Triumph Repair: fan clutch turbine sound, clutch setup, fan clutch

Question
Hello. I have a 1978 Spitfire. When I got it, it had the waterpump and fixed fan from the earlier cars. Worked fine, but wanted to go with the fan clutch setup. I got a new one online, along with a new pump and installed it. No problems, but have noticed a sound like a turbine which must be the fan clutch, as the engine spins up. The fan clutch is smooth when the car is off. Is this slight turbine noise normal. Thanks!!

Answer
Hi Thomas,

Sorry I have never heard a turbine sound from a fan clutch. In fact the only time I ever heard any noise from a fan clutch is when they are bad and the that was easily noted by the feel of it when stopped. You can either feel loose play in it's bearings or you could get a full turn or two by hand spinning the blade when the engine is stopped.

You may just be hearing the new fan blade not the clutch. Some fan blades make noise.

Howard