tips wanted for removing and installing fan nuts (1 Viewer)

[g-man]

Getting ready to replace my water pump and thinking about this....

Last time I removed/installed the stud nuts on my fan I must have dropped my wrench and the nuts several times. I remember using a long handled open wrench and a magnet tool to try and catch them. Obviously you can't get a socket on them because the fan is in the way. Hard to get them started going back on because you can't get your hands down in there.

I do remember using the very tip of the wrench to kinda spin the nuts to get them started. Also trying to hold them with the magnet tool while trying turn them. PITA!

 

[Willard]

So if you are able to use the box end (I would have to look at mine) what I have done with other hard to reach nuts is to put a piece of electrical tape on one side of the box end. Even if the bolt is pointing out, there should still be enough stickiness to hold the nut.
I have done this with the open end side as well, but more finicky and with nuts and bolts where the bolt just barely stuck out. It worked when I needed it. I had to replace the tape after about two nuts on the open end side.

I also do this with my universal joints for my sockets, a little electrical tape makes them stiffer yet still flexible.

 

[TexasBlue]

I used the magnet and the long open end from HF. It's tedious but works. Electrical tape on end covering the back side is clever...I'll try that next time I'm there.

Good luck with repair

 

[OSS]

Save yourself some grief and use the mother of all fan clutch nut wrenches.

Fan Clutch Removal -- Do I remove these nuts?

This wrench (after taking a file to it) makes removing the fan easy and fun. Replace the nuts after you remove them with new Toyota nuts.

When replacing the nuts, loosen the fan belt to spin the pulley so you can get at the stud, then I carefully start the nut in the stud holding it between a finger on each hand. Then the rest is easy. That wrench makes tightening the nuts super easy cuz you've got a lot of leverage — SO DONT OVER TIGHTEN THEM --- otherwise you may not get them off the next time.

The reason you should replace the nuts is because if the hex corners are rounded at all (from wrenching) they could round off fully the next time you try to remove them if they're binding - then you won't be smiling when that happens.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Find a helper w/ smaller hands.
Teasing. Yeah I had the radiator out of the way I believe when I tackled mine. I do totally dig taping the back side of the wrench. Great suggestion!
I think I had to removed a few of mine after reinstall, can’t rememver why and luckily was able to fit my left hand down to hold the nut w/ my index finger.
I did buy one of those fan clutch tools and forgot all about it till I saw it hanging on the garage wall abov the toolbox.

 

[g-man]

I've done all of the above mentioned tricks. I do like the longer wrench and have used the two index fingers method of starting them. I have taped the nut to the wrench to get it started but the finger method seems to work better, less chance of cross threading. I do agree to take off the belt and turn the fan each time so the nut your working on is at the top (kind of a no brainer). All in all though the whole process is still a bit of a pain. I guess the reason it is hard (for those who haven't done this) is because there is little room to get your hands down there in between the fan and the water pump flange to catch the nut when it comes off or to put the nut back on. I don't have rounded nuts. They seem to loosen easily and I usually use a finger or wrench to spin the nut off. I was thinking about putting a white towel under the fan between the shroud and the block to catch the nuts or wrench when I drop it so it doesn't end up getting lost in the skid plate or launched into never never land. I have used electrical tape on ratchet swivels to stiffen them up and agree that is useful (although not in this context).

 

[FJ Silver]

Hey G-man. Why not move the AC condenser out of the way, remove the radiator and create some space to work with. Since you're draining the coolant anyway.
Gives you a chance to look at some more parts, clean your pulleys with some carb cleaner to stop them from making noise, do the fan shroud mod. All that good stuff. Way easier to clean off the old gasket that way as well.
Call it spring cleaning!

 

[FJ Silver]

Love that 12mm @OSS
I actually need to replace that pulley since it has a wobble. That'll come in handy.

 

[slacker24-7]

Agree on the long box end 12mm. One thought is to split the fan shroud while your in there.

 

[g-man]

Hey G-man. Why not move the AC condenser out of the way, remove the radiator and create some space to work with. Since you're draining the coolant anyway.
Gives you a chance to look at some more parts, clean your pulleys with some carb cleaner to stop them from making noise, do the fan shroud mod. All that good stuff. Way easier to clean off the old gasket that way as well.
Call it spring cleaning!

Nah...too much work. Besides can you even remove the a/c condenser w/out releasing the freon? I have a working a/c system. I will replace a bypass hose that goes to the water pump and pull my t-stat while the coolant is drained. My temp gauge seems to be on the low side and I'm wondering if I didn't put the small oring in there when I installed it. I may take a look at my crank pulley tho...it has some wobble. I may cut the fan shroud. We'll see.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

You can remove it... I had mine tucked off the side the whole time I did my radiator, FC and WP. It was only after I decided to discharge it myself cuz it just took up space and AC wasn’t that big a deal for me.
It only took a few mins to discharge. I simply loosened the connections till it started to hiss then walked away.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

HB has a wobble... NOW you’ll really open a can of worms.
Def cut your fan shroud. You’ll be glad you did.

 

[g-man]

You can remove it... I had mine tucked off the side the whole time I did my radiator, FC and WP. It was only after I decided to discharge it myself cuz it just took up space and AC wasn’t that big a deal for me.
It only took a few mins to discharge. I simply loosened the connections till it started to hiss then walked away.

You crack me up. I'm not gonna loose the freon in my working A/C! Just to get a better angle on cleaning up my WP.

Ok. Just did the fan took about 15 min. Here are my steps.

1. remove the alt. belt..its in the way right of where your hands and wrench need to be...between the thermostat housing and the fan.

2. loosen the tensioner on the smog pump and loosen the fan belt so you can turn the water pump pulley

3. Put the nut you want to remove 1st at the 1 oclock position.

4. hold the fan from moving by putting a long flathead screw driver under the nut to the left of the one your removing and over the nut below it. this holds the fan in place so it won't spin while wrenching. You'll need to keep one hand on this screwdriver and pick up your 13mm wrench with your other hand and take a couple turns on the nut.

5. I didn't have a long box wrench today so I used the open end of a ratchet wrench. It was easily an inch longer than a stock craftsman or kobalt wrench and that one inch is a LOT of help getting at these nuts.

6. after breaking it loose enough to turn by hand, I used my middle fingers on both hands to run it out to the end.

7. The nut will hit the fan and can't come off until the other 3 nuts are run out to the end.

8. turn the fan and move to the next nut. after all nuts are moved to the end of the stud, grab the blades of the fan and wiggle it loose and move it toward the radiator a little.

9. finish removing the nuts and washers with middle fingers.

step 9 1/2 ...drop several nuts and washers on the ground and loose them in your skid plate. I put a towel in the skid plate but it wasn't much help.

10. remove fan. I was able to wiggle it out without removing the shroud.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

I never said you'd lose it. I said I had mine tucked to the side then after reinstall I chose to discharge the AC and its freon.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

I was able to wiggle it out without removing the shroud

after all that angst and you DO have nimble fingers.

 

[FJ Silver]

Yeah you can move the AC parts out of the way pretty easily without opening up the freon system and messing with all that.
Plenty of space after that. And the Rad is just a few bolts. worth the extra 10 min I think. I'm 6'4, got big hands, just end up bleeding from every finger if I don't create space.

 

[Jaric00n]

What's a little blood ~~~

These trucks make us sweat blood ...always.....wallet or other



I should post more Bling for Felicity....

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

@Jaric00n I’m plenty set on bling here. Are you forgetting I AM in possession of your brand new unused knuckle centering tool?
And always lots of blood, sweat and wallet for these trucks

 

[ff347]

After having replacing my radiator and enjoying that for about 4 weeks my water pump started making noise. Yes, those bolts are a pain to get on and off. I got to do it all twice in a very short time.

Then of course I saw this tool and will be getting it in the very near future. More leverage some of the tools you have.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Couldn’t that be made easily enough?
Actually it’s pretty low priced on Amazon.