Cannot remove AHC Globe (1 Viewer)

[Jonathan Case]

Hey team — Doing an AHC globe replacement, and I’m trying to get the last 3 globes off my LX. Won’t budge. No rust, just the one’s tight (front driver) and the other I can’t get the 36mm wrench on the globe bolt because of the angle (rear driver)— need a different tool of some kind. For the front driver I tried the @Jeremyleeblack solution of drilling into the globe and using a hammer/screwdriver/chisel/etc. to try to make it budge, but no dice. Another weird thing — not sure if this has happened to anyone — but when I drained the system, the AHC fluid came out of all corners as foam! Tons of tiny air bubbles — never any clear fluid at all… hoping that when I put new fluid in I can get it to drain clear.

It was easy until it wasn’t! Been at this one globe for hours. Any ideas?

 

[tahoejoe]

Hey team — Doing an AHC globe replacement, and I’m trying to get the last 3 globes off my LX. Won’t budge. No rust, just the one’s tight (front driver) and the other I can’t get the 36mm wrench on the globe bolt because of the angle (rear driver)— need a different tool of some kind. For the front driver I tried the @Jeremyleeblack solution of drilling into the globe and using a hammer/screwdriver/chisel/etc. to try to make it budge, but no dice. Another weird thing — not sure if this has happened to anyone — but when I drained the system, the AHC fluid came out of all corners as foam! Tons of tiny air bubbles — never any clear fluid at all… hoping that when I put new fluid in I can get it to drain clear.

It was easy until it wasn’t! Been at this one globe for hours. Any ideas?

Foam means globes are ruptured and bad. Gas from ruptured globes are creating the foam. Foam is expected for the job you are doing.

 

[tahoejoe]

Hey team — Doing an AHC globe replacement, and I’m trying to get the last 3 globes off my LX. Won’t budge. No rust, just the one’s tight (front driver) and the other I can’t get the 36mm wrench on the globe bolt because of the angle (rear driver)— need a different tool of some kind. For the front driver I tried the @Jeremyleeblack solution of drilling into the globe and using a hammer/screwdriver/chisel/etc. to try to make it budge, but no dice. Another weird thing — not sure if this has happened to anyone — but when I drained the system, the AHC fluid came out of all corners as foam! Tons of tiny air bubbles — never any clear fluid at all… hoping that when I put new fluid in I can get it to drain clear.

It was easy until it wasn’t! Been at this one globe for hours. Any ideas?

I too had a problem removing one AHC globe. My 36mm wrench was not beefy enough. Consider going to your local parts store that has a tool loaner program and rent the fan clutch tool with beefy 36mm wrench. Also, I removed/loosened my side steps/running boards to get the best angle to remove those DAMN SOB's.

So, beefiest wrench + remove all hinderances + spray spray spray with lube penetrant = success

 

[Jonathan Case]

Gotcha — yeah, I started by renting the beefy wrench, and the running boards are removed. Finally managed to get both to turn — but in the wrong direction. I had been trying the right way on them for hours before and in my frustration and tiredness got mixed up. So now… we shall see.

 

[Jonathan Case]

Finally got them — had to get another 36mm wrench, and a sledgehammer on the screwdriver that I had sticking out of the bored hole in the globe. Wild stuff!

 

[Jonathan Case]

Foam means globes are ruptured and bad. Gas from ruptured globes are creating the foam. Foam is expected for the job you are doing.

Thanks — yeah, once I got everything back together and the fluid replaced, after 2 bleeds it was properly pink and clear again.

Pshew… An 8 hour job for me this time. Hopefully a 2 hour job next time.

 

[Toddr777]

For others who happen along this thread, I used a 5 lbs. dead blow hammer from Harbor Freight and a 36mm wrench from Autozone and had no issues getting original globes off an 05.

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/fan-clutch-wrench/p/duralast-fan-clutch-wrench-set/1266658_0_0?spps.s=352&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:TLS:19489353547&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVvbASUCk16IaGnkbABiDWpfk&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac-6YXPmB0asRKA4Bpi_aiKopqs2xPzbg0yp-Qge8eR8CiJCIqlXZZsaAq1UEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Hokie LX]

I used the HF forged service wrenches and had to use a strap on one of mine that wasn't loosening with the wrench itself. As others have said, a BFH would also help possibly coupled with penetrating oil/heat.

 

[Moridinbg]

I had a globe so stuck that the nut on it got rounded off.
Drilled it's side with 2mm to let the gas pressure out, then enlarged to 6mm so that I can cram a rod in there and use as a lever - bent the rod, elongated the hole, the globe didn't bulge.

Finally I got this wrench for big trucks oil filters. It was a big pain to wrap it around the globe without it sliding off, but it finally gave me enough grip and leverage to remove the globe.

 

[BullElk]

I just removed two rear Pleiades globes by hand off my ‘06 LX. There isn’t even a hex surface for a wrench and now I know why.