Found the Achilles' Heel of my BX25 (HST Fan)

[Ken73]

Sorry man I don't know, I guess I was generically speaking about any fan. I tried to repair a heater fan once and it exploded.

No sweat Clint, thanks for responding anyway! I called my dealer and had them order me two just to be safe, but it's easily going to be a week now before I get them because of Thanksgiving. Interesting though, they told me the warehouse is in Fort Worth which isn't that far up the road from me (4 hours or so.) So they typically get ordered parts within a day, and their price is pretty close to what I saw online ($7 or so?) Made it a real easy choice. I made buddies with the sales guy and the owner of the dealership so they've been real nice to me.

I do think I'm still going to attempt to glue the blades back on - since there's really nothing under there that the plastic blades could hurt anyway. I found 9 of the 10 blades so I figured I'd put 5 on to balance it out somewhat (every other blade.) I'd just like to be able to use it this week while I'm off. I've got some minor work around the property I've been wanting to do (like digging post holes and a trench) so hopefully that'll be good enough for a temporary basis until the new fan comes in and I can put it on. If it was the heat of south Texas summer I wouldn't chance it but it's cooled off quite a bit down here (it's in the 70's!)

Oddly enough, the dealer didn't say diddly about how difficult it is to put one on so I suspect he's not aware of the issue.

As for the Bro-Tek plates, I'm looking at the set mentioned above in the thread, since he's close to me - that is, if the ones for the B2660 are the same for my BX25. Otherwise I might look at making some of my own.

 

[RTII]

If I can find out if they fit - I just might be interested. I saw those in the various threads and unfortunately you don't really find out about them until your fan is ruined. My wife and I drive up to B/CS every once in a while for a change of scenery and something different to eat so it's really not far for us at all.

Ken, PM in your box. Looks like the BX2660 and BX25 skid plates are the same. Let me know and good luck with the fan repair/replacement. Hopefully fairly painless.

 

[Ken73]

Ugh. I crawled under the tractor this morning with the intent of gluing 5 blades back on only to find the shaft boot was shredded too. I'm really contemplating taking it to the dealer and just letting them fix it since I have the insurance. I'll be getting the Bro-Tek skid plates soon enough so I wouldn't have to worry about it again but was mostly hoping for a temporary repair so I could use it for some of my projects.

Does anyone know if the fan is necessary if you're just driving around and not pulling/pushing anything heavy? (Since it is, afterall, the HST fan?) I have some backhoe projects (which is stationary) and a couple of post holes to dig (also stationary.) It isn't freezing down here in Texas but it's certainly cooler than it has been.

 

[westcliffe01]

Are there not accessible ports that allow an externally fitted oil cooler to be installed ? That would resolve the issue 100% and probably reduce fuel consumption a bit too.

 

[radioman]

you need the fan. just check the heat coming off from it on a hot day after a hard days of work. There was a guy trying to have a split fan made of plastic with a plastic shroud on it.

 

[Clint S]

If the insurance will cover it, I would consider just letting the dealer fix it right. It should be considered a collision. After it is fixed install the skid and be done with it. Any other fix my last for years or days and hopefully it is not at at time when you need it most.

 

[Ken73]

If the insurance will cover it, I would consider just letting the dealer fix it right. It should be considered a collision. After it is fixed install the skid and be done with it. Any other fix my last for years or days and hopefully it is not at at time when you need it most.

I was considering doing it myself, but after getting up under there and seeing that not only is the fan shredded of all the blades, but the boot seal is also torn off - I said to heck with it. I've already unloaded my trailer (about 2000+ lbs of material!) and drove it up on there to take it tomorrow. Thankfully I live REAL close to my dealer (3 miles at most?) so it's not a big deal to take it to them. I'm friends with the owner and my sales guy so hopefully they'll help me out. I've got a few other minor things (busted ROPS knob, knocked my SMV bracket off the backhoe) that maybe they can fix too while I have it there. If I'm paying the deductible hopefully they will.

Already arranged to pickup a complete set of plates from the gent in B/CS, so once I get those, I'll slap them on and forget it. I don't have a MMM so there's no worry there.

Thanks again to everyone that replied - maybe if I had my shop up and running I would consider doing it but I've only been here about a year and a half and my shop is still just a dirt floor at the moment (that's why I bought the tractor!)

 

[fernandobeltza]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...1023394-bx25-hst-fan-replacement-000_0429.jpg

Looking at this picture I wonder if I can cut that shaft, and after replacing the fan hook it back together? Can anyone tell me what would be the best method to to re attach it! Something other than welding it, just in case the fan breaks again I want to be able to detach it easily!

 

[Ken73]

Looking at this picture I wonder if I can cut that shaft, and after replacing the fan hook it back together? Can anyone tell me what would be the best method to to re attach it! Something other than welding it, just in case the fan breaks again I want to be able to detach it easily!

Unless you can weld on two bolt-together faces, I wouldn't even consider it. I wound up taking mine to the dealer and paying the $250 deductible. I'm actually picking up my Bro-tek skid plates from another member on here tomorrow to ensure this doesn't happen again.

To be honest, there really isn't a lot of room under there. Kinda wish someone would make a metal replacement, or better yet - a replacement with flexible blades that won't pop off!

 

[radioman]

cut?! I wouldnt consider it on my BX! Its much easier to slide engine forward and such then to cut and have balance issues later. I am sure after you replace the fan the first time - it would go faster the next time it happens, but then I am sure you would put a skid plate on it so fast first .....