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  #1  
Old 04-28-2004, 05:27 PM
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Question Replacing belt-driven fan w/ electric

I've got a 16 inch, 2900 CFM electric fan that I want to replace my stock radiator fan with. I don't think I'll have any trouble wiring up the new fan, but I'm not sure how to remove the old one. I know at least a few people on this board have claimed to have done this, but I couldn't find any specifics.

So, how do I remove the stock fan? Is it also possible to remove the pulley completely? It doesn't look like it unless there are shorter belts I could use to keep the alternator going. Does anyone whose done this have any other advice?

Thanks!

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'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)
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Old 04-28-2004, 07:05 PM
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Re: Replacing belt-driven fan w/ electric

Quote:
Originally posted by 81Wagon
Is it also possible to remove the pulley completely? It doesn't look like it unless there are shorter belts I could use to keep the alternator going. Does anyone whose done this have any other advice?

Thanks!
There are four bolts holding the fan in place. you will have to grind down a wrench (10mm or 13mm?) to clear the space.

The pully the fan is on is the water pump. I would leave the pump alone unless you like running at 120*c

Other than that, it's a very easy swap. It also takes quite a load off the engine.
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Old 04-28-2004, 07:21 PM
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Thanks for the info. I see four bolts on the fan side and four on the pulley side (they look 13mm). Which are the four I want to remove?

I'm sure that $%*#@ water pump is sucking up precious HP too. I could maybe install a pedal-powered pump in the passenger seat instead; I have a few friends that owe me favors...
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'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)
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Old 04-28-2004, 07:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by 81Wagon
Thanks for the info. I see four bolts on the fan side and four on the pulley side (they look 13mm). Which are the four I want to remove?
I believe it's the 4 bolts going into the pully. My car did not have a fan shroud when I bought it so I have no clue how to remove it.
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Old 04-28-2004, 07:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by 82-300td
I believe it's the 4 bolts going into the pully. My car did not have a fan shroud when I bought it so I have no clue how to remove it.
Shroud looks easy to remove, I haven't tried but it just seems to be held on by some metal clips. Does it need to be removed? I was planning on leaving it on...
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Old 04-28-2004, 07:58 PM
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Many of us old guys appreciate the fact that a diesel can get you home without electricity... at least in the day time.... Peh drove across many states after his alternator gave out... parking on a hill with a stick will even allow you to turn it off over night....
I suggest you leave the fan on it.... particularly since you have one of the ' freewheeling' types... as compared to the hard bolted 240 setup... just be sure the viscous clutch is working according to specs....
I have been stranded many a time due to electricity.... I would never do anything which might ruin an engine which was trying to get me home in a tight situation....
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  #7  
Old 04-28-2004, 08:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by leathermang
Many of us old guys appreciate the fact that a diesel can get you home without electricity... at least in the day time.... Peh drove across many states after his alternator gave out... parking on a hill with a stick will even allow you to turn it off over night....
I suggest you leave the fan on it.... particularly since you have one of the ' freewheeling' types... as compared to the hard bolted 240 setup... just be sure the viscous clutch is working according to specs....
I have been stranded many a time due to electricity.... I would never do anything which might ruin an engine which was trying to get me home in a tight situation....
While I like electric fans for several reasons, the man has a damn good point. My alternator brushes were due for there quarter million mile replacement yesterday, and I put a good hundred miles, half day half night on the car before I got around to it.

As a side *****, the stupid idiot light was nice enough to at least glow very dimly for a brief time before it went out all together, and ceased to charge at all. I hate idiot lights.
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  #8  
Old 04-28-2004, 08:55 PM
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I've got a AAA membership, and there's always the Mercedes roadside assistance too. Anything short of the alternator blowing up shouldn't be a problem anyhow (I carry extra voltage regulators and belts). It's a "new" rebuilt alternator, so spontaneous alternator death should be unlikely. The only time I've ever had an electrical problem was just last month, when my old voltage regulator crapped out. Quick and easy to fix.

I'll take the risks
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Old 04-28-2004, 09:06 PM
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Just as an observation (now, don't take this the wrong way), what you got there is an 81 300TD, natural aspirated Diesel station wagon. And you want to what, remove the mechanical fan and install an electric. In the original post, no real reason was given, then you allude to the waterpump "sucking up precious HP", so you want to remove the fan I assume to also "release" some of this precious "wasted HP". On an 81, 300TD, naturally aspirated, Diesel, station wagon.
What is incorrect about this image?

Gilly
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  #10  
Old 04-29-2004, 01:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Gilly
On an 81, 300TD, naturally aspirated, Diesel, station wagon.
What is incorrect about this image?
The "naturally aspirated" part. MB started making the turbo sometime in mid '81, thank goodness .

My pressure release valve shorted out for a bit today (washing the engine, guess it the contacts got wet) and I was essentially NA for a while this afternoon.... ugh.
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  #11  
Old 04-29-2004, 07:20 AM
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I still think your performance gain in the "real world" will not be noticeable, not worth the time and effort.

Gilly
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  #12  
Old 04-29-2004, 07:37 AM
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You can remove the fan and reinstall the 10MM bolts that hold the fan to the water pump, drive the car without the fan. You don't really need it unless you hit a significant amount of stop and go traffic in hot weather. I agree with Gilly, you will not be able to notice any difference at all.

BTW when the electric fan is running your alternator is going to have to do a significant amount of work to power the fan, I would guess your fan is going to draw at least 30 amps. The time you really need the fan is in stop and go traffic, most stock MB alternators will not be able to put out 30 amps at idle speed so you may drain your battery in an extended traffic jam. I guess there are not all that many traffic jams in Calfornia these days - with fuel at $2.50 a gallon I bet more people are staying home.

Your MB has a visco coupling that mostly free wheels until needed - seems like an optimal setup right out of the box.

If you do go ahead with the fan make sure you run relays and fuses.
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Old 04-29-2004, 07:46 AM
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Good point. PLUS then the alternator will actually be using more HP to turn because of the increased load from the electric fan.......

Gilly
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  #14  
Old 04-29-2004, 08:41 AM
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"I'll take the risks"

Famous Last Words.... LOL

All of the reasons listed are right on the money.... however, I checked his profile and he was BORN the same year as the car was made....

Lots of young people get upset when their age is mentioned....but there are reasons that there are minimum ages for being elected to certain offices...

As I stated before... your car has the viscous automatic fan clutch... so you are really not gaining anything taking it out.... and you are risking Plenty ....
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  #15  
Old 04-29-2004, 08:54 AM
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81wagon,

For once Leathermang and I agree.

The only reason other cars have electric fans is that they put the engine in the wrong way (transverse) and couldn't put the fan on the front of the engine.

Don't you have an auxiliary electric fan on your car? That's there to assist the engine fan when driving in traffic with your engine idleing. The boys in Germany have it all figured out, you can't out do them.

P E H

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