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Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?

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13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
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YOUR RESEARCHRadiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?

Reported or suspected cause

three t25 screws

Reported cause

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

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Reported cause · Original poster

But my issue is the three T25 screws that hold the fan to the fan backing; they will not screw in past a few millimeters.

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?
Frequently discussed work

Install fan balance weight

No successful repair reported for this finding.

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0
Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

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Performed · outcome unconfirmed

Yep, as theprf said that is a factory installed fan balance weight.

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?
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Leading evidence: 'three t25 screws' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'three t25 screws' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Install fan balance weight' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

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1 matching discussions · 13 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

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Install fan balance weight

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

Yep, as theprf said that is a factory installed fan balance weight.

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?

Replace size somewhere in the my

Suggestion or failed attempt

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Reported fixes
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Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

Has anyone done this job and perhaps the screws changed size somewhere in the MY?

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?
Frequently discussed actions (2)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Install fan balance weight

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

Yep, as theprf said that is a factory installed fan balance weight.

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?

Replace size somewhere in the my

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

Has anyone done this job and perhaps the screws changed size somewhere in the MY?

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?
Reported and suspected causes (1)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

three t25 screws

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause · Original poster

But my issue is the three T25 screws that hold the fan to the fan backing; they will not screw in past a few millimeters.

Radiator fan replacement, shroud screws need to self tap?
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T172408Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

One of my fans started squealing, so I ordered a replacement (non-Porsche, went third-party ACM brand). Got it all out and only broke one small plastic nub from the fan's backing duct (I still have no idea how that nub and washer was supposed to be removed). But my issue is the three T25 screws that hold the fan to the fan backing; they will not screw in past a few millimeters. They get started okay, but then become impossible to turn. I found this thread from 10 years ago, which makes it sound like you have to rethread the sheet metal (though he is references imperial sizing), but it seems odd the sheet metal does have threads, and they seem match width to the first few millimeters of the T25s. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ew-m-5x16.html Has anyone done this job and perhaps the screws changed size somewhere in the MY? I have a 1999.

POST 2Original post

I've never done one of these but if it's just a backing plate, anything to get it to hold will do. I would take a drill bit, bore it out, stick a bolt through it and nut it on the other side. Again have never done this so am unsure of what it looks like - can't really tell by the picture.

POST 3Original post

You don't have a set of taps and dies in metric sizes?

POST 4 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 19796252

I do not... Just going to find a similar threaded screw or will do as prior response and get a nut.

POST 5Original post

FWIW, I bought a husky sae/metric tap and die from Home Depot for $100 that is guaranteed for life. Great to have available and have used it many times. A must have if you own a 1971 MG.

POST 6 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

somehow it didn't post my comment... i ended up just buying an imperial bolt that fit nicely with no drilling. loctitec and a washer and the nut seems secure. the new fan blade came with this little tab attached. no idea what it is. wondering if a weight? disposed of it . hopefully right call!

POST 8Original post

Quotes source post: 19800721

That is (was) a balance weight for the fan.

POST 9 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 19801184

That's what i get for buying a cheapo fan. I hope it doesn't spin uneven... getting that all put back together was a gigantic pain in the butt!

POST 10Original post

I would have just got a used one from ebay. There r a bunch under $100.....this one is $30 with the resistor. https://www.ebay.com/p/1411253298?iid=115235320610

POST 11Original post

Quotes source post: 19800721

Yep, as theprf said that is a factory installed fan balance weight. The balance weight doesn't make it bad, most all precision fan blades are checked and balanced if out of spec. Its a rare fan blade/wheel that doesn't need a weight to get it perfect. If your old one didn't have one, it might have been knocked/fallen off and thats why the bearing/bushing started to squeal prematurely.... Depending on how bad the imbalance was/how heavy the weight was, the blade will be somewhat imbalanced causing premature motor bearing/bushing failure. However that will probably be a very long time down the road. If its bad, fan might make a little more noise/vibration, maybe. You could put your hand on it when ts running in high speed and compare that to the other side fan.You'll feel it if its bad... If you can find where you tossed the balance weight, put it back. Even a body panel screw clip might be close in weight and snap right on the blade..? You probably can see the marks it left on the blade so you can put it back correctly....

POST 12 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 19801919

I was in a state of "I JUST WANT THIS DONE" and didn't make right call to pull it off... I could probably see the mark where it was prior, but the thought of removing the wheel, the wheel liner, the dang blasted cross bar, and the entire radiator rear bracket just to get the fan duct off in order to put back on the weight--- and then put it all back together again--- I'd rather the fan die early and I just buy a new one... sigh.

POST 13Original post

Education can be expensive - both in money and time You're probably fine. Just leave it be - if anything comes up, get another one per Jeeper's advice.

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