Flex-A-Lite Fans #262 Installed....
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Flex-A-Lite Fans #262 Installed....
Today a good friend and I tackled the install on my Flex-A-Lite 262 fan and shroud.Scot did all the hard work and for that I owe him a HUGE THANK YOU!.I must say the install of the hard parts went as slick as could be and we didn't even need to remove the upper radiator hose as they recommended.The hardest part was the factory fan removal because when it was recently off the shop reinstalled it and man it was tight.Scot held the fan pulley and got a big wrench on the fan nut and it finally gave way to him and off we went with the rest of the install.
The hardest part of the entire install was the wiring of the controller.It was time consuming and to be done neatly we took most of the afternoon to run the wires.IF I had given it some more thought I would have relocated the controller and made its access a tad easier,but,we wanted to see what we got and left it alone.Once the wires were fished to the cab interior for the 12v keyed hot and the fan on switch(which I will install when my panel comes in) we had it done.
The first run was smooth and when the temp reached about 180 they came on at 60% and then at 190 they came on 100% and the temp dropped very quickly.When you turn the A/C on they come on at 60% and then level off as they are needed.Remember on my truck the instructions do not tell you which wire on the A/C switch to tap and we figured out it was the blue wire.
I have yet to drive it a long way other than to home as my knees were sore and I was exhausted.I will chime in as the week goes on while I drive it locally with how they work.THANKS SCOT for all the help.........Andy
Photo's Here...
http://picasaweb.google.com/MDTDCTDR...anInstallation
The hardest part of the entire install was the wiring of the controller.It was time consuming and to be done neatly we took most of the afternoon to run the wires.IF I had given it some more thought I would have relocated the controller and made its access a tad easier,but,we wanted to see what we got and left it alone.Once the wires were fished to the cab interior for the 12v keyed hot and the fan on switch(which I will install when my panel comes in) we had it done.
The first run was smooth and when the temp reached about 180 they came on at 60% and then at 190 they came on 100% and the temp dropped very quickly.When you turn the A/C on they come on at 60% and then level off as they are needed.Remember on my truck the instructions do not tell you which wire on the A/C switch to tap and we figured out it was the blue wire.
I have yet to drive it a long way other than to home as my knees were sore and I was exhausted.I will chime in as the week goes on while I drive it locally with how they work.THANKS SCOT for all the help.........Andy
Photo's Here...
http://picasaweb.google.com/MDTDCTDR...anInstallation
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One thing I failed to mention last nite is when you do this install its a good thing to have a new fan belt handy.After you remove the factory fan you can easily get to the belt to change it and do not have to dance around all the extras on your truck.I also learned during this deal that doing the belt change with a Fluidampr is a PIA as you have to loosen the factory tach sending unit to take the belt on and off and I was glad it was changed while the motor was empty up top,LOL.
WCBCruzer...
The part on the #2-3 and #4-5 cylinders are a set of breather valve covers off another Cummins application.I wanted to be different and had someone do some research for me and he came up with them.I actually had 3 pairs of them but when attempting to do the install you can not get one on the back cylinders due to the windshield cowl.Thanks to for the props on the clean motor as I do work hard to try and keep it that way.Keep in mind when you see this truck that I drive it everyday,no matter what the weather is,it has over 160,000 miles on the odemeter and is not kept in any garage......Andy
WCBCruzer...
The part on the #2-3 and #4-5 cylinders are a set of breather valve covers off another Cummins application.I wanted to be different and had someone do some research for me and he came up with them.I actually had 3 pairs of them but when attempting to do the install you can not get one on the back cylinders due to the windshield cowl.Thanks to for the props on the clean motor as I do work hard to try and keep it that way.Keep in mind when you see this truck that I drive it everyday,no matter what the weather is,it has over 160,000 miles on the odemeter and is not kept in any garage......Andy
Last edited by Hammer; Jun 11, 2007 at 04:32 PM. Reason: Spelling
I have been seriously thinking of putting one on my 96' to help keep it cool.Trending Topics
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Mcmopar..
It is a tad at first glance,but,you can get at whatever you want up front and installing them showed me that I need to clean it up some more.
John..
I have the date with the "Humbler" set and am interested in how they help powerwise(if any) and how they cool on back to back dyno runs.On the street they are amazing and although we are not into the dog days of Summer heat yet,I have yet to get the engine past the 190 degree where they go into 100% run mode.I ran to Upstate PA Monday nite to do something with one of my rentals and even up and down the mountains trying to get it hot I failed.So far so good but time will tell......Andy
It is a tad at first glance,but,you can get at whatever you want up front and installing them showed me that I need to clean it up some more.
John..
I have the date with the "Humbler" set and am interested in how they help powerwise(if any) and how they cool on back to back dyno runs.On the street they are amazing and although we are not into the dog days of Summer heat yet,I have yet to get the engine past the 190 degree where they go into 100% run mode.I ran to Upstate PA Monday nite to do something with one of my rentals and even up and down the mountains trying to get it hot I failed.So far so good but time will tell......Andy
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From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Mcmopar..
It is a tad at first glance,but,you can get at whatever you want up front and installing them showed me that I need to clean it up some more.
John..
I have the date with the "Humbler" set and am interested in how they help powerwise(if any) and how they cool on back to back dyno runs.On the street they are amazing and although we are not into the dog days of Summer heat yet,I have yet to get the engine past the 190 degree where they go into 100% run mode.I ran to Upstate PA Monday nite to do something with one of my rentals and even up and down the mountains trying to get it hot I failed.So far so good but time will tell......Andy
It is a tad at first glance,but,you can get at whatever you want up front and installing them showed me that I need to clean it up some more.
John..
I have the date with the "Humbler" set and am interested in how they help powerwise(if any) and how they cool on back to back dyno runs.On the street they are amazing and although we are not into the dog days of Summer heat yet,I have yet to get the engine past the 190 degree where they go into 100% run mode.I ran to Upstate PA Monday nite to do something with one of my rentals and even up and down the mountains trying to get it hot I failed.So far so good but time will tell......Andy
Andy:
Keep us posted on your testing with it! I would like to hear from you once you get all that done. My truck doesn't really get that hot, but heck any additional cooling you can get on the engines and trannies in these trucks is gonna help alot.
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John_P
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From: Red Deer, Alberta Canada
I like the idea of having the fans OFF during cold weather and idling for warmup in the winter. I was just concerned about towing my TT in the hills around hear as I get the OEM fan to come on quite a bit.
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From: Muskego, WI
Hammer,
Just to give you a heads up. I had a flex-a-lite 290 on my 1500 Ram 360 gasser. I had some problems with the positive wires going to the controller that would draw to much current when the fans were on & cause multiple controller failures. Just keep an eye out for discolored wires. It had caused me a few time of over heating & loosing alot of antifreeze in stop & go traffic empty.
I know that when I towed with it, I always was worried about the truck overheating. I don't know if the new one for the diesel application is any better. But on a good note I was able to get about 1.5mpg improvement.
Keep us posted on any issue or thing that you would change.
Just to give you a heads up. I had a flex-a-lite 290 on my 1500 Ram 360 gasser. I had some problems with the positive wires going to the controller that would draw to much current when the fans were on & cause multiple controller failures. Just keep an eye out for discolored wires. It had caused me a few time of over heating & loosing alot of antifreeze in stop & go traffic empty.
I know that when I towed with it, I always was worried about the truck overheating. I don't know if the new one for the diesel application is any better. But on a good note I was able to get about 1.5mpg improvement.
Keep us posted on any issue or thing that you would change.
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
I've been told the stock fan can take as much as 25hp. There's no way you're going to get that much juice from an electric fan. 25hp= 19400W meaning you are drawing 1347Amps through a typical 14.4V auomotive electrical system-- more if the voltage is lower (12V).
I'd stick with the stocker for heavy, hard towing. For mpg and cold weather warmup, these electric fans look like the hot ticket (or cool ticket, I suppose).
Justin
I'd stick with the stocker for heavy, hard towing. For mpg and cold weather warmup, these electric fans look like the hot ticket (or cool ticket, I suppose).
Justin