Technical Rattling cooling fan

[Arancia]

Well, it’s done all of 12 miles since a complete engine (and everything else) rebuild. It was fine but now when starting and at tickover the cooling fan rattles. Rev the engine and it goes away. At tickover pushing the tinware towards the front of the car and it stops. Release the pressure and it returns. So, I reckon the fan is catching the tinware but to be honest I’m just hoping that someone out there may just have a solution …. without taking all the darn tin ware off. Having removed the big cooling hose I have already checked the tightness of the retaining bolt and the dynamo shaft.
More in hope than expectation…!!

 

[Toshi 975]

Bit of a pain but it might be worth just slackening the tinware mounting screws to see if it settles in a “happier” position, maybe lean on it a little in the right direction.

 

[Arancia]

Bit of a pain but it might be worth just slackening the tinware mounting screws to see if it settles in a “happier” position, maybe lean on it a little in the right direction.

That’s what I need - some pragmatic advice! I’ll give that a go. Thanks Toshi.

 

[Goldnrust]

Possibly also worth pulling the intake hose off and making sure the nut holding the fan hasn't worked it's way loose.

 

[Arancia]

Possibly also worth pulling the intake hose off and making sure the nut holding the fan hasn't worked it's way loose.

Yep - that was my first port of call. Alas, it was tight!
On further investigation it seems if I pull the whole engine forward (p

 

[Arancia]

(fat finger issues)….
If I pull the whole engine backwards the fan rubbing on its housing goes away. I know I should take out the engine and do the job properly but I may just try playing with the engine mount and see what happens.

 

[Goldnrust]

Sounds like @Toshi 975 had the right idea then, hopefully a bit of repositioning of the tin wear will get it sorted.

 

[Arancia]

Here’s hoping…. Tomorrow’s job. If no success then I know that taking out the engine is the right thing to do!

 

[Arancia]

Here’s hoping…. Tomorrow’s job. If no success then I know that taking out the engine is the right thing to do!

Well, it always helps to try to define the problem correctly in the first place….
It wasn’t after all the fan rattling; it was the starter motor not completely disengaging! Heard the rattle whilst sitting with my hand sitting on the starter lever and realised the vibration on my hand and the rattle coincided. Re positioned the cable cleat on the starter lever and it went away. Also I repositioned the hot air duct (it was pressing on the exhaust). So maybe it was both changes that affected the outcome. Anyway just done another 15 miles in it without incident.
Thanks as ever for your thoughts.
Peter