Radiator Fan Removal... need tips... (1 Viewer)

[roncruiser]

It's been awhile... Glad to be back...

Before work, i attempted to remove the radiator fan without success. I'm at work now and I'm not sharp enough at the moment to figure out how to prevent the fan base from rotating as I loosen the 4 bolts. I need to remove the fan to replace the radiator. The belts aren't tight enough to hold the pulley in place as I wrench on the four 12mm bolts.

I might be missing something obvious.

Any hints or tips will be appreciated before I tackle it again after work.

Thanks.

 

[jpoole]

I typically use two 12mm combination wrenches to remove the 4 fan clutch bolts though I've also used 1 12mm combi wrench and a long flathead screwdriver.

It's a little tricky keeping everything in place but not that hard if you get the wrenches fully seated and in place before you start torquing on the bolts. I first put the "holder" wrench into place by putting the closed end over a bolt that I'm not trying to remove and spinning the fan clutch to the point that it locks or won't turn thanks to the holder. I then place the closed end of the "remover" wrench on the nut I want to remove and, using the holder to keep the fan clutch from rotating, loosen one of the 12mm bolts. Positioning of the holder/remover wrenches varies depending on which nut you are pulling. I don't fully remove any of the nuts until they are all finger loose and then I remove them by hand. The two wrench technique is only needed for initially breaking free the nuts or final torquing down.

A flathead screwdriver can be used in place of the "holder" wrench but is harder to keep in place. I don't pry directly on any of the threads as it would damage them but instead just pry on the nuts. Someone else will probably reply with an even better solution but the above has worked well for me plenty of times.

One other tip is that I remove the top two bolts from the fan shroud and then push the top of the fan shroud back, towards the engine. At that point you can gently wiggle the fan and clutch up and out of the space between the shroud and the radiator. Don't gouge the radiator or break the shroud of course.

Using the above I can get a fan/clutch on or off in just a few minutes.

 

[-Spike-]

11 Pc Fully Polished Metric Long Handle Combination Wrench Set can be helpful too. Sometimes you can put the closed end on a nut and whack it with a fist or soft hammer, may loosen the nut before the mass of the fan can start moving.

I bought that set for this particular job on Tools-R-Us's recommendation, and now I use them all the time.

 

[morganism]

Put a piece of cardboard against inside of radiator. sometimes you can tighten the adjuster up, then squeeze the belt together to tighten them.

Do you know a plumber? they have a new rubber strap wrench that works pretty well.
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Aren't those bolts on left hand thread too ?

 

[inkpot]

Put a piece of cardboard against inside of radiator. sometimes you can tighten the adjuster up, then squeeze the belt together to tighten them.

Do you know a plumber? they have a new rubber strap wrench that works pretty well.
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Aren't those bolts on left hand thread too ?

Studs are not left handed.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Service wrenches help me. Mike

 

[MoJ]

A rubber strap wrench of the Craftsman variety works or O’Reilly rents a tool that will hold the fan in place while you unscrew. An impact also works without the need to prevent the fan from spinning.

 

[-Spike-]

A rubber strap wrench of the Craftsman variety works or O’Reilly rents a tool that will hold the fan in place while you unscrew. An impact also works without the need to prevent the fan from spinning.

I want to see the impact that fits on the fan nuts.

 

[leonard_nemoy]

I was able to hold the fan with my left hand and break the nuts loose with a wrench in the right hand.

 

[roncruiser]

Thanks for the replies. This place is a treasure for saving time and cash money.

I ended up buying the harbor freight long handle set, but due to the loose fit ended up stripping one nut. Used vice grips to get the stripped nut loose.

To keep the pulley from spinning, I used the second box wrench on the nut to hold the pulley stable while wrenching the neighboring nut. Thanks jpoole!

Before leaving for work, squirted each bolt with PB blaster. Likely, made it a tad easier.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[80t0ylc]

........I ended up buying the harbor freight long handle set, but due to the loose fit ended up stripping one nut. Used vice grips to get the stripped nut loose.

To keep the pulley from spinning, I used the second box wrench on the nut to hold the pulley stable while wrenching the neighboring nut. Thanks jpoole!

Before leaving for work, squirted each bolt with PB blaster. Likely, made it a tad easier.

Thanks again everyone!

Yeah, I checked out Spike's link reading through this thread & noticed they were 12 point closed end wrenches, which are fine for most of the time. But for tight/tough wrenching, you want 6 point. Much less chance of stripping when you really have to torque on it. And do not use the open end because that has most chance for stripping, except after nuts have been broken loose. Glad to hear you got 'em loose!

 

[Golgo13]

Funny, I'm making a tool for this exact thing tomorrow. I'll post a picture when its done.

 

[Qball]

Put a long handle wrench(fully boxed end) on and tap it with a rubber mallet, it’s 12mm it shouldn’t be that tight.