lindatr4 Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Having suffered (and seethed!) with overheating in heavy traffic I fitted a Kenlowe fan and thermostat with an overide switch for those moments when you see the traffic jam ahead and need a "head start" on the impending temperature rise. I removed the mechanical fan and I am now toying with the idea of removing the hub extension from the end of the crankshaft. Any opinions and/or previous experience greatly received! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 (edited) Hi Linda, the the extension is held in by that big central bolt. Once removed a shorter bolt and big washer will hold the pulley in place. Removing the extension will make fitting fan belts easier. The big bolt will be tight. Roger Edited August 17, 2016 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geko Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 very tight Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lindatr4 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Having read further on the subject, it would appear that there is some contention regarding the removal of the hub extension. It is said that the hub acts as a damper for the crankshaft and there is evidence of broken crankshafts following its removal. Others have said that one can obtain a purpose built damper (basically a fat weighted washer) as a replacement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 17, 2016 Report Share Posted August 17, 2016 Hi Linda, extensions have been removed and cranks have broken - there is NO connection at all. Cranks with fans break. Cranks with NO extension do 100,000's miles. Remove the extension and count the miles (scientific study). There are no purpose built dampers for the 4 pot crank. There are dampers that people fit. And they really do believe they do some good. There is NO science or numbers to prove it. I know there will be posters saying the opposite. However they will be a little short of facts and numbers. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 Linda? Over 40 years ago I fitted a second hand Kenlowe fan to my 4A (pushing from in front of the radiator). I removed the then redundant mechanical fan and also the extension, simply to facilitate occasional subsequent fan belt replacement without the necessity of jacking up the engine to create sufficient clearance between the rack tube and hub extension for the original type deep section "tractor" fan belt. Some time later I was told that the extension served as a damper and I now risked crank breakage. I wasn't convinced and decided to take my chances. I might be tempting providence but the original crank has now done approaching 200K miles without the extension and is still in one piece. Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Guess it boils down to there being no harm in leaving it there, which is what I did. (That was all the go, advice wise, when I did mine.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lindatr4 Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Thanks to everyone for their good advice. Still undecided but also considering a narrow belt conversion so may remove after all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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