I understand your point @the same mountainbike, and we do need more info from the OP as to what symptom or damage was done that the fan clutch was decidedly bad.
I understand that he can hold the fan and it free wheels with the engine running, but would it not continue to free wheel until the radiator heated up enough to transfer that heat to the bi-metallic spring. If he held the fan blade and his buddy started the car (You wouldn’t catch me reaching in there as it’s spinning), then it was shut off before the radiator heated up enough, you should be able to hold even a good one.
Thank you all. Tester, the Fan when engine is hot doesn’t budge when the new clutch works. When it goes and the engine is hot it free wheels. The only way to cool the engine is to drive fast to spin the fan from wind speed.
How hot? The mechanical fan shouldn’t engage until passed half way on the temperature gauge, it is the secondary fan. The electric fan is the primary fan.
Just installed a heavy duty. Were the others? don’t know. I did want to say that last year I nursed it all the way from North Carolina to New York. Was fine in quick moving traffic but when It slowed down I was screwed. Never want to that again. I’m taking all of your comments to my guy tomorrow to try to get this together. I really appreciate what you all have done for me. I’m hoping for real hot weather for the true test.
I’m amazed this engine has lasted this long,anyway my neighbor has a 99 or 00 with the 4.7 and the fan on it sounds like an International schoolbus,I would say replace the fan itself(with a flex a lite or something similar or just go to an electric fan and save a little gas in the process and might actually improve the performance a bit)most people dont realize how much power a cooling fan consumes