BX24 Radiator fan replacement

[310-510]

Bird1968,
Thanks Richard,
That looks real good. Just got back from another 18 hours of seat time over the weekend. It would have been 24 hours except I took another stick in the HST fan this time. Tomorrow the HST shaft will be torn out and the fan replaced.

Carl

 

[310-510]

Just finished putting the BX back together from the HST fan replacement. Moving the engine forward was not as tough as I thought it would be. The worst of it was getting the handles off the levers for removal of the fender. It appears as if the handles had melted to the metal lever from the Arizona heat! The entire job was 10 hours of work over 2 days.

 

[310-510]

It didn't take long to get another stick in the HST fan. Just under 24 hours of seat time and I heard the fan noise twice.

The pictures are of my new fan installed and almost completed and my new HST fan with a stick. The last picture is the same stick except from the fan end. The stick end is barely visible near the fan.


Nothing was broke, it just made lots of noise.

 

[santacruzer]

Carse,

Sorry about your experience...what a PITA that must have been!!

I have a BX 2350.... pretty close in most everything to the BX24. I wake up screaming at night for the fear of the same thing happening to me. I haven't done anything about belly protection yet (I guess I secretly like living on the edge). I had considered the entire Bro Tec underbelly kit but from what you say the "stick thing" happened even though you did have the Bro Tec.

Since you are now in the ranks of those that can be called "one having a considered opinion" what would you advise at this point to avoid the "stick thing" again. That Bro Tec looked pretty good but....sh** happens I guess.

The low profile of the BX has a lot of advantages... but sticks never sleep.

Thanks. Paul

 

[donn12]

Carce,
My HST fan boot ripped off and I did not replace it. I don't think the original boot had anything in it. Is a replacement boot a necessity? And would you recommend the Brotek protective plate?
Thanks for your help!

 

[310-510]

If I had not been cheap and would have bought the Bro-Tek front skid plate with my rear skid plate, the HST fan would have been safe. Richard (Bro-Tek) is building a radiator fan protection plate and I will post results here after a week or so in the woods.

Santacruzer, get all the skid plates you can! I like Bro-Tek's.

Donn12, The HST fan shaft (referred to as the propeller shaft) has 4 small ball bearings and rubber ring dampers inside. They sit in grease. I stuffed as much grease as possible behind the snap ring and washer, then put the inner tube fix over the top. Dirt would sure make those small parts wear out faster IMHO. And yes, I would recommend Bro-Tek's skid plates.

If Bro-Tek's plates can protect my BX24 in this stump row cleanup, it'll protect your BX also.