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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 125

United Kingdom 
300tdi viscous coupling.
Is there anyway to lock this so I know the fan is running all the time? drill holes through the coupling and bolt to the back plate?

is there such an item as a fixed fan for a 300tdi engine

Its for my off-road wagon and will be the third viscous coupling I have changed over the last years.

I don’t want to go electric as I said it’s a challenge truck.

Off-roading at the weekend and temp was climbing to the red, today found the viscous coupling not working today, bi metal not locking up and fan easy to spin.
[/u] 2016 Discovery 4
1989 90 CSW V8 (fully rebuilt and running like a dream)
1996 defender tray back fully rebuilt/loaded for challenge events
Post #853423 31st Aug 2020 7:44pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
There's no reason why you can't drill and bolt a viscous unit but why are you going through them so regularly? They are usually a very robust piece of kit. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #853452 31st Aug 2020 8:39pm
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 125

United Kingdom 
landroveranorak
I have no idea, my cooling system is well maintained, no air locks, new radiator install a few months back (tree branch punctured old one), new stat at the same time fitting the rad.

When u say its ok to drill and bolt, I had already drilled a hole late this afternoon as a test (coupling BER) so nothing to lose. With blots installed I can still hold the fan, but turn the 32mm nut? Doesn’t seem right to me. 2016 Discovery 4
1989 90 CSW V8 (fully rebuilt and running like a dream)
1996 defender tray back fully rebuilt/loaded for challenge events
Post #853457 31st Aug 2020 9:02pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2651

Scotland 
Are you using genuine parts couplings? They are a very reliable part and rarely fail.

Not sure if you can drill and bolt them but you could fill the gap between the nut and the body with epoxy which would lock it solid. It would be very noisy to drive though and would sap some power, as well as overcooling to some degree.
Post #853472 31st Aug 2020 9:26pm
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 125

United Kingdom 
Retroanaconda
no previous couplings where either Bearmach or Allmakes

will try today and lock it with epoxy and try it out this weekend in the forest run

as I said not sure what damages them making them useless, they are useless anyway but mines is beyond useless 2016 Discovery 4
1989 90 CSW V8 (fully rebuilt and running like a dream)
1996 defender tray back fully rebuilt/loaded for challenge events
Post #853528 1st Sep 2020 8:02am
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 125

United Kingdom 
Retroanaconda

wee update, the epoxy trick didnt work Big Cry Big Cry Big Cry

so ordered a new coupling borg wagner model, so will try this and see Thumbs Up Thumbs Up doing a forest event on sunday so see if she stays cool Whistle Whistle

cheers for the input Bow down Bow down 2016 Discovery 4
1989 90 CSW V8 (fully rebuilt and running like a dream)
1996 defender tray back fully rebuilt/loaded for challenge events
Post #853812 2nd Sep 2020 12:18pm
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Oldowner



Member Since: 26 Dec 2018
Location: South west
Posts: 623

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Aintree Green
When I have had 300tdis with viscous couplings the failure of the units has caused the viscous coupling to lock solid, that has happened on at least two over the years.
Post #854146 3rd Sep 2020 9:11pm
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BogMonster



Member Since: 05 Feb 2008
Location: Stanley
Posts: 400

Falkland Islands 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
I've replaced a couple in 15 years or so on our vehicles and used Bearmach ones with good success. The bearings usually go rather than the viscous bit, so the fan can wobble.

One option might be to look for one of the old four-bladed fans off a 2.5 petrol or similar, and see if you can fit that. Not sure what the hub fitting looks like - it could be completely impractical.

If you have a cooling problem it could be that all the fins in the radiator are rotted out and/or the bars are blocked, and what you really need is a new radiator core, which if it is making the viscous work very hard might be why the viscous keeps going. After about 10 years the cooling efficiency becomes significantly reduced. ---
2006 Defender 110 SW 300Tdi • 2011 Ford Ranger XLT crewcab • 2015 Defender 110 Station Wagon Utility TDCi
Post #854409 5th Sep 2020 12:03pm
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90roy



Member Since: 21 Jun 2016
Location: Middlesbrough
Posts: 130

United Kingdom 
Just hijacking this thread as I have a related problem.

Should the viscous fan spin, even when cold?

The heater in the 90 has stopped working, and it seems to be because the water isn't getting upto temperature. The fan is always spinning, even at low external temperatures and from first starting her up.

Could this be the reason the water isn't getting warmer? 300tdi 90 1996.
Post #875201 30th Dec 2020 2:23pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2651

Scotland 
Yes it will spin gently when cold, however it will be ‘idling’ (taking no power off the engine) and so you’ll be able to stop it carefully with a rolled up newspaper or similar.

Bear in mind when first started it will be engaged as the fluid settles, after a few seconds it will idle until it is needed.
Post #875216 30th Dec 2020 3:23pm
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90roy



Member Since: 21 Jun 2016
Location: Middlesbrough
Posts: 130

United Kingdom 
Thanks for the reply retroanaconda.

It seems to be spinning pretty fast, and I tried stopping it with the rubber handle off a hammer and I couldn't stop it.
This was after about 5 mins idling.
The temperature needle does not get off the minimum on the guage.

I'm going to replace the thermostat tomorrow and see if that helps but I suspect the fan is goosed. 300tdi 90 1996.
Post #875255 30th Dec 2020 5:15pm
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mini Anaconda



Member Since: 23 Aug 2016
Location: Thames Valley
Posts: 784

United Kingdom 
I had the opposite problem on my 200tdi - the viscous fan failed and only span slowly/freely which caused problems on a hot day.

200/300Tdi's naturally run cool, I have a short journey to work and this time of year the needle barely moves so I wouldn't expect the temperature gauge to move far (if at all) when sat idling in this cold weather for 5 minutes.
When the fan is idling/spinning slowly, you should easily be able to stop it with some rolled up newspaper or similar, if not, suspect you need a new one.

Quite a lot of people fit radiator muffs this time of the year to help things warm up a little quicker. BORG - Bucks & Oxon 4x4 Response Group
Post #875267 30th Dec 2020 5:50pm
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htb2



Member Since: 02 Nov 2018
Location: Carmarthenshire
Posts: 530

Wales 
My 200 Tdi's, I have always removed viscous fan towing laden Ifor most days, If looks like it could be warm I have on occasion thrown it in back of truck just in case.
Only once has it got warm and that was heavy towing, into a gale headwind for about 20-30 miles, I just backed off
as soon as changed direction of attack into the wind no further problems.
Mind you I am up in Scotland so a bit cooler than down south.
Post #875275 30th Dec 2020 6:13pm
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90roy



Member Since: 21 Jun 2016
Location: Middlesbrough
Posts: 130

United Kingdom 
I changed the thermostat yesterday and it seems to have cured it.
I noticed that after a reasonable run the viscous fan seems to work OK and I can stop it with a rolled up paper.

Is it possible for the fluid in the fan to freeze in the cold weather so it can't be stopped easily until its warned up a bit? 300tdi 90 1996.
Post #875675 1st Jan 2021 4:18pm
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dailysleaze



Member Since: 23 May 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 237

United Kingdom 
The viscous fan warms via the hot air thru the radiator. If your thermostat wasn't working and there was little flow to the rad then the fan wouldn't warm up
Post #875722 1st Jan 2021 7:14pm
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