Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) How to remove fan???

[DLausche]

OK, so how does one remove the fan? I've got the correct wrench to fit on the hex shaft. I know it is reverse threads. But, how do I hold the darn pulley stoutly enough to get the fan shaft to loosen? It appears simple, but I can't seem to hold the pulley tight enough to loosen the fan. I tried a screwdriver between the pulley bolt heads and then a 10mm wrench on one bolt head jammed against another bolt and the crankcase breather round thingy. No luck getting it off.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I used a large pair of channel locks, slight pressure on the pulley to hold it and loosened it with the wrench. I also tried the screwdriver only to get bloody knuckles.

 

[DieselTweaker]

Air hammer works well

 

[Hohn]

I wimped out and bought the fan removal tools from NAPA. Not cheap, but I'm enjoying my healthy knuckles. They work well.



jh

 

[B.G. Smith]

OK, so how does one remove the fan? I've got the correct wrench to fit on the hex shaft. I know it is reverse threads. But, how do I hold the darn pulley stoutly enough to get the fan shaft to loosen? It appears simple, but I can't seem to hold the pulley tight enough to loosen the fan. I tried a screwdriver between the pulley bolt heads and then a 10mm wrench on one bolt head jammed against another bolt and the crankcase breather round thingy. No luck getting it off.

Be careful using the breather thing for a backup, I think it is palstic. The manual says to block the pulley by placing a bar or a screwdriver between the pulley bolts???? A good rap on the wrench with a soft faced hammer might do wonders? bg

 

[rweis]

Well, I took my baby to a local really good mechanic to redo a front plate seal. After 2 hours they could not get the fan off. Of course breaking a bolt on the pulley off! Stopped that process. Mechanic felt bad. Said he would get the bolt he broke out, no charge. He said this is the first fan he has not been able to get off in over 20 years. He even got the local NAPA to bring him a really huge wrench that did not help at all.



Called DC, oh sure, bring it in, 10 minutes, minimum 1/2 hr labor, $42. 50, no appointment necessary. Equal to the cost of the wrench.



Then I told them I only wanted the fan and fan clutch off "only". Huh?, not a new fan clutch? ($$$$$$) going to run it without a fan? huh? huh? How are you going to do that? (Well, crank it up and drive it down the street, not such a hard concept!)



Well, yes, mechanic is only 2 miles away. I checked on the NAPA fan clutch, part numbers still good. Here it is up to $82. 50, but still a bargain compared to DC.



Sometimes better to let DC do it (part of it), then get back to reality.



Bob Weis

 

[Huff N Puff]

Partsman is right,the air hammer works the best

Air hammer works well

As an automotive tecknician with all kinds of fan clutch tools the air hammer with a long dull chisel works the best.

 

[DLausche]

Well, I checked out NAPA and they had the fan wrench and pulley holder in stock for $60. So, I will try it out later tonight.



Now, forgive me if this is a stupid question: I choose between going fanless *OR* cardboard between the rad and air cooler, but not both, right? I stuck the cardboard from the previous winter in there last night after my failed attempt at getting the fan off. It has about a 9" or 10" hole in the center.



-Deon

 

[DieselTweaker]

As an automotive tecknician with all kinds of fan clutch tools the air hammer with a long dull chisel works the best.

LOL I know what you mean!!!!



But I picked up a set that is made to go into an air hammer and has diffrent wrench's just for fan's work's sweet when I can remember which way to go!!!! :-laf :-laf

 

[The patriot]

I cant get mine off this year either.

I ran fanless and with the plastic inserts on the grill.

Was OK up to about 75 deg unless you stand still a lot.

Eric

 

[DLausche]

GRR! The pulley tool does not fit. Too narrow to fit around the bolts that hold pulley on. This is going back tomorrow and I think I will try the air hammer route. An air hammer seems like a tool that might be more reusable for other applications than the "Fan removal wrench set" is. Also, power tools are generally more fun than hand tools are.



Thanks for the tips guys.



-Deon

 

[DieselTweaker]

as far as picking up an air hammer,,,spend some money on a good one..... it will pay for it's self I have a cheap one at the house and I keep my good one at work,,, quite a few time's ive givin up on the cheap one and just waited till I could get to work and bring home the big gun LOL

 

[DLausche]

as far as picking up an air hammer,,,spend some money on a good one..... it will pay for it's self I have a cheap one at the house and I keep my good one at work,,, quite a few time's ive givin up on the cheap one and just waited till I could get to work and bring home the big gun LOL

What $ range should I expect to be in to get a decent one? I was looking at northerntool.com and found a few in the $65 to $85 range. These worth me spending my time on or not?

 

[DieselTweaker]

the ingersoll rand kit for 85 bucker's dosent look bad for the money. I havent had any experince with that hammer but I've always had good luck with IR.



I use a MAC long barrel at work



and here at the house I have an old CP that sometimes work's better if swung by hand LOL

 

[Cooker]

I use a chain wrench to hold the pully and the proper size wrench to spin the fan nut off.



Works well for me.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I made a tool for the belt tensioner, a long bar with a square rod sticking out that I made from a Craftsman punch handle. The square goes into the aluminum tensioner far enough that it won't round out the hole. Put a lot of tension on the belt, hit the fan wrench with a hammer to loosen it--after remooving the oil filler so you won't break it if the wrench hits it.

 

[jamnram]

I bought a couple of homemade wrenches for removing the fan from Harold. I bought them in case I ever need them, have never used them so I can't say how they work. He also sells a high ilder solenoid.



Harolds info is:



email -- email address removed --

phone 208-459-7849



H&E idle systems

19528 Lloyd Lane

Caldwell, Idaho 83607

 

[The patriot]

I tried one of those band wrenches on the fan pully. No good!

Sears replaced it for me. :-laf

I'm going to go the breaker bar on the tensioner pully, like Joe D said next time.

Eric

 

[DLausche]

Air hammer!

OK, I finally got around to trying again to remove the fan & clutch. This time with an air hammer.



All I have to say is that if you need to remove the fan, get an air hammer and do not even bother with a wrench set. I had it off within seconds with my new IR air hammer. The air hammer was not that much more expensive than the wrench set I tried with no luck.



Thanks for the guidance guys!



-Deon

 

[C.]

I think this is the wrench set Partsman described.



http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/LIS-43300.html



It works with an air hammer/chisel.