how to remove the radiator fan?

tinzuki · Apr 18, 2011

I have a 2.9l engine with a broken fan and busted radiator. I removed the radiator (easy) and now I'm trying to remove the broken fan. Every time I turn the bolt to remove the fan, everything starts to rotate... power steering pumpl, alternator, water pump and crank. (while standing in front facing the ranger) When i rotate, lefty loosy, the tires start to roll forward. What direction should i turn? if turning left is correct, how do I keep all the belts and pullies from rotating preventing me from removing the fan.

Thanks guys!

adsm08 · Apr 18, 2011

Set the got-danged brake!!!!

Then go get a proper fan removal set that has the wrench for holding the water pump pulley.

Mutant Pony · Apr 18, 2011

Well, I beleive it is left hand thread. It should say on the top of the fan shroud. The tool that is used to remove the fan has a holding fixture that uses the water pump pulley bolts.

Surrey · Apr 18, 2011

Alternatively, you can try using a big strap wrench on the pulley. That is what is suggested in my hanyes manual, although when I was tearing down my old truck, I couldn't get it to budge at all... The fan is still attached to the water pump, tucked away in a box now.

disciplerocks · Apr 18, 2011

Mutant Pony said:
Well, I beleive it is left hand thread.

The one on my 4.0 was not. And yes you need the proper tools.

Mutant Pony · Apr 18, 2011

disciplerocks said:
The one on my 4.0 was not. And yes you need the proper tools.

Yup, some are left and some are right. I can't remember which ones are which. What I do know is that if it is left hand it says so on top of the fan shroud.

adsm08 · Apr 18, 2011

I kinda feel like I want to say the last time I took the fan off my 2.9 it was backwards thread. I think I fussed with it for a while before I realized that.

Surrey · Apr 18, 2011

My haynes says 90 or 91 (I think 91) or newer is normal threaded, before that is reverse threaded.

84stealthranger · Apr 18, 2011

sawzall lol. no the right tool works good they sell it at advance or i think u can rent it and then u get ur money back after u bring it back

pjtoledo · Apr 18, 2011

oops, my bad. I was thinking about the belts & pullies in a Taurus, not a Ranger.

I deleted the bad info.

(note to self: think before typing)

martin · Apr 19, 2011

If the pulley has one or more grooves in it that the inside of the belt drives it, it will be left hand thread. If the pulley is smooth and driven by the back of the belt it will be normal thread. To put it another way. If it turns the same direction as the motor, left hand thread. If it turns opposite direction, normal thread.

Earl43P · Apr 19, 2011

2.9 never had a serpentine belt, so it is reverse thread (my 90 original motor and 86 replacement motor were both reverse threaded fans, but oddly have different diameters).

The pulleys are close enough together that you can wedge the (removed and soon to be trash) belt by wrapping the belt around the fan pulley only (fully around it) clamping it together to act as a strap wrench with a pair of vise grips and letting that "vise gripped belt knot" jam between the pulleys (at about the 4:00 position) as you smack the wrench on the fan nut with a hammer in the righty-loosy direction. (that sounded complicated but is quite simple)

Both of mine popped loose with minimal effort using that method and a Ford wrench. I'm sure a large Crescent adjustable wrench would work too.

As you stand in front of the truck/engine looking down, the nut has to turn from the top toward the driver side. One sharp rap ought to work.

Upon reassembly, gorilla torque is not required. The rotation of the fan is in the tightening direction, so it can never loosen on its own.

88_Eddie · Apr 19, 2011

i just took mine out in my 2.9 about a year ago, like earl said, it IS reversed threaded.

i tried a strap wrench on the pulley, wouldnt work. i didnt know autozone had a loan-a-tool for it at the time, otherwise i woulda gone there.

what i ended up doing was taking the water pump out, throwing it in my vise, cursed at it several times and eventually pryed it loose with an adjustable wrench. it was a bitch and a half.....i'm even gonna replace it with an eletric fan just so that i never ever have to do that again.

Mutant Pony · Apr 23, 2011

I made my own tools, cost me about $20 between the scrap metal, oxy/acetylene, and electricity. They work better than the ones in the store and changing the fan is a breeze!! much easier than dealing with a crappy, cobble job, E-fan.

shane96ranger · Apr 23, 2011

I can't remember if mine is right of left hand threaded, but I know it says it on the shroud. I rented the tools from Autozone, and they were so damn mangled I just ordered a brand new set. I'd try and get a brand new set.

This is not mine, but it's what I mean:

EDIT: One more trick I've used on my Mustang is to put it in 5th gear and put a brick on both sides of a rear tire for safety (the parking brake would be a good idea too). It's worked every time. I also use that trick to remove the harmonic balancer.

how to remove the radiator fan?

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