Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

[Bill B.]

I have the original Schwitzer fan clutch on my 72 that looks dull and has that chalky corroded look. Seems to work fine. I'd like to try and restore the finish. Is there anything I can dip the face in to brighten it? Evaporust?

Thanks,
Bill

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Evaporust is a mild acid. Acid and Aluminium do not mix well chemically as a general rule. Find someone who uses walnut shells in their blaster and that should revive the finish. Glass beads would be abrasive but at a lower blasting pressure it might work also.

[Edward J.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Bill I had some luck cleaning my fan clutch’s with a small brass bristle brush. Home Depot sells them. On the flat surface you can use a scotch bright pad.

[James G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

I use a neutral PH cleaner for Aluminum so as not to etch it.

[Gary B.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Evaporust is a mild acid. Acid and Aluminium do not mix well chemically as a general rule. Find someone who uses walnut shells in their blaster and that should revive the finish. Glass beads would be abrasive but at a lower blasting pressure it might work also.

[James G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Evaporust uses citric acid as does safestrustremover.com I have used them both to clean aluminum using a stiff brush.
HOWEVER I wouldn't submerge Aluminum in either one for an extended period of time.
Wheel cleaner designed for Aluminum wheels is ideal for aluminum engine bay parts.

[Gary B.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

https://evapo-rust.com/citric-acid-bad-rust-removal/

Gary

[James G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

I stand corrected.

[Bill B.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Thanks for the responses. I may try Evaporust on a small inconspicuous spot. James, do you have a brand name for your PH cleaner?

[Ron G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Bill,

I am in agreement with all the aforementioned responses. However, the housing that connects to the water pump had silver over spray from the factory. I just sent my original fan clutch to be rebuilt to Dan Kirkconnell. I normally am not satisfied with anyone restoring parts or any of my cars as I like to do it myself, but Dan did an outstanding job of not only rebuilding it, but restoring it to how it left the factory. There were no issues with it, but even though I start it once every few years, I did not want it to for some reason come apart and go thru my radiator or maybe the hood. - Ron

[Don H.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Bill Calarico gave an excellent Judging Seminar on fan clutches at the Arizona Regional.

[Bill B.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

FWIW...immersed part of the face in Safestrustremover.com several times with virtually no improvement. Must be a blasting technigue that gets these looking the way I've seen. Ron, in a previous thread the consensus seemed to be that after restoration they sometimes don't operate as well. Mine still has most the paint on the flange and shaft.

[Ron G.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Bill,

A combination of plastic/glass media will bring it back to looking original. However, you need to tape up the band on the front face and the seal on the rear so as not to damage them. If you send me your email address to my email, I can then send you pics of my original after I received it back from Dan Kirkconnell. Even if you do not want to restore your original, you may want to consider having Dan or someone that knows what there doing rebuild it. Even if you do not want it cosmetically restored, I personally believe it is a good idea to have a 50 year old fan clutch like new inside because it could possibly do a lot of damage if the seals and oil dried up. My contact info is: RgodutiLT1@ yahoo.com. I am also in possession of the original silver paint that was used originally. A couple of years ago I bought the last 7 cans and that includes from the entire country. Just my 2 cents worth. - Ron

[Bill B.]

Re: Schwitzer Fan Clutch Appearance

Thanks Ron, will do.