brake fan

[brebett]

I have an avenger 2005. The fan for the brake makes a funny noise. I think it's done. Can I drive with my argo if I disconnect that fan. I will use my argo for about 2miles at a time on a lake fishing (not more) and I always go on low gear ( never fast). I don't think that the brakes will over heat in winter going slow.
Is there another way than popping off the rivets to take it out. If not argo's builder are funny since they know that somedays it will have to be changed. They like to rivet everything.

[Mike]

No, I wouldn't drive it without the fan at all. The brakes get hot really fast as they are used every time you steer. As for the rivets, I'm not sure which ones you are talking about. If I remember correctly, when I changed mine in my 2006 Avenger, it was held in with a clamp that goes around the fan motor. Loosen that and you are able to remove the fan. You will of course also have to remove the hoses going to and from the fan but those are simple.

[brebett]

Thank you, I'll look at it tonight. I did see that clamp but it seems that it's rivets but I guess I didn't look at it correctly. By the way how much does that cost?

[Mike]

I believe that it was around $80 or $90 USD.

Edit: After I posted that I started questioning whether it was the right price. It may have actually been more. It's been a while since I ordered it and I had ordered several other parts at the same time. Sorry, you will probably just have to call your local Argo dealer and get a quote.

[eddieb1965]

I was at Turkey Bay one year when my brake cooling fan quit.I had a heck of a time getting back to the parking area(even going slow with the hood off ).Once the brakes are hot steering is almost impossible.Went to the local parts store in Draffenville and bought a blower motor they had in stock.Had to make only slight mods and I was back in buisness,for about 40.00.

[brebett]

Hi, I tried it yesterday. The motor seems ok and the turbine turns alright. But what is that fynny loud noise like ououuummm. I also tried to take it out but not much place. I unscrewed the brase but it can't go out, and hard time to take off the pipe. I'm not done yet but I could see the turbine turning ok so maybe nothing serious.

[Mike]

I would bet that your housing is cracked. Where the fan is mounted, if you hit the front of your Argo hard, it can crack the plastic housing on the back side of the fan. You won't be able to see it unless you take it out. I would remove it and inspect it.

[brebett]

Thank you, I have a problem. I don't really know how to remove it ( I'm not a mechanic but I learn). I tried but didn't end up good so far. I'll take a deeper look at it tonight to see how to remove that fan.
Can I run it even if it's cracked?
Thank you for your help to all of you

[Mike]

I would not run it cracked. The housing is what ducts the air properly. If it is cracked and grinding you won't be pushing all of the air needed but more importantly, it probably won't be long before the fan self destructs.

As for how to remove it. Remove the large intake and exhaust hoses from both ends/sides. Remove the small screw on the back side of the clamp that keeps the fan in place. That should allow the clamp to loosen up enough to allow the motor to slide out. Also, if I remember correctly, I don't think my fan had any disconnecting means for the power leads. I may have had to cut them close to the fan to get the fan all the way out.

[brebett]

With the engineers that we have now I don't understand why they don't organize parts so it would be easy to remove. I'm sure they can. Not having any disconnecting means is ridiculous. They must know that someday it will have to be remove. They can and should built those machine so that a novice mechanic could do some jobs easier.