<VV> Fan Bearing Failure

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

Hey guys, you're overthinking this. The bearing is cheap. If it's old, or  
you happen to have the top cover off, replace it. You'll probably be done with  
it for a VERY long time. 
 
In a message dated 4/10/2007 11:46:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
vairologist at verizon.net writes:

From:  airvair 
Ever try it with an a/c car? Just as bad as a turbo. And ever try  doing
it on the side of the road with almost no tools to speak of, let  alone a
hydraulic press in your trunk? Then there's the source of  replacement
parts in the middle of nowhere. (At least you acknowledge  THOSE
problems, even if they don't make any impression on you.) Like I  said,
been there, done that, don't ever want to have to do it again. Does  that
make me wrong about putting a QC bearing in my cars? I think  not.
-Mark
-----------------------------------------------------
Smitty  says;  Mark there are always going to be a few mechanically inept 
people  who travel with a pair of pliers and make every road "happening" into a  
disaster.  Corvairs are tough and darn well not disaster prone but they  do 
have failures such as any other car does.  I won't deny that some  things such 
as Early axle bearings and fan bearings can delay a delay a  trip.  But it is 
only a delay if intelligent recognition of possibilities  is realized.  
Everyone doesn't need to cover their butt like I do because  most never get far from 
home with their Corvairs.  Those who travel with  an Early or Late would be 
well advised to carry a fan bearing installed in a  hub for that once in a 
hundred thousand miles when they fail.  Then when  it is character development time 
you can find a friendly parking lot (or side  road) and spend three hours 
getting to know your engine.  I carry a  jacking tool to pull the bearing shaft 
out of the block cover.  Lacking  that, slide hammers are on loan
at many FLAPS.  I don't remove the  block cover.  I use a propane torch to 
heat the shaft boss.  There  is tranny lube on the end of my axle dipstick to 
lube the shaft with to put it  back in.  In over 400,000 miles of Corvair travel 
I have only had to do  that once and that was at the Portland convention.  
Come to find out  later, it wasn't the fan bearing making the noise.  In any 
event, no  press is required.  No QC bearing is needed.
As you travel the  highways you see cars by the side of the road.  As you 
travel you see  repair shops with cars stacked outside waiting to be repaired.  
They all  break.  We just happen to have some unique problems of availability 
of  parts.  One has to recognize those problems and prepare in advance for  
them.  If you want to treat your Corvair as a modern car, just take your  unique 
part to the repair shop and have them do the work "in a few days when  they 
can get at it".  (at your own risk).  As for traveling without  tools, what 
idiot would do that ?


 



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