Only 4 fan shims?? Help!
 

I took apart my well running car to find that there are only 4 fan shims while I'm expecting 6. I am assuming I need them, right? Should I put it back with 4 and risk it? I'm in the middle of the job, please help!


Also, it's a pain typing with latex gloves on....:D

You should check your fan to see if a groove is being worn into the shaft.

I think running with too few shims can ruin the fan.

the somewhat rectangle male mount edge becomes slotted if there is slop.

Steve,

You might as weel take the gloves off ... NO, you shouldn't reassemble with only four shims!!! I assume some 'chewing up' of the fan hub - inner pulley half has already occured ...

Maybe a dab of JB Weld can fill in the damage, as a properly assembled pulley/hub assembly doesn't have any tendency for rotational stresses on the inner hub with relation to the outer hub. The clamping force of the alternator nut on the 'stack' of shims, washers, and hubs keeps everything tight, and all rotational force is tranferred to the fan and alternator shaft!

If you want to look at a worst-case scenario of what can happen with only four shims in place ... take a look at this thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/75848-have-i-done-any-damage.html

Well everything looks OK in this photo doesn't it? I suppose I"m going to be ordering a couple o' shims.
:mad:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1092500633.jpg

Steve,

I see apparent damage at the back edge of the hub where the 'flats' intersect the body of the hub that the fan is riveted to ... fairly minor, so far ...

Another pic taken farther off to the right, looking at the 45° angle of the 'flat' would help ...

More photos
 

Here are some more photos.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1092506581.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1092506606.jpg

Steve,

Well, the damage to the hub looks minimal and nothing to worry about! I have seen much worse! The outer pulley half appears to have been replaced since the damage to the hub was done, as it is too pristeen on the inside to have done that slow-speed milling job!

Get the additional shims, and reassemble with the six shims and proper fan belt tension ... and everything should be fine with fan/pulley/alternator shaft.

at a pca tech session, i watch a mechanic smear a tiny bit of grease on each shim. that way they kinda stuck together making the job easier without them all squirming about independently of each other. i would definately find another two before proceding.

just curious, where where the four shims. all on the inside? one out,? etc?

Thanks, guys.

Vash, they were all on the outside. Imagine my surprise when there were none on the inside! I kept looking and looking...

The PO was fairly meticulous about the car and it's maintenance so I found this kinda odd. (When I bought it, I got the screws for the front license never installed and the Blaupunct "test tape".)