Vienna Sausages (cautionary tale)

[BRL]

Years ago I remember always taking my car to the old mechanic at the corner gas station who had a permanently disfigured index finger.

Great mechanic, but at one time, and for just a fraction of a second, he accidentally put that finger in the way of an unshielded rotating engine fan blade.

I extended my shroud over the fan for that reason and just to be classy I decided to order a "caution fan" sticker from a vendor.

Went looking for pictures of stock engine compartments for sticker placement and was shocked by the number of beautifully detailed engines with fully exposed flex fans.

We all have our hands in the engine compartment while the engine is running and it only takes a second to accidentally put your hand in the wrong place with an un-shrouded fan.

[old Rusty C10]

funny you brought this up.. i had an exposed fan on my truck and ordered the same sticker you have except orange backround as i figured someone may put their hand there

[dave6672]

My 57 Chevy didn't have a shroud, and didn't seem to need it from a cooling perspective, but the stainless blades on the Flex-a-lite fan looked mighty sharp. I split a plastic shroud in half, and attached just the top half on the radiator, just so I wouldn't reach in and accidently damage a finger.

[BRL]

Originally Posted by dave6672

My 57 Chevy didn't have a shroud, and didn't seem to need it from a cooling perspective, but the stainless blades on the Flex-a-lite fan looked mighty sharp. I split a plastic shroud in half, and attached just the top half on the radiator, just so I wouldn't reach in and accidently damage a finger.

That's a pretty good idea.

I don't think it necessarily even has has to be a flex fan for it to be dangerous and I'm not sure what kind of fan injured that gentleman but I wasted no time adding one to my used truck immediately after purchase!

Just a good idea to have or put some sort of shielding there for safety sake IMHO and of course many vehicles come with a shroud and a warning sticker from the factory.

[Shortnwide4x4]

Also, watch out for hooded sweatshirt drawstrings!

[weq92f]

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Good reminder/advice!

Even a fully shrouded electric fan can do a massive amount of damage (missing legs, tail and other parts)...

-Kevin

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by weq92f

.

Good reminder/advice!

Even a fully shrouded electric fan can do a massive amount of damage (missing legs, tail and other parts)...

-Kevin

Had a cat trying to stay warm once used all 9 lives in a fraction of a second

[tutone]

Take good care of those fingers. I will post a picture of the scars on my index and muddle finger that I almost lost as a 19 year old kid.
At 63, they dont show up as much. I worked in a grocery store and was on the phone placing an egg order and one of the produce guys was chopping the ends off ear corn with a large knife. The phone missed the hook when I hung it up and as I was trying to catch it, the knife came down with force, and hit the receiver, then my fingers. If it were my fingers only, they would be gone. The ER doc, took a dremal like tool and ground the bones smooth, sewed em up and said if I was lucky, I just might keep them. I did, but they ache at a change in the weather and are a constant reminder of not putting my hand in a bad spot.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by tutone

Take good care of those fingers. ...<snip>...

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Those fingers have served you well since nearly being lost! Mine remain due to avoidance..just like you. However I have no idea why I've been so diligent with it. Hmmm is it worth a a few therapy sessions to figure that one out...uhmm...no.

-Kevin