Not such a nice Pagoda Day ....

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

While the day was perfect for a drive the ending was a bit of a shocker. I needed a Flatbed truck to return back home. My Fan blades self destruct. I cannot exactly blame them they may have lasted 51 years on my 1969 280SL for all I know.

While parking at the Monument "The Battle of Longwood - March 4, 1814" where the English and the Americans staged this battle. I may have caused this failure by accidentally shifting back from 4th to reverse then back to the park position. The car was heading toward Peter's and Hugh's cars on a gravel surface, I wonder what other damage I may have caused. Oh well, next week will tell how much damage there will be to repair this. ;-(

Dieter

[pj]

Our hearts went out to you when it happened, Dieter. It was such a pleasant day and the drive was going so well.

[wjsvb]

Dieter: Sorry to hear of your misfortune!  I'm sure it will be quickly repaired and you'll be back driving it soon!

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi Dieter,
Sorry to read about your misfortune. I don’t think the mishandling of the gear lever at low speed would cause any such damage to the fan or the gearbox for that matter. Surely, the gearbox would not like that sort of treatment, but once in a low speed emergency, should not be a problem.
However the disintegration of the fan is disturbing. Unless the bearing failed, causing it to wobble and strike something. It is unbelievable that it hasn't caused other damage.
I have a 1929 Model A Ford as well and they are known to throw a blade occasionally. Model A owners are warned and encouraged to replace the old fans with new ones ASAP.
At higher rpm you could have had a blade or two through your radiator or worse, through the hood.
Chin up, I think you got off lightly.
Regards Chris

[Pawel66]

Very unpleasant - sorry you had that...

Hopefully no more damage done!

[Benz Dr.]

Only two ways that can break like that. Something made the fan blades hit and break off or the visco fan clutch seized up. I think that was replaced not so long ago so I'm going with option 1.

 

[Garry]

Rolf Dieter, that is not a good ending to a good day.
 I heard that you may have had a blade do damage to the hood as well?


Garry

[neelyrc]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune Dieter.  I hope the damage turns out to be light!

[WRe]

Hi,
do you have a fan shroud in your car because they are very narrow to the blades or the blades have been to close to the radiator. I would check the proximity and stabilty of these things.
...WRe

[stickandrudderman]

Failed engine or sub-frame mountings can cause the fan to strike the shroud, especially when suddenly loading them in the opposite direction.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks all for your input and kind words. Looks like the water pump that is located in the centre section of the fan cracked and split open right right thru the centre of one of the fasteners (crack from outside pump mount diameter toward the centre of the fan) My mechanic said the bolt was over tightened leading to the crack.

I am lucky that after about 13,000 miles enjoying the car and having spend in that time just over $1,000- on the car. This time around I estimate repairs for parts and labour be around $5,000- (Fan, water pump, complete set of belts, hood strap and hood repair including hood repaint).

All other hoses and radiator after pressure test are intact and sustained no damage. Motor mounts are strong and okay, they were changed in 2012.

Dieter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Yes Garry, 7 of 8 blades got damaged (broken off in pieces), one of the fragments catapulted up and into the underside of the hood. This will require repair and repaint of the complete hood. As you know I also have a small indentation in the trunk lid, I was quoted some time ago $800- to repair and paint this. I expect a similar cost to repair the hood from the blade fragment impact.

Dan, the motor mounts are okay and have been inspected and tested.

Chris, I was worried about this last night (robed me of some sleep). I thought  I made great damage to the gearbox shifting like this. I did slip somewhat coming from the paved road into the gravel parking area. I felt the car slip then wanted to shift into park. I must have shifted into 3rd then back passing reverse before getting into park. You see on my DD the shift positions are P - R - N - D and on the Pagoda it is 2 - 3 - 4 - N - R -P  with two other Pagodas in front of me and one fellow standing near by, I got nerves and wanted my slipping car in the gravel to come to a quick stop. Oh well, we all live and learn.

WRe, yes I do have a shroud on this car, it properly helped to retain the fan blade fragments from causing more damage to the underside of the hood creating convex protrusions like one piece of the fan did.

Stick, Motor mounts were replaced in 2012 or 2011 before I purchased the car. We inspected them and they are strong and there is no movement. The radiator shows some contact from the blade fragments as they soon around for a few seconds. As soon as I noted the noice from the fan blade fragments I killed the engine.

Thanks everyone,

Dieter 

[ejboyd5]

Without a picture to gauge the extent of damage it is impossible to advise, but you may wish to consult with one of the paintless dent repair specialists about your hood and trunk lid.

[49er]

Dieter, I am so sorry to read this as I know how much you love your "Blue Tornado". I do hope the damage was not too severe and as ejboyd5 mentioned, the dentless repair guys can do miracles sometimes. As I am sure like many others here, I always feel a sigh of relief when ever we bring our Pagoda home unscathed from a journey. You just never know what misfortune could happen. Good luck to you and I wish your Pagoda's repair will make it good as new again.

John 

[Benz Dr.]

Yes Garry, 7 of 8 blades got damaged (broken off in pieces), one of the fragments catapulted up and into the underside of the hood. This will require repair and repaint of the complete hood. As you know I also have a small indentation in the trunk lid, I was quoted some time ago $800- to repair and paint this. I expect a similar cost to repair the hood from the blade fragment impact.

Dan, the motor mounts are okay and have been inspected and tested.

Chris, I was worried about this last night (robed me of some sleep). I thought  I made great damage to the gearbox shifting like this. I did slip somewhat coming from the paved road into the gravel parking area. I felt the car slip then wanted to shift into park. I must have shifted into 3rd then back passing reverse before getting into park. You see on my DD the shift positions are P - R - N - D and on the Pagoda it is 2 - 3 - 4 - N - R -P  with two other Pagodas in front of me and one fellow standing near by, I got nerves and wanted my slipping car in the gravel to come to a quick stop. Oh well, we all live and learn.

WRe, yes I do have a shroud on this car, it properly helped to retain the fan blade fragments from causing more damage to the underside of the hood creating convex protrusions like one piece of the fan did.

Stick, Motor mounts were replaced in 2012 or 2011 before I purchased the car. We inspected them and they are strong and there is no movement. The radiator shows some contact from the blade fragments as they soon around for a few seconds. As soon as I noted the noise from the fan blade fragments I killed the engine.

Thanks, everyone,

Dieter

That looks like a water pump failure where the flange came right off of the shaft! That's a very rare failure and I've never seen it on a 113. My fan looked similar to yours when I hit that raccoon the year before last. In that case, the rad came back into the fan and knocked all of the blades off. At least you weren't hurt and everything is repairable.

What does your rad look like?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

ejboyd5, there is some paint missing, the trunk I straightened some time ago. The hood is more sevier from the blade impact, also the paint is missing from that impact spot. I am having a paint shop looking at that, they are certified by German car manufacturers (will post some photos later.

John, it's not too bad. in 7 1/2 years the first major repair. Parts are just over $500- US Labour is another matter.

Dan, the radiator was pressure tested okay all is well except some contact markings when the fan failed.

Dieter

[Jack Jones]

Failed engine or sub-frame mountings can cause the fan to strike the shroud, especially when suddenly loading them in the opposite direction.

I repaired a similar outcome on a domestic rear wheel drive car many years ago. This was the result of going quickly in reverse then shifting into drive and flooring the accelerator. The motor mount broke causing the engine to lift sheering off the shroud and damaging the rad and hood. Exactly as Colin stated.