Post by RIP OLDS on May 22, 2020 19:37:13 GMT -5
As posted previously, my plastic fan shroud repop did not work with the original 6 blade 19" fan and fan clutch for the A/C 442. The diameter of the shroud opening was 19.75", and slightly rubbed on the bottom. Till now I was using an 18" fan with no clutch.
But I wanted all the original parts so looked for a way to make it fit. Turns out the shroud has a 3/8" turned-in lip at the opening that turned towards the fan blades. A photo I obtained from an original plastic shroud (from this website) showed no turned-in lip, the opening edge was simply straight.
By trimming the lip I would increase the diameter of the opening by 3/4", enough I presumed to make it all fit. My idea was to use a small router/trimmer with a flush-cut trim bit made for cutting plastics.
My first attempt at trying to trim the plastic was shaky as the plastic did not cut easily; it would shatter instead of cutting smoothly. To try and get a smooth cut I cut some flexible wood strips to place inside the lip so the router bit could only cut about a 1/8" of material instead of trying to cut 3/8". This worked much better. After each pass around I would remove a strip, until I was guiding the router just using the shroud itself. It came perfectly smooth and flat.
Installed the shroud and now the original 19" fan blade and clutch fit.
But I wanted all the original parts so looked for a way to make it fit. Turns out the shroud has a 3/8" turned-in lip at the opening that turned towards the fan blades. A photo I obtained from an original plastic shroud (from this website) showed no turned-in lip, the opening edge was simply straight.
By trimming the lip I would increase the diameter of the opening by 3/4", enough I presumed to make it all fit. My idea was to use a small router/trimmer with a flush-cut trim bit made for cutting plastics.
My first attempt at trying to trim the plastic was shaky as the plastic did not cut easily; it would shatter instead of cutting smoothly. To try and get a smooth cut I cut some flexible wood strips to place inside the lip so the router bit could only cut about a 1/8" of material instead of trying to cut 3/8". This worked much better. After each pass around I would remove a strip, until I was guiding the router just using the shroud itself. It came perfectly smooth and flat.
Installed the shroud and now the original 19" fan blade and clutch fit.
Attachments:
![BR[] Avatar](http://aliquippaoutlaws.homestead.com/Bro442_ANIM_150.gif)
