Hayden Fan Clutch - Diesel Forum

RonKZ650 · 11-02-2009, 11:30 AM

I'm wondering if I'm just not lucky or if the entire Hayden line of fan clutch for our trucks does not work? Here's the story. My original fan clutch still worked but I thought it came on too often in the summer so I get a Hayden, install it to find it never shuts off, so noisey as all heck, remove it reinstall the original, send it back and get a second clutch, install it to have the same issue, reinstall the original and send this one back. This time Hayden hand checked one to insure it works, sends it out, I install it. This one stays locked for about 7 miles then works OK, until the truck is parked for more than 5 min at which point it is locked for another 7 miles or so. So at any temperature the clutch is fully locked most the time. Needless to say I'm tired of doing this job. So my question is do I have to spend $400 or more for the Motorcraft part or any recommendations on one that may work. I replaced the thermostat just to be sure it wasn't something dumb on my end, but the truck cooling sysem works fine, just the fan clutch is a major headache for me.

ryhed · 11-02-2009, 01:05 PM

Switch to an electric fan with the thermostat included. Takes some of the mechanical load off the engine and help with mpg.

Garbage_Mechanic · 11-02-2009, 03:06 PM

Ron,

I have run into the same problem with Hayden for another application, same symtoms as the second unit you installed. I warrantied a couple of them before finally getting one that worked OK out of the box but went to the prolonged lock up on cold start you described. About that time I dropped down to about 1000 miles a year (cattle truck) and quit worrying about it. It is still doing it 5 yrs later.......

RonKZ650 · 11-08-2009, 06:55 PM

Update, I paid $300 for the original Ford fan clutch and surprize--- It doesn't work. I think Hayden makes the clutch for ford as it looks and acts the same as all. I drove 100 miles in city and mixture of 75mph highway and 100 miles fully locked sounding like I'm in a stupid helicopter. Damn garbage and I've now spent $500 and 8 times changing out new ones and swapping back in the original. So truck cannot be repaired, put back in the original that doesn't work, but doesn't work better than the new ones.

Garbage_Mechanic · 11-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Ron, lets back up here for a minute. What triggers the clutch to be on?

Air temp.

A radiator that is partially plugged and concentrates flow in the center will have higher temp, thus causing the fan to come on. Any way your radiator is partially plugged either externally or internally causing a concentrated hot spot in the center where the bi metal spring senses the temp?

nashvillebill · 11-09-2009, 08:00 PM

I had the exact same thought. I could see one defective fan, but multiple ones? Maybe the fans are indeed working properly!!

Maybe a good radiator flush would be in order...

l.gerard · 11-09-2009, 10:09 PM

Thumbs up on the radiator flush and cleaning. I put a Hayden on a couple weeks ago and my truck still sounded like a tornado rolling down the road. Took a look at my radiator and the entire bottom half was caked thick with dirt. So after a radiator removal, a good cleaning of it with compressed air, and a radiator flush it isn't engaged near as much. I would still say that it's engaged anytime i start but it usually goes off after a minute or less.

RonKZ650 · 11-09-2009, 10:30 PM

Thanks for the thoughts. I have drained and flushed the radiator as well as changed the thermostat. I took the liberty to "disassemble" my 3rd Hayden unit. This took a while with a saw and a chisel, but I got it apart so I can basically see how it works. Not that it matters, but in case anyones interested it looks like basically the way it works is there's a thick oil in the clutch and as it's spinning it flings to the outside and is allowed through a hole where it goes into a cavity in the center where it's held. As temperature heats to a certain point two small windows are opened by the bimetal strip and fluid fills the clutch plates and makes for a sort of hydraulic lock locking the 2 parts of the clutch together. As temperature goes down the windows close, fluid drains back into the cavity and no more hydraulic condition so fan "should" freewheel to about 700-800RMP max. This third Hayden was the one that "worked", but took 7 miles to unlock. From all I can tell the clutch is working in the bimetal part and window opening, but the oil is so thick almost like vasaline it takes heat before it thins out enough to flow back into the cavity to allow the clutch to unlock, so just defective design.
In the mean time I reinstalled my original clutch for the 4th time and it works fine 95% of the time, so I guess I'll just be happy with that.