Outer Limits 4x4 Board

When on a recent 4wd monthly forum trip I snapped the front left engine mount. The engine lifted and fell against the right hand side battery. The engine mount was replaced and the fan didn't hit the fan shroud again.

Since than i've had 85% reduction gears fitted because its an auto. This may have nothing to do with it but I took it for a drive yesterday and every time I went up a steep incline the fan is hitting the fan shroud.

I've only just put a new fan in 2 weeks ago and it now needs replacing again along with the fan shroud. Another $450 down the drain. I've flexed the 4wd as much as I can but I cant get the fan to hit the shroud again but I think the reason for that is I can only find something steep enough to get one wheel up at a time. I can't find anything wide enough to get both wheels up at the same time.

I've checked all the engine mounts and transmission mounts with a crow bar and can't seem to find any broken. I guess if any of the transmission mounts where broken the mechanic would have mentioned it when fitting the gears.

Has anyone else ever had this problem or have any ideas what it could be

Cheers Mick.

sounds like it could be a loose radiator.

Maybe the extra load from the reduction gears is torquing the motor over more than it used to?

st george mufflers wrote:sounds like it could be a loose radiator.

I've checked the radiator mounts. They seem fine. I was actually hopping it was going to be something simple like that.

Cheers Mick.

MKPatrolGuy wrote:Maybe the extra load from the reduction gears is torquing the motor over more than it used to?

Thats what i'm starting to think. I'm hopping someone else might have the same gears to see if they have this problem and how they fixed it. It only seems to happen in low range first.

Cheers Mick.

Checking the engine mounts with a crow bar will never replacate the forces they are exposed to when trying to drag 2.5 ton up a hill. Not to mention chassis twist. Even if they are a little daggy they can strecth enough. Check them again i suggest. Maybe even a short lenght of chain from the mount blolts to the chassis to stop the mount from stretching.
Good luck

i too have this problem, after the last nissan trials, i noticed that the fan has been rubbing on the fan shroud, and sine i have cut the cab i havnt bothered fixing it yet,

i now might have to check and see if it is the engine mounts or it is just chassis flex and to touque, mine is also an auto,

but i have thought ill chain the engine down for safety,

ozy1 wrote:i too have this problem, after the last nissan trials, i noticed that the fan has been rubbing on the fan shroud, and sine i have cut the cab i havnt bothered fixing it yet,

i now might have to check and see if it is the engine mounts or it is just chassis flex and to touque, mine is also an auto,

but i have thought ill chain the engine down for safety,

I just took your advise and chained the left mount down. I did a before and after test my putting it in low range first gear with foot on brake and gave it a rev. Its made a big difference. The mount can still move a fraction but not to much. I'll take it for a spin through the wattigons next weekend and see how she goes in the bush.

Thanks for all your advise fellas.

Cheers Mick.

If you cant find what is causing the problem and I hope you do, its fine to modify your fan with an air-hacksaw, I used to often do it to cars when fitting front mount intercoolers and having to space the radiator back. Use a cardboard template and mark out each blade.
Also an 80kg bloke swinging on a 1.5meter crowbar equates to 1200 Newton meters, thats bloody heaps, you should be seeing your problem. Hope this helps

I took some pics yesterday of the damage it did and what i've done to fix it. There on www.warrenl.gallery.netspace.net.au This is only temporary fix till I get another engine mount for the right hand side than i'll chain them both down with high tensile chain so they never move again hopefully

Cheers Mick.