General Tech Fan Not Backward — Balancers

[KVH]

I know! How basic. But I’m looking at my fan blades. They will curve back toward the engine and draw air turning clockwise even if I flip the fan over backwards. So what’s the tell-tale test of having the fan correctly oriented? I’m not seeing how it would perform differently.

Also, I appear to have two identical balancers on my fan. Is that typical to have two, one directly on top of the other? They match up, with a machined hole to line up to the hole on the fan extension, so I’m assuming they are both needed, but it seems like a lot of weight on one side of the extension, and I would think that one would’ve been sufficient.

 

[bobhustead]

There is a curved edge and a square edge on the fan blades. The curved edge leads. At least that's how I mounted mine. I do not recall any 'balancers' as mentioned in your post. My engine and crank mounted accessories were balanced by a machine shop and balance was achieved by removal of metal via drill holes, not adding metal. If you need to turn your fan over, you will also have to rotate it 180 degrees in order to best retain machine shop balancing.
Bob

 

[charlie74]

I’m not sure about yours but my fan is labeled “FRONT” and the blades have a definite airfoil profile where the curved side of the blade should be forward…

 

[CJD]

The balancing pieces are "as required" to balance the fan. Some fans may need none, while others may need them doubled in one spot.

 

[Popeye]

Are you using the original fan? I mounted mine s shown in the attached photo.

And I put the balance weights as they were originally; I did not try to improve the balance.

 

[KVH]

Perfect. Thank you. I found most mounted like yours, and a couple of rebels the other way. I’m convinced you’re right.