Metal ring behind cooling fan

[panda911]

Hello all.
Would anyone be able to tell me exactly what is the purpose of the steel ring behind the 11 blade cooling fan on the 1070 Cooper S
It fits exactly into the back of the fan and then sits on the water pump boss
Four bolts though the fan hold everything together, it almost looks like a shim and is appox 3/16 inch thick.
The four bolts are 1.25 inch long and aparently according to the MS parts list are supposedly 1 inch long.
When unscrewed they dig into the rad core.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you

[1071 S]

Later Oz Minis (I've only seen them on Clubman's) have a spacer (like the one you describe) to move the fan closer to the radiator.

I suppose you would use one to alter the fit of the fan within the rad shroud to improve cooling.

Cheers, Ian

[Spider]

It's just a spacer. Sometimes more than one is fitted. You want to be sure the fan has clearance to the harmonic damper, lower radiator mounts and in some cases, off the head. Ideally, you'd like to get the fan sitting so most of it is in the cowling, with about 1/4" or less poking out on the engine side. You also might want to check too that there's clearance between the fan and the radiator core so you can slip a new fan belt through there, though, with a metal fan and a 3 tube (core) radiator, that shouldn't be an issue.

[360gts]

Edited.

[Polarsilver]

i only found out when it came to replacing the Fan Belt .. there was not enough clearance between the fan & rad; cowel .. only then realised i had not fitted that Spacer behind the Pulley .. with Spacer fitted .. solved that problem.
Also had the experience of the over long 4x Bolts

[Dearg1275]

If you offer up the fan and spacer with the bolts already through there is no clearance issue. A bit of masking tape over the heads to hold them in place while positioning everything helps.

D

[hanlminiman]

i only found out when it came to replacing the Fan Belt .. there was not enough clearance between the fan & rad; cowel .. only then realised i had not fitted that Spacer behind the Pulley .. with Spacer fitted .. solved that problem.
Also had the experience of the over long 4x Bolts

Many years ago when I had an engine rebuilt the engine builder suggested adding an extra inoperative fan belt - just in case it needed to be replaced in a competitive environment against the clock. After 12 years it was still there?

[AndyPen]

i only found out when it came to replacing the Fan Belt .. there was not enough clearance between the fan & rad; cowel .. only then realised i had not fitted that Spacer behind the Pulley .. with Spacer fitted .. solved that problem.
Also had the experience of the over long 4x Bolts

Many years ago when I had an engine rebuilt the engine builder suggested adding an extra inoperative fan belt - just in case it needed to be replaced in a competitive environment against the clock. After 12 years it was still there?

Did that all the time on our cars, but like you they were never actually needed

[panda911]

Thank you for the posts.
I need to fit shorter bolts although someone did suggest that for a Mk1 64 1071Cooper S, there never was a spacer fitted
in production.
BR
P