The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Broken fan blade bolt

I store my 3/4 ton truck at a warehouse over the winter. After I dropped it off at the warehouse they called me and said my water pump was leaking after they parked it. So I found a pump over the winter.

In my haste to complete a water pump swap on the truck over at the warehouse, I broke off one of the bolts that holds the fan to the pulley. Ckean right off into the pulley. I had to leave it that way so I could get the truck out of storage on time.

Does anyone think the remaining thre bolts will be hold the fan in place? These 1940 trucks have a fairly uncommon water pump, so I would have to remove the bolt before looking for another water pump. But I don't want to replace the radiator if the fan comes loose either.

Thanks.

I wouldn't trust it. Better to get the bolt taken care of and not risk destroing the rad.
Something you might consider, though, would be to remove the pump, drill out the broken bolt, and Heli-Coil the flange. Could save lots of problems, especially with a hard to find part.

Look at my thread on how to remove broken bolts in the tech section it is actually pretty easy to do. I have removed smaller than the 1/4" that your pump probably has in it. Heck send me the pump and I'll remove it and send it back to you all you will have to pay is the shipping.

I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest you go ahead and drive it, unless you're headed coast to coast or something similar. Once you reach your destination, take the pump off, get it on a drill press table, and center-drill the bolt and use a straight-flute EZ out to remove the stub. Don't try to eyeball it and use a hand drill, or you'll probably damage the thread.
Jerry

I would drive it home as long as you dont build up any high RPM.

Sorry for not being clear. I drove it home and all was fine. The RPMs on the old 216 are pretty low and I only had to drive about 12 miles.

I guess I will bite the bullet and pull the pump. It is a 1/4 inch bolt, so it is small. The whole thing comes apart pretty easy. If I can't get it out maybe I'll get really mad or desperate and send my pump to Brad. Thanks for the offer.

I don't own any easy outs, but I have a gift card from Christmas burning a hole in my wallet, I guess I can use.

You guys are great to have around.

Thanks,

Yes, fix it right. Running it with one bolt head missing will mess with the balance of the fan. You don't want any funny vibrations running around in there.

If you broke it off tightening it, it will come out pretty easy. I have drilled a hole and hammered a masonry nail in the hole and removed bolts. I filed the end of the nail to look like a Philip's head and tapped it in a hole just a little deeper than a screw head and not quite as big as big as the nail end. I guess you can call it the poor man's easy out. It stamped slot that held up well enough to back the bolt out with my cordless drill and a screw driver bit. Granted the bolt was softer than the nail and the fan bolt may be harder but you shouldn't have to get to radical with it to get it out. I have also drilled a head bolt and used JB weld to glue a stud that I could get some vice grips on. In both cases they were not really stuck just broken to short to get a grip on. I do have a set of easy outs now and they are great.