Thanks to Mike Self for the Tip on Removing the Heater Box Fan

[thehackmechanic]

I'm refurbishing the heater box on Louie, the decade-dead '72tii I bought last month in Louisville, resurrected on site, and drove back a thousand miles to Boston (part I, https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/bringing-louie-home-part-i-overthinking-logistics, part II https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/bringing-louie-home-part-ii-burning-ships). I just ordered a new fan motor, and remembered something Mike Self said about how you can reuse the fan blades by hacksawing the shaft and blades off the dead motor, balancing the fan on a ratchet socket, and punching out the sawed-off part of shaft. It worked like a charm. There was just enough space to maneuver the hacksaw between the fan and the motor, the shaft was surprisingly easy to cut, and the remaining piece of shaft punched through the plastic collar with ease. Thanks Mike!

 

--Rob

[rstclark]

Yes  this is much less expensive than buying complete motor with the fan attached.

The difficult part can be getting the fan on the replacement motor shaft in the right location so that it doesn't rub on the heater box or the mount. Definitely bench test it before you do the reinstallation of the heater

 

Securing the fan may work by adding JB Weld to the bushing and shaft connection after you have determined the right location. 

 

I know someone who machined  locking collars for the front and back of the bushing.

It seemed like an extreme effort  but it worked very well. There may be a market for the collars if they can be produced reasonably  What do you think ?

[69NEWCLASSNH]

Maybe that's what I should've done, but if I had, I probably wouldn't have a spare heater core for you.

 

See you tonight - Can't wait to read my signed copy of Guide to European Automotive Electrical Systems!

[thinksound_mike]

My next project. Not looking forward to it. It will lead to stripping the interior, new sound deadening, new carpet, etc. Slippery slope.

[saaron]

I read the article.  

 

Cool alternator bracket dude.  

 

God what a saga.  I would have lost it on day 2.  

 

Scott

[BeMyWay]

Great story Rob...you are a hack and I stayed up too late reading cause I wanted to know what you were going to do next...I'm ready for the next episode. 

[Driv3r]

Good effort. Not sure how much you saved by cutting the shaft and saving the old metal fan blade but we have a member here (Promano) who's selling genuine German made motor (not Chinese or Romanian) with new and better fan (less noise & weight) for a very reasonable price. I went the same route as you but at the end, I decided to buy the whole thing from him and it was just perfect.

[SydneyTii]

Another little tip I picked up on here, may have been from the Stella build, was to spray the outside cover on the box with a Rustoleom product that is like a rubberised sealer, works brilliantly in covering the weather facing side in a tough flexible coating, it really works well.

[Driv3r]

14 minutes ago, SydneyTii said:

Another little tip I picked up on here, may have been from the Stella build, was to spray the outside cover on the box with a Rustoleom product that is like a rubberised sealer, works brilliantly in covering the weather facing side in a tough flexible coating, it really works well.

 

Where did you buy that from? I went to Auto 1, Supercheap and Repco and they didnt know what I'm talking about. I ended up using heat resistant ceramic black paint, then used ceramic clear coat. 

[tomphot]

That's my next project . 

Which fan motor did you buy?

[Driv3r]

The oem motor and new fan I bought from Promano, message him.

[Simeon]

3 hours ago, Driv3r said:

 

Where did you buy that from? I went to Auto 1, Supercheap and Repco and they didnt know what I'm talking about. I ended up using heat resistant ceramic black paint, then used ceramic clear coat. 

 

Think I remember this one from the past as being available at Bunnings believe it or not. Interested in confirming that. 

[Driv3r]

7 minutes ago, Simeon said:

 

Think I remember this one from the past as being available at Bunnings believe it or not. Interested in confirming that. 

 

Bunnings has the clear one for $16 bucks, perfect! lol

 

https://www.bunnings.com.au/rust-oleum-312g-clear-leakseal-flexible-rubber-coating-spray_p4750204

[Mike Self]

My pleasure, Rob--always happy to help out a fellow tinkerer.  BTW the trick on positioning the fan in the right spot on the new motor is to measure the distance between the fan hub and the motor body before going after the armature with a hacksaw.  That is a critical dimension, and if you're off the fan will hit the heater housing...and more subtly, it can hit the "cold air mixer door" when the fan is freewheeling, causing a soft dinging sound as you motor along.  

 

cheers

mike

[rmoore007ri]

Rust-Oleum LeakSeal Flexible Rubber Coating  available at Walmart, Amazon, ebay . . .