New viscous coupling?

[Ceejay 72]

Having discovered that the VC on my Mk1 is shot (rotates freely), I have a choice to make.
As the Mk1 VC is no longer available, I can go either the Mk2 conversion route or electric, both costing roughly the same.
Looking at the posts from about 11 years ago, I see there were several complaints about short-lived aftermarket VCs and people were recommending a Land Rover unit, ERC 2849.
Can anyone advise me if the latest Stag VC offerings are more reliable than the previous ones?
I see Rimmers for example are offering a VC TKC101 as part of their Mk2 conversion kit, but in their Land Rover catalogue they are offering ERC 2949 (at £296) or a ERC 2849P1 at £109, both of which look identical to the TKC101.
What's the difference and what would be the best way to go?
Thanks,
Chris

[mike@thenook]

Chris,

I'd seek some advice from Peter at LD parts, whatever he sells is tried and tested and he will know the best option.

Cheers

[SaphireSpud]

I don't think that Peter at LD Parts likes, nor stocks, the viscous coupling. He recommended that I should go down the electric route. However, I bought a new coupling at Robsport for about 91 pounds earlier this year. Regards, John.

[Niss]

EJ Ward don't recommend viscous couplings either. They put an electric fan on when they rebuild an engine.

[Lingen]

Chris. I have always believed that an electric fan can be a useful extra for very hot weather, or when towing, but unless it is running continuously, under bonnet temperatures can get very high from reduced airflow. This can cause fuel vapourisation, particularly with ethanol present, and electrics suffer as well.The engine driven fan will always be working to stop this happening.
There were some poor quality couplings around, but I haven't heard of any failures for some time.
As for the price difference between the Land Rover offering, and the others, I suspect a lot of it is in keeping with the inflated prices of many of their spares!
Mike.

[mole42]

Chris,

I'd seek some advice from Peter at LD parts, whatever he sells is tried and tested and he will know the best option.

Cheers

+1

[jbuckl]

There were some NOS holset TKC 101 couplings (mk2) being offered by a member some time back.
if you get a genuine Land Rover TKC 101 the quality will probably be worth the extra.

[DJT]

I’ve mentioned it before, but I had two brand new TKC101 units fail in quick succession back in 2008-2009. Sourced a new ERC2849 in Land Rover packaging from a Government Surplus site for less than £40 in 2009 and it has done 38,000 miles since then and is still perfect. Best bargain I think I’ve ever bought Stag-wise.

[jbuckl]

There were some NOS holset TKC 101 couplings (mk2) being offered by a member some time back.
if you get a genuine Land Rover TKC 101 the quality will probably be worth the extra.

[Ceejay 72]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think I'll probably go for the electric fan route, but retain the mechanical fan as well, which works up to a point and has kept the engine at normal temperature except in the hottest recent weather when I was stuck in traffic for 5-10 minutes and the gauge went up to about 3/4.
Chris

[marshman]

Be careful if retaining a failing viscous coupled fan. It could/will eventually fail all together and could part company causing damage to the radiator and other vulnerable parts. At the very least check there is no "play" in the coupling and it is just a loss of "viscousness" in the coupling.

Roger

[Goldstar]

Chris,

I'd seek some advice from Peter at LD parts, whatever he sells is tried and tested and he will know the best option.

Cheers

Peter doesn’t sell them - draw your own conclusions as to why

[new to this]

Be careful if retaining a failing viscous coupled fan. It could/will eventually fail all together and could part company causing damage to the radiator and other vulnerable parts. At the very least check there is no "play" in the coupling and it is just a loss of "viscousness" in the coupling.

Roger

On my brothers car the viscous failed,so the fan went through the rad and broke the fan

[jbuckl]

On my brothers car the viscous failed,so the fan went through the rad and broke the fan

I had a fan explode due to a viscous bearing seize.
it took out the battery, radiator, expansion bottle, bottom hose & nearly holed the bonnet!

[Ceejay 72]

Thanks for the warnings guys!
Although I don't quite understand how a seized bearing in the VC would make the fan explode? Wouldn't it just cause the fan to rotate at engine speed? Or am I missing something?
Thanks,
Chris