Does anyone know where to get a replacement plastic radiator fan or at least a part number for my U-280? I have a story to tell. The original plastic fan lost a blade. Replaced it with a used steel fan. The steel fan fell off the engine pulleys and all in Va. It ruined the radiator. The reason it fell off is the bracket that holds the fan to the block only had two bolts in it rather than four. The bolts sheared. Of course it happen on the longest grade about 7 miles on mile 1 to 7 on I77 Va. Shut it off at 250F on the gauge. Opened the bed and steam was everywhere. It is now at Lester's, Lambsburg VA. They have been great so far. Plugged us right in and got the radiator out and its is now at Piedmont Radiator Kinglsey VA. After it cooled down, I started the engine and it still ran nice and smooth. Mechanics have all said the Cat 3208 all cast iron can take a beating. We will see. Once it is back together I am going to drive it up that seven mile grade again and then pull over and lift the bed and look it all over at idle. If it holds together there I will drive it up to my summer house in Michigan. I will report what happens next.
The metal fan was bent. It is straightened but would like a new one if possible.
This is a great old coach. I have spared no expense. All new starter, alternator, fuel pump, -anything we thought could break. Put new shocks and air bags and ball joints along with all other maintenance items we could think of and was driving like a dream. If I have to, I will re-engine it. I cannot believe there is motor home that cruises any better or uses less fuel. It is so well made to start with (except for the two missing bolts) I believe it is well worth fully refurbishing the chassis.
See if the threads linked below are of any help. Different engines, perhaps, but the fan application might be the same?
Replacing rear radiator fan on 91 U300 Grand Villa (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=32034.0)
Engine Fan on 91 GV (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=22730)
Replace my fiberglass fan with what? (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=21554)
Your CAT 3208 is a parent bore engine, meaning it has no sleeves. 250 degrees should not phase it. Yes, it can take a beating. You won't have to do anything to it but drive it.
Pierce
That is great to hear! Thank you. We bought a new fan blade from Foretravel. It is plastic and identical to the fan that lost a blade at about 106,000. The coach shudders when I turn off the engine. I have learned that replacing the old motor mounts will reduce the shock on all parts during shut down. I suspect that this is the ultimate source of all the problems but of course I should have had four bolts and not two in the radiator fan mount to the engine. I am thinking this may have happened at Oshkosh 30 years ago and no one noticed since. You cannot see that bracket because the pulleys are in front of it. I would suggest anyone with a 3208 on an Oshkosh chassis have a mechanic or themselves get your fingers in there and see if there are four bolts. Somebody was cutting corners a long time ago and it created a huge problem for us. I am driving back 800 miles tomorrow or the next day. If the coach goes from mile 1 to mile 8 going north on I77 with temperature below 215 and when I stop and pull up the bed and hear no hissing I am heading home to my summer house in Michigan. The radiator rebuild was $3k. The fan from Foretravel $250 plus $150 fast shipping. Car rental will be about $1k for 2.5 weeks. The bill at the Lester's Truck for tearing it down and putting it back together is yet to be determined.
If you have a u280 that is not an Oshkosh chassis but a Foretravel chassis
Yup-- 4 air bags= Oshkosh ORED
8 air bags= Foretravel U280
My 3208 fan has 6 bolts.