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Topic: Kool o matic blues (Read 1292 times) previous topic - next topic

Kool o matic blues

My Kool o matic shroud got smashed to at least a dozen pieces by a falling limb, and the fan quit in August. So I ordered a Maxx fan replacement. It arrived today and I excitedly took it out to the coach and unpacked it. Took a look at the fan and the hole that is at a 45 degree angle  and the OH SH** hit me like a bolt of lightning. This is never going to work. Anybody know of fan that inlet can be rotated 45 degrees?
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #1 –
How about any of these? maxx fan - Google Search
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #2 –
Sorry about your damaged Kool o matic.  I cannot picture what is at 45 degrees and how it affects your installation of Maxx fan.

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Sorry about your damaged Kool o matic.  I cannot picture what is at 45 degrees and how it affects your installation of Maxx fan.
I agree, should work no problem. I plan to change mine out this year.Even with the inside cover, the old school one is drafty.
All you have to do, is trim the inner trim ring on an angle to slide up to meet the vent inside once installed. The roof is not 45 degrees, maybe 10-15.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #4 –
Due to how the kom was designed it did not matter how the interior grille or frame opening was oriented, it could be rotated fore and aft of the Centerline of the coach. My interior grille sets at a 45 degree angle to the fore aft centerline along with the aluminum roof frame. Not possible with the Maxx fan as the interior raising  mechanism And controls would be 45 degrees out of sync along with the the exterior fan housing.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #5 –
MaxxFan Deluxe Model 7000K

Is this the type fan you are talking about? This thread says it was an easy install. Must be very different on the older coaches.

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #6 –
Apparently I have the same floor plan, with the fan mounted to line up with the stove at a 45 degree angle to the center line of the coach.  I have been dreading dealing with the same issue.  Will a Maxx fan be okay with going down the road at 60-70 mph without having the hinge end being directly into the wind?  I hope so, wouldn't that be like being stationary in a windstorm?
Mike & Lilli
1991 GV U280 36' SBI, 3208 Cat, Build #3825
4320 Watts Solar
Kansas City, MO

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #7 –
Quote from: rvtinker –
Apparently I have the same floor plan, with the fan mounted to line up with the stove at a 45 degree angle to the center line of the coach.  I have been dreading dealing with the same issue.  Will a Maxx fan be okay with going down the road at 60-70 mph without having the hinge end being directly into the wind?  I hope so, wouldn't that be like being stationary in a windstorm?
Definitely could not go down the road with the vent up, and it will look goofy from outside. Its low profile so the best I can do is put the low side next to the side of the coach.  When it comes time to replace the headliner inside maybe I will redo the roof opening. Otherwise it appears to be well constructed with stainless parts, I have not hook it up to any power to see how noisy it is yet.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #8 –
I do have the roof mount part I mentioned to yoy here still.  Not sure of the 45 degree stuff as my 97 has the fan mounted square to the sidewall?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #10 –
I think I will mount it as a sidewinder for now, spring and storms are approaching, and the coach house is still 4-5 weeks out for the start plus some concrete cure time.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #11 –
I installed fan today in 25-35 mph breeze and 65 degree temps. Install went well except my predrilled holes into the aluminum frame we're a tad small at 5/64 and I twisted off 2 of the soft stainless screws. Used stainless fender washers bedded in dicor 7/8 od is probably best but all I could get was 1". Even though the fan is cock eyed at 45 degrees from the centerline it is hardly noticed on the ground except the port side maxxfan decal gives you a hint that something is askew. Just got the manual raise 4 speed model as the rest seemed like overkill for kitchen exhaust. Speeds one and two are pretty quiet. Speeds 3 and 4 will suck in the curtains. Scraping the old sealants off of the old install and filling the 40 screw holes with self leveling dicor took about 2 hours. At this point I don't think I'll ever attempt to square up the fan as once lowered it is very sturdy and in the wind shadow of the front a/c.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #12 –
Additional info I reported I drilled pilot holes with 5/64, but in fact I used 3/32 and frame flanges appear to be galvanized steel. Furnished exterior screws were stainless pan head sheet metal screws so if I were to do it over again I would run a hex head steel sheet metal screw down the pilot hole first to establish a thread. And then come back and run the soft stainless screws down. I am writing this because of the difficulties I had installing the interior trim ring.
The furnished interior painted screws are wood screws and the steel bottom flange seems to be thicker. Several unsuccessful attempts of even driving the hex head sheet metal screws into the pilot holes. Even when I got the sheet metal screws to penetrate the wood screws would not budge. Success at 9/64 pilot holes and screws pulled up tight and snug.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #13 –
Phred post some pictures so we can grasp the 45 degree offset. For the life of me I cannot figure out how yours is mounted.....
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #14 –
I think Phred and I have similar floor plans.  If you look at this picture at http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=3852#viewitem you can see the installation means the Kool o matic is not installed perpendicular to the centerline.  The top part of a Kool o matic can be rotated to align with the coach, conventional vents like the Fantastic Fan cannot.
Mike & Lilli
1991 GV U280 36' SBI, 3208 Cat, Build #3825
4320 Watts Solar
Kansas City, MO

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #15 –
Thank You fully understand now ^.^d
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #16 –
Quote from: rvtinker –
The top part of a Kool o matic can be rotated to align with the coach, conventional vents like the Fantastic Fan cannot.
It's kinda funny (but probably not to Phred) how a engineering/design decision made almost 3 decades ago can come back to bite current owners in the butt.  Back then, probably no thought was given to the "odd" mounting angle, cuz it worked just fine...
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"
 

Re: Kool o matic blues

Reply #17 –
Lots of angled fan units out there, Could have been worse and I would recommend the Maxxfan deluxe as a suitable Kool O Matic replacement.  Roof footprint is much smaller than the humongous KOM. Project went well and I still have 10 digits in spite of running my finger (for the third time) into the operating saw blade of the Fein Multimaster saw.  No blood no foul. That saw may be expensive but still cheaper than an ER visit. Plus saw is super easy to use, high precission, and can cut where no other saws can get.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake