Has anyone rebuilt their viscous fan clutch? Basically how much silicone oil does it take and what weight.

It would be an neat DIY project to bring back to life a failed fan clutch.

Thanks.

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1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

Anybody???

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1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

This is from a previous post of mine. I filled it in one hole until it came out the other. Don't lose the pin!! Mine works great.

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Thank you.

I was trying to fill the clutch with 10,000 wt silicone oil through the one hole that the pin is inserted and it was taking forever to fill in because the air was trying to come out through the same hole. I will drill a hole like you did and then I will try to fill it and later seal the hole.

__________________
1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

I used a heat gun to heat the clutch up, then when you fill it through the pin hole, oil gets sucked in. I had to repeat heating/filling a few times.
I got silicone oil from Toyota dealer, they have it as a special order item.

10000 wt silicone oil is also available from Hobby shops - those that deal with RC Cars. I bought it from Traxxas for $7.50/bottle (50cc/bottle) and it took a little over one bottle to fill the clutch. I will post pictures as soon as I am done.

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1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

I rebuilt the fan clutch and it is working great. Like a couple of people suggested, I went ahead and reduced the length of the pin in the clutch by 0.9 mm (so that the fan would come on at a little earlier to help in the hot TX summer when stopped for traffic especially) and now it is too short. The clutch is on all the time.

I machined another pin that is 0.5 mm shorter than the original length. I will be installing it soon and will post results as soon as I get that done.

BTW, as a point of reference for others if they want to modify the pin, the brass pin that originally came out of the viscous clutch was 10.30 mm long and 2.80 mm in diameter.

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1986 300E (3/2002) Rear ended and totaled (10/2009)
2000 Xterra (5/2000)
1992 400E (11/2009) -Sold
1986 300E (12/2009) - Sold
2004 E500 Wagon (6/2013) - Sold

Wow! This is great info... especially considering the ridiculous price for a new fan clutch!!!

A dumb question: Is the center allen bolt that retains the unit a reverse thread or normal??? I tried pullin a couple at a salvage yard and could not get them out going clockwise which is the reverse (I think) of rotation and seems the way it should go.

The clutch must be counter held while the bolt is removed... Clockwise to tighten counter clockwise to loosen:

1989 300E problems

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

I just put a little bend in the bi-metal strip and adjust the temperature that way I don't end up modifying the pin length and you can change it.

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I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave

78 Corvette Stingray - 3k
82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k
86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k
87 420sel - 240k
89 560sl - 78k
91 420sel - 205k
91 560sel - 85k
94 GMC Suburban - 90k
97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k
00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k

In your post, you mention filling chamber #1. Is there more than one chamber and how do you locate chamber #1 if there is more than one?