1993 Mazda B2600i - Cooling Fan Blade Replacement?

[jovial plank]

Have a fan that's got cracks across the fins and the base. Getting some interesting noise and not sure if it's the blade itself or a bearing. Three questions:

1. I can't find a blade replacement on rockauto/partsgeek. Mostly electrical replacements. Do I just get one that fits and has the dame # of blades from O'Reilly or something?
2. Given the above, does it actually make sense to go electric? I've done some reading and watching and it seems more efficient in some ways, especially at idle, but I dig simplicity and don't know if I'd have to do anything with my alternator to support it.
3. Is this actually the sound of a bad blade? Could it be a bearing too? I'm going to pull this apart and check it all out anyway, but it'd be nice to have some specific backup parts if I need to swap them during reassembly.

Edit: adding video / pics, figuring it out

[smoky radish]

I would just see if you can find a good mechanical fan at the junkyard

Cracks are kinda weird, so other ones shouldnt be cracked or anything like that, its the easiest fix too

Also any mechanical fan from a 4th gen B should work, I think they all have the same fan

[smoky radish]

The cracks in the fan should not be causing that noise

[jovial plank]

Yeah... I gave this a go, but two of the ones I stopped at had completely scalped B's. Almost nothing worth grabbing.

Really? Hmm. Does it seem like it's coming from that region at all? As I get closer it sounds like it's there, and when the RPM kicks up the sound increases. My initial suspicion was it might be something with a belt on the pulley or a lubrication issue somewhere.

[smoky radish]

It sounds like a pulley bearing going out

Pop the belt off and spin all of them, see what they sound like

That fan doesnt really look that bad, I would leave it until you can find someone parting out a truck or if the junkyard gets some recent arrivals

[jovial plank]

Promising! I just had to watch a few videos and check my service manual. I'm gonna head out and take a look

[jovial plank]

Interesting.. I sprayed water under the belt that runs the AC compressor and the noise flatlined

Might still check the bearings but I can at least give the belt swap a go and see if that fixes it in the short term

[jovial plank]

I'm gonna close this one since I think i have the next steps, gonna give this all a run over the weekend. Thanks @smoky radish !

[wary palm]

Nah keep it opened until you fix it! Helps us learn and keep track of understanding repairs

[jovial plank]

Well alright then! I just didn't want it to muck up the place. I'll document as I go and post here :)

[wary palm]

Sounds good!

[smoky radish]

Sounds like an old belt

And please leave the thread open, id love to see more of this

I miss my B a ton

[wary palm]

Always wanted one. They are awesome trucks

[cobalt bolt]

GG @broken frost, you just advanced to level 3! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[smoky radish]

They are superb

Very reliable

@jovial plank my old 2200

[jovial plank]

Alright. The weekend is here and it's time to ignore all other responsibilities while I hang out with my ol B :)
Oil Change and then I'm swapping this belt!

[cobalt bolt]

GG @jovial plank, you just advanced to level 2! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[jovial plank]

Wish I had an extra to give ya! I love this thing to death. Most fun, robust little guy I've ever had the joy of driving.

[wary palm]

Haha thanks for being so thoughtful 🙏

A friend of mines B

13B swapped.

[jovial plank]

Man that is fun lol. I hadn't even thought of getting the braps in one of these guys

I've been to three stores so far and not a single one has a belt tension gauge. Not even a spring scale. I'm flabbergasted. Do you guys use a different method to check belt tension?

I'm hitting a country store on the way back as a last ditch before I make this an internet adventure

[wary palm]

I just check deflection with my hands. Nothing more than an inch of play for me

[smoky radish]

My hand mostly

I just make sure it has some give but ain’t sloppy

[jovial plank]

Makes sense. I'm pulling the belt now. Looks like other vehicles have a mobile tensioner but mine is just a static idle pulley.

Supposedly I can release tension between using the center locknut and then the adjustment bolt on the top.. is that correct? Seems i might actually want to do the reverse looking at it

Not really budging so I'll either need more leverage and/or penetrating oil if the locknut has to be loosened first

Leverage was the answer :) Thanks archimedes

I get how it works now... loosening the center nut introduces a gap to let it slide. Then the adjustment bolt brings it up or down.

So once it's far enough down I can pull the belt off.

[cobalt bolt]

GG @jovial plank, you just advanced to level 3! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[jovial plank]

Took a quick lunch break. Don't think I'll pull this guy out without removing the fan.. or removing the belt to the oil pump

Debating which one is less of a pain in the rear lol. Can't really remove the fan without removing the radiator. Not too bad but I'll take my chances with the oil pump.

[jovial plank]

Giving the pulleys a whirl.

Little wobble on the two idles because I loosened them, but the compressor one seems okay? Might wipe these down real quick before I put the belts back on.

The difference in belts is significant though.

This is the belt for my oil pump. No cracks really, some wear.

On the other hand, my ac belt is covered in cracks.

[jovial plank]

Wow. In actual working time this took less than an oil change.

Let's see how he goes now.

Much better!!

Still some sounds but they seem unrelated. Plenty of learning and work to do on this fella