comes on.. you can even hear it in the cab going down the interstate doing 72 mph.. and that is with the engine tach'd at 2750 as i have a 4.88 rear end.

again. only comes on when hitched to a trialer.. can't make it come on without towing.

it was spendy.. but my gut feeling was to replace it correctly with the oem reccomended part. i don't forsee being able to buy another dually for a looooong time with my job and the economy as it is.. so i can't afford to screw this one up by not repairing it well.

soundguy

 

[ModMech]

is that rock auto actually selling an oem part or a 'like' oem part, as it sounds like the motorcraft 'crossed' umber that napa gave me.. same price too.

I've heard those clutches are more agressive, thus more overall fan noise from longer / faster lock up.. etc.

I also understand this is a centrifugal / hud style clutch.. or at least believe it is.

soundguy

AFAIK RA is selling "real" Motorcraft parts and not off-shore knock-offs because they look exactly like the parts dealers install (appearance, weight, boxing etc) are all the same.

NAPA parts (the pro stuff like United & Belden) are often OEM parts w/o the OEM box or marketing (etching/embossment etc) on the part. In some cases, the OEM p/n is still visible!

 

[Soundguy]

thanks for the info.

soundguy