85 2.8 radiator clutch fan

[tidmarshsmiths5]

Alright, I've read up and have 2 guys telling me two completely dif stories:

The way I understand it is my fan on my 85 2.8 should not be able to be stopped when cold and once warmed up then the fan should be getting airflow at highway speeds should disengage.

One brother says it one way, the other brother says it another.

Either way, when I crank it up whether the engine is hot or cold I cannot make the fan stop with a newspaper or stick. When I walk outside to a cold engine the fan is very hard to turn (I can turn it but its hard to turn - it does not free spin). Isn't this the way it should be?

Tell me how to determine if this thing is working properly (one of my brothers complained that it shouldn't be that loud driving down the road and I should replace it)...I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO OVERHEATING PROBLEMS so I think it's fine.

???

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The clutch has a bimetal spring what increases tension as the air going through heats. Just replace it if it dont spin free on a cold motor it is bad.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The neat thing about a mechanical fan clutch is when they go bad they usually lock on so it will not overheat.

The bad is it sounds like a jet and burns more gas to do so.

 

[bbbc3]

My truck is doing the exact same thing! Can the an be easily removed on the 2.8 and an electric fan added?