Question to those who have installed Horton Fan Clutch?

[Halberstadt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cayman09 Humm, if the engine is cool and you use the exhaust brake, does the Horton fan kicks in or is it free? If that's the case, I would assume (since there is less parasitic drag!) there would be the same reduction in engine braking... No?

I have the Horton V-Master 2-speed drive on my CAT 3126E in a 2003 Safari Cheetah (installed it myself). On the ECM-controlled CAT engines, there is an option to have the fan signal triggered also by thee same condition that activates a Pac brake (usually that means foot off the throttle). I tried this at first, but later had it reprogrammed to not do that. The reason is that while the Horton clutch engages within a few seconds, disengagement can take much longer, depending on engine speed. At high RPMs (say above 2000) the disengagement takes maybe 10 seconds, but at lower RPMs can take over a minute. Thus, if driving conditions cause you to frequently go to zero throttle, the fan is going to be a high almost continuously. I did put a "manual override to high" switch at the driver's console, so when on long descents, I can switch the fan on. It does make a difference.

Note that the Source Engineering fan is simply "less fan", so draws less horsepower and gives less braking. It's OK as long as your coach has excess cooling capacity. In my case, I have so much excess cooling capacity that my Horton drive usually comes on only 1 or 2% of the time, maybe up to 5% in hot weather, and no more than 25% when climbing long grades at full throttle. If your cooling system is marginal, i.e. you overheat on long climbs, or have to take action to avoid overheating, then probably neither the Horton nor the Source Engineering fans are appropriate for you.

[Cayman09]

Thanks Halberstadt,
it seems you have more flexibility with the Horton by programming it, almost, like you want.

As far as cooling potential, I would say that up North, it's not a big problem. As a matter of fact I even have a problem where it's running very cool....

[deSanford]

The Source Fan is basically a simple fix for noise and recovering some lost HP. The Horton Fan is the way to go as long as the clutch, temperature sensor, cost, large enough cooling capacity and proper ECM programming are not a problem. When I was at the Cummings shop in Coberg, Ore. I asked about the Horton Fan and Clutch price and installation. I don't remember the cost exactly, except it was expensive. The good news for either fan is the fact that there is enough cooling capacity on the Monaco MHs.

[Bill2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cayman09 Humm, if the engine is cool and you use the exhaust brake, does the Horton fan kicks in or is it free? If that's the case, I would assume (since there is less parasitic drag!) there would be the same reduction in engine braking... No?

First of all the fan don't stay on very long (just a few minutes or less), when the fan comes on I am usually going up a hill or on a long stretch of road under very hot conditions. I have not noticed any decrease in engine braking at all.

[bshahn]

Has anyone here actually replaced this fan themselves?
We just bought a fan in Quartzsite and now need to know how to install it. We were told it only required removing four bolts, the old fan and then install the new fan and then the bolts. Now our question is how the heck do we get to the four bolts.
We removed the one latch over the engine, but there is no way to get into the area that needs your arms and tools to take out the bolts.
In the closet there is a two step type of shelving at the rear of the closet....does this all have to be removed? Does the closet door and rail have to be removed also to get to the area? We don't want to go the other route and remove the radiator.
Does anyone have any suggestions? We are new to the site and would greatly appreciate any and all info we can get on this.
Thanks in advance.
Sharon
2007 HR Neptune XL 36'

[slickest1]

After driving commercial trucks for many years the benefit's of having a clutch fan are less noise and less drag on engine, and will make a difference in fuel mileage and hp. You can really notice it when the fan comes on going uphill but that is when you need the fan on. Having it come on going downhill I have never noticed any real difference. It has absolutely nothing to do with your exhaust brake or jake brake as they will work the same with or without a clutch fan. It's like jumping off your roof and flapping your arms, you won't notice a difference when you hit the ground. I am sure lot's will disagree with me.

[deSanford]

We have the "Source" Fan and yes it is at least 50% quieter. To put it in a 37' Navastar Cayman the "hatch" cover in the closet has to be removed along with the "hatch" in front of the closet. Yes there is four 15/16" bolts to remove and when it is re-bolted use the BLUE lock tight on the threads. I took my unit to a RV service center for installation. Just tell them it only has 4 bolts and get a low price. They will tell you when you pay the bill how hard it was to do. deSanford

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bshahn Has anyone here actually replaced this fan themselves? We just bought a fan in Quartzsite and now need to know how to install it. We were told it only required removing four bolts, the old fan and then install the new fan and then the bolts. Now our question is how the heck do we get to the four bolts. We removed the one latch over the engine, but there is no way to get into the area that needs your arms and tools to take out the bolts. In the closet there is a two step type of shelving at the rear of the closet....does this all have to be removed? Does the closet door and rail have to be removed also to get to the area? We don't want to go the other route and remove the radiator. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are new to the site and would greatly appreciate any and all info we can get on this. Thanks in advance. Sharon 2007 HR Neptune XL 36'

Sharon,

Read through this thread and I think you will find what you are looking for:
How do you remove the fan access panel in the closet?

Bob

[Bill2]

What are they charging for the horton fan today? When I had mine installed at the Monaco service center in Elkhart, In. in 2007 it cost $750.00 installed and only took about 30 min. to do the install. It seem to me that it would be good money spent if you just have cummins install it. Just my 2 cents.

[Robert T]

I had the dealer install the Horton fan Clutch and I am very happy. Programing is not problem as the insight program to set the cutch takes less than 5 minutes.

You will have to purchase a new fan. I beleive I obtain all parts from a company in Michigan, American Fan ???

The hardest part is locating the correct connection at the wire harness near the block.

I have a switch on the dash which helps lock up at will.

I also have a Brake Master which allows me to run exhaust brake and cruise at the same time. Brakeswitch, A better way to manage your diesel exhaust brake

When the exhaust brake comes on the fan locks up. With the Brake Master makes the operation of the fan clutch lock up a lot easier to control.