Flex-A-Lite fans??
01-10-06, 02:10 PM
#1
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Flex-A-Lite fans??
Anyone use these electric fans? i have one, i used it for about 4 years, with a total of maybe 1200 miles on the car it was on, my 88 TII, i deicded to take it and get some fresh gas today since it was nice, and i get back and open the hood just to look around make sure eveyrthing is cool, and i see my rad and fan is shakeing like crazy, the fan was on, so im looking at the mounts and stuff, and everything seems cool, so the fan shuts off, and i see like 4 outta the 7 fan blades are gone, look like they snapped right off, and no where to be found, nothings near it nothing could of got near it that i can figure, did anyone ever have any problems with blades breaking off with older age? i dont know if its just that it was kinda old, or something else, any ideas let me know, i got nothing near it to hit it and it doesnt get driven much
01-10-06, 02:24 PM
#2
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I for one have had bad luck with flex-a-lite fans in my previous NA.
The control thermostat failed on the first one.
The electric motor siezed on the second.
When I sold it, it had a Ford Escort fan in it.
The control thermostat failed on the first one.
The electric motor siezed on the second.
When I sold it, it had a Ford Escort fan in it.
01-10-06, 03:35 PM
#4
Originally Posted by classicauto
I have never personally used a Flex a lite or any other fan like this.
junkyards have them too cheap to bother buying a fancy one with pixy dust names on it
but I have heard similar accounts of them being not worth the money AT ALL....
junkyards have them too cheap to bother buying a fancy one with pixy dust names on it
but I have heard similar accounts of them being not worth the money AT ALL....
Most knowledgeable people buy any fan that covers the radiator properly and flows the proper CFM as listed on AaronCake's site (http://www.aaroncake.net). Its just cheaper then replacing the stock fan.
01-10-06, 04:57 PM
#5
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I've had a flex-a-lite black magic 150 on my FC for about 6 months now. Since the last cheap / junkyard e-fan burned up. It has been working great so far, keeps things cool and comes on reliably when it's needed. No dissappearing blades yet either. 
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01-10-06, 06:04 PM
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BM Xtreme here, shroud fits a koyo radiator almost perfectly. Installer accidentally burned out the thermostat for the fan while installing it. Had to drive it a few times with the fan on all the time. The fan moves some serious air 3300cfm. Flex-a-Lite sent me out a free upgraded thermostat replacement that is not even available to buy from them yet. I'd recomend it.
01-10-06, 11:34 PM
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great, thanks for the input, im still tryin to figure out what could of happened, i use the electric fan is really it was one of the first things i was told ot do when i bought the car about 9 years ago, so i didnt know much, and i have it wired to my microtech to to shut on and off, i really dont wanta spend the money one anymore fancy fans, i think i will try a junk yard one this time, im gonna keep my eye open of a mystique fan if it covers the whole rad too, thanks again guys
01-10-06, 11:40 PM
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sorry to hit the thread again but what do you guys think is the bast way to mount any of these fans, to me the cheesy plastic screws that came with my blow, there just always loose, any ideas would be great
01-10-06, 11:52 PM
#12
The mystery of the prize.
FAL BM 150 is way too expensive.
go junkyard and try get one that can mount directly to the flanges on the sides of the radiator, or make some simple brackets from sheet metal.
I just put together a sheet metal (aluminum) shroud and a 16" revcor fan from summit (branded mr. gasket) and it works fine, even with the less than ideal shroud design.
http://pengaru.com/~swivel/cars/rx-7/pics/07-23-2004/
go junkyard and try get one that can mount directly to the flanges on the sides of the radiator, or make some simple brackets from sheet metal.
I just put together a sheet metal (aluminum) shroud and a 16" revcor fan from summit (branded mr. gasket) and it works fine, even with the less than ideal shroud design.
http://pengaru.com/~swivel/cars/rx-7/pics/07-23-2004/
01-11-06, 07:06 AM
#13
Originally Posted by DiverseCC
Anyone use these electric fans? i have one, i used it for about 4 years, with a total of maybe 1200 miles on the car it was on, my 88 TII, i deicded to take it and get some fresh gas today since it was nice, and i get back and open the hood just to look around make sure eveyrthing is cool, and i see my rad and fan is shakeing like crazy, the fan was on, so im looking at the mounts and stuff, and everything seems cool, so the fan shuts off, and i see like 4 outta the 7 fan blades are gone, look like they snapped right off, and no where to be found, nothings near it nothing could of got near it that i can figure, did anyone ever have any problems with blades breaking off with older age? i dont know if its just that it was kinda old, or something else, any ideas let me know, i got nothing near it to hit it and it doesnt get driven much
The thrmostat does fail often, and the external solenoid failed, causing an erratic on\off situation. Other than that, the fan has worked flawlessly for almos 10 years now!!
We had an accident one, were a range falled on the working fans, and it broke two or three blades. You can purchase the blades, BUT it is a BITCH to replace!! I ended up cutting the center base of the blades in order to remove the old one, new one went in without any major problems!
BTW - It is the BM 150
Last edited by KNONFS; 01-11-06 at 07:08 AM.
01-11-06, 08:58 AM
#17
Engine, Not Motor
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Originally Posted by DiverseCC
sorry to hit the thread again but what do you guys think is the bast way to mount any of these fans, to me the cheesy plastic screws that came with my blow, there just always loose, any ideas would be great
I have decent pictures of fan mounting here:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=468413
01-11-06, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by X-JaVeN-X
i have a junkyard fan...and bought a thermostat switch from flex-a-lite and it burned up in no time. What other switches are you guys using for your efans?
01-11-06, 12:29 PM
#22
I used the 2800CFM flex-a-lite fan on my last RX-7. Probably the 150, I don't remember. Got it because I read it was the best flow for the money. Same reviewer said his thermostat blew after a year, but it was only $20-$30 to replace. Must be a common problem with these. I only had mine for 6 months, with no problems.
03-08-06, 04:08 PM
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not to bring back an old thread, but i replaced the blade, and it happened again now, it was ok for alittle while, i cant see what wrong, motor doesnt have play neither does the shaft the fan sits on.........weird
