94 Flair Motothome w/93 6.5L - Harmonic Balancer Qestions

[FellowTraveler]

I'm a Fluidamper fan

Hands down best balancer for the 6.5

 

[Husker6.5]

Or, you could eliminate that Rube Goldberg contraption and replace it with the dual Flex-i-lite electric fan setup for the Duramax, which wasn't available at the time your motorhome was built since the D-max was still 7 years away.

 

[Will L.]

I still say put a runout gauge against it to be sure. Either friend that has one to borrow or $30.
http://m.summitracing.com/parts/sum-900016-1?seid=srese1&gclid=CPP3ndeIgckCFU9rfgodxPAILg

I would start buying parts now as you can afford it and do all at once:
Change the harmonic balancer, Fluid damper best choice here for sure, NO CHEAPIES OR YOU WILL EAT A CRANKSHAFT. You have more load on the front of that already proven weak crankshaft/main cap set up. A front seal,starting to leak now, and that water pump (upgrade to balanced flow) at same time while it's all open. And a new AC Delco crankshaft pulley to finish it off.

Then you should carry in the rig, since you easily have the room, spare belt and tensioner for that set up. Maybe install a new one now to see if it helps and keep old one in the rig. If that proves to fix it- buy a second new one now to keep w/ you. When that tensioner goes out on a trip you'll be overheating on the side of a road looking at a big tow bill. That tensioner/drive design isn't the greatest, but isn't worth the hassle of redesign. That concept is used on multiple rv's. Even if you pay a shop to fix it parts availablity will change 1 day of vacation lost into a week.

On the plus side your water pump bearings and seal should last forever with the missing can load, so enjoy that you'll never have to do that again.

 

[Burning oil]

FYI FD balancer here.
http://leroydiesel.com/products/fluid-damper-for-ds4-or-db2/

 

[jrsavoie]

Or, you could eliminate that Rube Goldberg contraption and replace it with the dual Flex-i-lite electric fan setup for the Duramax, which wasn't available at the time your motorhome was built since the D-max was still 7 years away.

I did not know there was an electric fan that would replace the OEM fans on our old 6.5's.

Is this a replacement for our fans?

I have heard of a few good fan upgrades. I have always wanted an electric, but was always told it was not do-able

 

[Husker6.5]

I did not know there was an electric fan that would replace the OEM fans on our old 6.5's.

Is this a replacement for our fans?

I have heard of a few good fan upgrades. I have always wanted an electric, but was always told it was not do-able

Should fit with little or no modification:
https://www.flex-a-lite.com/direct-fit-dual-electric-fans-for-01-05-chevrolet-truck-diesel.html

 

[Will L.]

Does anyone have a specification on what the factory fan and da clutch moves? Those two electric fan show 6000 CFM. Idk that is nearly what a regular fan moves.

 

[Burning oil]

Supposed to be around 10,000 CFM

 

[Will L.]

That would explain their description of warming up quicker. I think I would pass on losing 40% .

 

[jrsavoie]

I ifgured if there was a good electric fan kit available, Leroy would have it and sell it

 

[JayTheCPA]

Or, you could . . . replace it with the dual Flex-i-lite electric fan setup for the Duramax. . .

I'd check with the company first as a couple years ago when I last looked into electric fans, Flex-A-Lite had a weight limitation and was not for heavier rigs. I just looked at their site and the fan specs looked the same from what I recall a couple years ago, but now there is no mention of weight limitation. So I'd ask for clarification prior to installing them in a heavy rig.

 

[WarWagon]

Supposed to be around 10,000 CFM

I used a wind speed meter for checking the wind at a track and measured the radiator of a 395 HP 400 Ft Lb 6500 RPM Redline LS2 Trailblazer SS. Hood closed, all radiators in place aka FULL RESTRICTION! The 21" fan was pulling 10,000 CFM at full EV clutch lockup depending on RPM.

Electric fans cheat and rate the CFM freestanding. That is no radiator restriction, engine in the way, hood closed, etc.

The same fan dropped into Patch, because I am cheap, started running hot the first grade going to Lake Havasu. No AC, Heater on high, and over 100 degrees outside. That day I dropped a Duramax fan in it and never had running that hot issues again. The Pitch on the 21" fans was different. Conclusion: the Duramax fan moves at least 10,000 CFM at lower RPM. (This project resulted in a thicker radiator being developed aftermarket for the Trailblazer SS.)

Electric fans are light duty daily driver. The 1/2 ton RAM Ecodiesel uses them and the operating temps when towing are very high - the engine requiring a special synthetic oil from the word go. HD 3/4 ton diesel RAMs have a huge clutch fan.

Your motor home is absolutly HD use. I guess your fan is even bigger than the Duramax fan we use. (Diameter, blades, pitch.) The best cooling improvement for heavy use like yours is actually a bigger turbo.

 

[Husker6.5]

It was just a suggestion.

 

[WarWagon]

It was just a suggestion.

No harm no foul. Ideas like this lead to a good discussion.

 

[Husker6.5]

That divorce mounted fan reminds me of a skid steer's cooling system, which now has me thinking that that whole drive belt idler/tensioner system could be simply replaced with a hydraulic motor directly driving the stock (or a Duramax) fan like in the newer skid steers.

 

[Burning oil]

The conversion would be up there $$

 

[Husker6.5]

The conversion would be up there $$

Not really. Go to SurplusCenter.com and check out their big selection of hydraulic pumps and motors. You could mount the pump where the vacuum pump would mount with a remote fluid reservoir, (or perhaps even tap into the HydroBoost system?) and use a hydraulic motor to drive the fan. Put a 12V clutch on the pump activated by a thermoswitch to kick the fan in when needed, if one wanted to.

 

[Burning oil]

Sounds way easier to say than do. How do you control fan speed? is it always just on? custom brackets...ect

 

[Twisted Steel Performance]

Not really. Go to SurplusCenter.com and check out their big selection of hydraulic pumps and motors. You could mount the pump where the vacuum pump would mount with a remote fluid reservoir, (or perhaps even tap into the HydroBoost system?) and use a hydraulic motor to drive the fan. Put a 12V clutch on the pump activated by a thermoswitch to kick the fan in when needed, if one wanted to.

That's funny, their is a vendor here that has already produced a hyd clutch for this motor.. has it's own stand alone controller, free wheels, works with AC, tuneable kick on temp, etc. uses a humvee fan (well mine does)..

 

[Husker6.5]

That's funny, their is a vendor here that has already produced a hyd clutch for this motor.. has it's own stand alone controller, free wheels, works with AC, tuneable kick on temp, etc. uses a humvee fan (well mine does)..

So where were you with that little tidbit when this discussion began way back when????