Fan Clutch Replacement

martsco1 · Sep 16, 2014

Hey guys, got a question.
Replacing my fan clutch this morning and want to know if I really need to take off the triple pulley, or can I just use a strap to hold the pulley while turning the fan bolt clockwise? My 3.0L has a/c, two serpentine belts (one for a/c, waterpump and alt, one for p/s. None of the video's I've seen are anything like my truck. 3.0 liter vulcan 1991 with a/c.

Rearanger · Sep 17, 2014

martsco1 said:
or can I just use a strap to hold the pulley while turning the fan bolt clockwise?

Depends. My bolt needed heat and helper to hold strap wrench. Using hammer on wrench is not very effective with strap wrench as strap absorbs much of blow energy. I made a tool to hold pulley with pulley bolts.

RonD · Sep 17, 2014

Most auto parts stores loan or rent the Ford tool set to loosen and tighten the fan clutch nut.
Strap wrench can work, but not always.

Yes, on 3.0l Clockwise will loosen, it should say this on the fan shroud or rad support plate where the belt diagram is located

Symptom of failing fan clutch is an engine vibration above 2,000rpms or rise in engine temp while stopped and then temp drops when air flow thru rad starts again via vehicle speed

bucko · Sep 18, 2014

I will wish you the best of luck on getting that fan clutch nut loose with a strap wrench! On my 2000 3.0 Ranger, I busted veins in my neck, used volcabulary I did not know I ever had stored in my brain, and all to no avail. I finally drove the truck to a local shop, and paid a mechanic 20 bucks to loosen it for me. It took him 10 minutes, and that was with the correct tool for the job. He figured the last person to replace the clutch was a 400 pound escaped gorrila on steriods.

sblake01 · Sep 18, 2014

It's easy. You just need the have the right tools. I use a long metal bar with holes in it that fit under the pulley bolts to hold the pulley, and a 3/4" drive breaker bar to remove the nut. Strap wrenches are for plumbing. The only time I've ever used one on a car/truck was to remove an oil filter but there's better tools for that.

McCormack · Sep 22, 2014

sblake01 said:
Strap wrenches are for plumbing.

Strap wrenches work just fine on cars/trucks. Quit being such a snob.

bucko · Sep 23, 2014

McCormack said:
Strap wrenches work just fine on cars/trucks. Quit being such a snob.

But not for holding the pulley and breaking the fan clutch center bolt loose! I tried, but to no avail.

sblake01 · Sep 23, 2014

McCormack said:
Strap wrenches work just fine on cars/trucks. Quit being such a snob.

What the hell does that mean? Just saying that there are better tools for the job in this case. That makes me a snob?? There are some minor things I'd use a strap wrench on for on a car but not the job being discussed here.

Fan Clutch Replacement

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