How to attach shrouds

[Bojamijams]

I'm going to DISEMBOWEL (heh always wanted to use that word) 3 of the stock tj07 fans and use them as shrouds.

But how do you attach the fan to the shroud and the shroud to the rad? Do you guys use one really long screw and go through the shroud into rad?

I haven't seen any countersunk machinehead 1 1/4 screws that will go through the shroud and into the rad and thus leave a flat surface for me to put the fan on the shroud.

Halp!

[RADCOM]

Attach fans to the shroud and the shroud to the radiator with the relevant screws, then connect the fans to the frame or the radiator to the frame depending on whether you want to blow or suck lol. See the worklogs in watercooling section for examples. Some fans dont have the gap between the two fan holes but they are rare.

[Bojamijams]

But.. the fan and the shroud line up flat with one another. So if the fan screw is sticking above the shroud then the fan itself is going to be hitting that fan and form a flat surface with the shroud.

[ShadedNine]

But.. the fan and the shroud line up flat with one another. So if the fan screw is sticking above the shroud then the fan itself is going to be hitting that fan and form a flat surface with the shroud.

It looks like the fans you have are the type that make this more difficult, similar to YLs:
http://webnetdeals.co.uk/w/Fans/yate120mm.jpg
which have a column running between the top and bottom where the screws go.

Most people assume your fans are more like this one:
http://www.endpcnoise.com/e/images/tricool.jpg
With these you can put a screw facing out from each direction.

Your best bet is to either get long enough screws to go right through fan/shroud/rad or modify the fans you're using as your shrouds by cutting away that middle bit.

[Bojamijams]

Thing is though, this is screwing into a rad. So I can't put a screw facing out from each direction. Only one direction. The same one for the shroud and the fan.

[cyberspyder]

Looky here:

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6080/setupmk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
By cyberspyder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/cyberspyder)

[Bojamijams]

Eeek.. that setup is going to be hard... I'm going to have find a really small screwdriver that can fit through those holes so I can tighten it into the rad..

then somehow find a 90degree wrench to hold that bolt in place as I tighten it because all the fans are against the bottom of the case

bah..

[Big_Daddy]

Then get 2 and 1/4" screws. Or 57.15 millimeters for you metric fans.

[Eternalightwith]

Or get one of those 90 degree screwdriver/hex tool

[RubberDuck]

Then get 2 and 1/4" screws.

That's how I have mine mounted. :up:

[ShadedNine]

Or get one of those 90 degree screwdriver/hex tool

Exactly, the kind you sometimes get with IKEA furniture.

Or, do it ghetto style, take the appropriate screwdriver bit and use a monkey wrench to tighten them.

You should be able to pre-attach the fan and shroud before connecting it to the rad, so your case shouldn't get in the way.

[RADCOM]

Or change your fans :)

[Bojamijams]

Then get 2 and 1/4" screws. Or 57.15 millimeters for you metric fans.

Okay.. that is what I will do then. Thank you. :up:

[ShadedNine]

Okay.. that is what I will do then. Thank you. :up:

I wouldn't expect to find them at Home Depot (well, you might...it's getting borderline on the sort of bolts they carry), but you should be able to find a place in any major city that can cut a bolt to any length.

[MpG]

Yeah, at those diameters, 2" is pretty much as long as they get, and even those aren't always to be found at a Rona or Home Depot. Hit up a specialty fastener place - every decent-sized town/city usually has at least one that often supplies shops and hardware stores.

[Bojamijams]

I'm just curious.. is this how everyone attaches shrouds? with the long bolts.. or is it with the diagram listed above? Cause those two are the only two ways I can think of being able to put a shroud and a fan right against each other

[Waterlogged]

Boj, Here's how I mount my shrouds.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=82091&d=1216189933

This is a YL mounted to an old busted Sunon housing mounted on a TC. Sunon to TC is a 6-32 button head allen, Sunon to YL is a 10-32 button head allen. If I understand you correctly, you'd need to mount the fan to shroud to fan first, then shroud to rad, then fan to case for this type setup to work.

[Bojamijams]

Ahh thanks Waterlogged.. what length is that 6-32 allen screw that goes into the rad?

[Waterlogged]

Ahh thanks Waterlogged.. what length is that 6-32 allen screw that goes into the rad?

1/4"

[inCore]

Of course, there's nothing a bit of duct tape can't solve. I found that tape was a good way to prevent air leaks.

[Tulatin]

Of course, there's nothing a bit of duct tape can't solve. I found that tape was a good way to prevent air leaks.

Or for attaching fans together when you're too lazy to screw on the shroud.

[Bojamijams]

I've decided I'm just going to rip out the rad, and attach the fans/shrouds as mention above and put it back in. I probably will have a hell of a time finding 2 and a 1/4" screws to go all the way through.

[cyberspyder]

I've decided I'm just going to rip out the rad, and attach the fans/shrouds as mention above and put it back in. I probably will have a hell of a time finding 2 and a 1/4" screws to go all the way through.

Nonono, where in Ontario do you live? Fastenal has all sorts of screws...

[majestik]

Make sure you can go all the way through the rad if you go that route. For example, I think PA's you can't because you'll just puncture it, but an MCR320 you can.

[cyberspyder]

Another idea, screw the screws...go with some zipties or some galvanized steel wire...twist it together and you're done.

Brendan

[Bojamijams]

I don't think that would create a tight pressure seal between the fan-shroud-rad and I would probably have a lot of noise from the vibration.

I live in KW area.. I think there's a Fastenal in Kitchener.

[inCore]

I'm telling you, duct tape or black insulating tape will do the trick more than well. Superglue is another method, although it's harder to separate the components from each other when the time comes. Screws may give you a cleaner look, but if you're using fans as shrouds anyways, you're probably not hoping to claim a prize in a beauty contest.

But I could be wrong.

[darkone414]

This is kinda a n00b question I guess, but what's the big deal with shrouds anyway? :confused: I've always gotten good temps without anything like that and I don't see how it would help with your temps.

[orclev]

This is kinda a n00b question I guess, but what's the big deal with shrouds anyway? :confused: I've always gotten good temps without anything like that and I don't see how it would help with your temps.

Check out the test data (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=193953), and be enlightened.

[ThrustSSC]

This is kinda a n00b question I guess, but what's the big deal with shrouds anyway? :confused: I've always gotten good temps without anything like that and I don't see how it would help with your temps.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5818/fanshroudtest425mm1350fc6.th.png (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fanshroudtest425mm1350fc6.png)

Source : http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/Radiator-Fan-Orientation-And-Shroud-Testing-Review.html

[Bojamijams]

Ahh yeah that was the place I was thinking off.. hopefully i know what to ask for.. I think HWLabs uses M3 screws.. so 2 1/2" (or whatever that is in metric) machine head self tapping screw?

[DeathWalking]

Make sure you can go all the way through the rad if you go that route. For example, I think PA's you can't because you'll just puncture it, but an MCR320 you can.
Nope, you can't go all the way through a MCR320...unless they've changed it in the last year-ish? I punctured a hole in mine, thought there was enough clearance...but there wasn't. I still have it lying around if you want a piccy. :rofl: