Can I run with only 5 fan pulley spacers temporarily?

[markmalin]

In 101 Projects, Wayne says to make sure there are always 6 spacers. I just pulled the fan belt to replace it and only count 5. Can I run it like this for a couple days, only using 5, or is 6 that critical??

(anyone in the Phoenix area have a spare?)

Thanks
Mark

[356911930]

Mark,

Edit!

I just talked with a mechanic friend and it looks like I was wrong about the shims. You must have all six shims installed to keep the proper clamping load on the alternator. It is possible to tighten down the alternator nut and have it contact the key on the shaft and not realize the pulley halves are not actually properly tightened.

Rahl


Quote from Grady Clay:

You should keep the shims between the pulley half and the fan in
perfect condition. They determine the tension in the belt and
control the runout in the outer pulley half. As said above, the
outer shims are just storage and prevent the nut/cup washer
from running out of threads on the alternator shaft.

But, Grady goes on to say...

The cup shaped washer commonly becomes deformed with the
center pushed in toward the fan. This has the same effect as
running less than six total shims. The nut bottoms out at the
end of the threads on the alternator shaft. The result is the nut
is tight but not clamping the pulley halves together. The outer
half is loose (or at least not clamped tightly) and everything
gets ruined. Replace the cup washer if deformed at all. It is
cheap compared to the alternative.


So I guess it depends on how confident you are that you have enough threads and clearance to clamp the pulley properly.

Rahl

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by 356911930

Mark,

As long as you have enough threads on the alternator shaft, to tighten the nut without hitting the last thread, you should be fine. I would not doubt that many Porsches are running around with less than 6 shims.

Rahl

Thanks. I was able to get the belt tensioned correctly with 4 on the inside and 1 on the outside, and the threads seem fine - thanks for the tip. I'll pick up another from the dealer Monday.

[sugarwood]

Yes, you can.
If you think about it, the ones on the outside don't do anything.
They are just stored there under the cup
Only the inside ones matter for pulley spacing

[winders]

Wow. The “ones on the outside” do indeed do something.

Read what Grady Clay has to say in this thread:

Pulley Shims, Wrong Config?

[proporsche]

[QUOTE=winders;11068863]Wow. The “ones on the outside” do indeed do something.

Read what Grady Clay has to say in this thread:



yup,simple as this;-)

Ivan

[eastbay]

I don't think I've ever taken one apart that had the correct number of shims, happen to anyone else?


So based on that, yea you're fine.

[$yncro]

When I took my 3.0 apart there was only 5, so I ordered
Another shim from pelican in case I would need it for the
Assembly.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by winders

Wow. The “ones on the outside” do indeed do something.

Read what Grady Clay has to say in this thread:

Pulley Shims, Wrong Config?

Grady was talking about overtightening the pulley nut. Common sense.
Why don't you read the link you posted and tell us what the shims on the outside do?
They do nothing.

[LIRS6]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Grady was talking about overtightening the pulley nut. Common sense.
Why don't you read the link you posted and tell us what the shims on the outside do?
They do nothing.

Suggest to re-read that thread; Grady's comment in his post #6, 3rd paragraph.

Jason

[sugarwood]

As said above, the
outer shims are just storage and prevent the nut/cup washer
from running out of threads on the alternator shaft.

Yea, I read it, and it is complete nonsense.
The threads of the shaft run all the way to the base.
The cup washer's height is higher than the depth of the alignment block notch.
It is impossible to run of of threads.
Anyone who has replaced a fan belt knows the shims on the outside do nothing.

[shadowjack1]

Order several. Nothing like having one drop into the bottom of the engine while changing the belt road side. Keep the extras in the glove box. Or carry a magnet to fish it out.

[winders]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Grady was talking about overtightening the pulley nut. Common sense.
Why don't you read the link you posted and tell us what the shims on the outside do?
They do nothing.

Can't you see that why the washers need to be moved to the outside if they are not used between the outer pulley and the fan? It keeps the nut in exactly the same place on the alternator shaft no matter how the pulley is adjusted.

But no, they don't do anything.....

[proporsche]

Scott... do not bother dude;-))))

Ivan

[Walt Fricke]

I've seen several fans basically ruined for lack of the total stack thickness. You can get away with missing one or two for a short while, but the threads are not "full depth." Which means the outer pulley half will be a bit loose. Which means that over time the pulley half will wear a groove in the shaft, and eventually the shaft wont have its flat parts where they lock the half to the shaft and inner pulley part. Pictures of this can be found on Pelican, with guys wondering if it can be repaired.

This is not like some of the rather overblown nit picky stuff that gets discussed.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by winders

Can't you see that why the washers need to be moved to the outside if they are not used between the outer pulley and the fan? It keeps the nut in exactly the same place on the alternator shaft no matter how the pulley is adjusted.

But no, they don't do anything.....

That is the dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum.

Why would the nut need to be in the same place ?
It makes zero difference where the nut is located on the threads.
It's a nut and bolt. It just needs to be tight.
You could extend the stud 6 feet and stack 500 washers and it wouldn't make any difference.

The outer shims do nothing.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Walt Fricke

but the threads are not "full depth."

Wrong, the threads are full depth.
Once the cup washer is on, it is impossible to run out of thread.
Read post #11 again.

[sugarwood]

Q: Can I run with only 5 fan pulley spacers ?
A: Yes, you already are.

[winders]

Oh brother....

What you have to worry about is the cup washer bottoming out on the fan center BEFORE it clamps the pulley half down against the fixed pulley half/spacers.

Think about it.....

[sugarwood]

Saying stupid crap like "Oh, brother" does not make you any less wrong.

Yea, like I already said twice, that's physically impossible.
Read post #11