the fan and valve are not linked - the valve opens up when the temperature behind the valve gets to the opening temperature - the radiator fan is switched on by the thermoswitch on the radiator itself. When the valve opens hot coolant flows to the top of the radiator passing through the tubes to the bottom part where the thermoswitch is - the hot coolant trips the switch. You can also mount the switch on top of the radiator - but it will make the fan duration longer - as it tries to balance the temperatures.
What you have done is a slow poison technique. by removing the valve, usually done by mechanics who have no idea of how a thermosiphon cooling system works