Anyone have tips to get a fan clutch unstuck from a water pump? I've tried hammering it and prying it off. Thing is STUCK on there.
Fan clutch stuck to water pump
- Thread starter fliphkd778
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- #2
Gretsch
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May be a trick of the light, but your other belt on that pulley still looks tensioned in your photo to me. Have you already tried loosening that other belt that's still tight on there? Pulley goes over the WP flange and studs with the fan clutch going over the studs after that. The tension of the other belt still being on there is likely pressing the pulley tight against the fan clutch flange and WP studs preventing you from getting it off. Should just slide right off the studs if no tension on the pulley. I would start by removing tension on the belt if its there. HTH.
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- #4
Helped a little, only thing I can think of is to pull the radiator and condenser and get in there with a slide hammer.
Seems to be fused with the stub that sticks out of the water pump.
Seems to be fused with the stub that sticks out of the water pump.
Gretsch
SILVER Star
I think before I did all that I would try and gently work the pulley free with a rubber mallet. Tight quarters in there I realize and you are the one onsite and can see it realtime. If memory serves the pulley fits over a little raised "hub" section on the WP and the clutch fits more flat against the pulley. If I remember right there is sort of a cone shape on the WP that fits into the fan clutch hub, but over all the fan clutch is centered by the WP studs and just sort of fits flush against the pulley. Been while since I replaced mine so memory is a little fuzzy on the deets. Just seems like the WP studs are not straight now and the clutch is binding on the WP studs. Diagram for clarity:
You might be able to use two nuts on the ends of the studs and just pull them out. Studs are two sided threaded so they thread into the WP from the front. So maybe worse case you can double nut the front and get just get the studs out to get the clutch free. Not sure what repair you are attempting here so the stud idea may not work within the context of what you are trying to do. Anyways, some options. GL and HTH.
You might be able to use two nuts on the ends of the studs and just pull them out. Studs are two sided threaded so they thread into the WP from the front. So maybe worse case you can double nut the front and get just get the studs out to get the clutch free. Not sure what repair you are attempting here so the stud idea may not work within the context of what you are trying to do. Anyways, some options. GL and HTH.
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Put a piece of thick cardboard in there to protect the radiator fins. Spray the thing with PB blaster. Take a wooden rod or similar and TAP the fan clutch with a dead blow hammer. Might try wiggling it from fan blades to break the corrosion.
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- #7
Got it! Hard to explain how. Loosening the belt definitely help. Good eye @Gretsch. I was able to insert a wood rod next to the ps pump and get a slight angle on it to pound it off. Sure enough, that little cylinder on the water pump was tightly fit into the fan clutch hub. Putting anti-seize on the shaft to prevent this next time.
Gretsch
SILVER Star
Excellent. Glad it worked out.
