Right hand thread?

[Walksnotruns22]

So this may be a very dumb question. I am trying to remove the clutch fan from my 94 Mazda b4000 4.0 and the fan shroud says right hand thread.

Is it right had thread as I look at the engine from the grill or right hand thread as it I was sitting in the driver's seat?

Thank you in Advance

 

[RobbieD]

By the time I figure out front or rear, I then can't remember which is my left hand and which is my right.

I have always used the fan's direction. Hood up, start the motor and see which way the fan turns. The fan clutch will thread off in the opposite direction.

 

[sgtsandman]

Front should always be as if you are in the driver's seat looking forward.

Like RobbieD said, the thread should be opposite of the direction the fan turns so that the forces acting against it are always trying to tighten it, rather than loosen it.

 

[Curious Hound]

Clockwise as viewed from a tangent to fibonacci's azimuth while facing south in a class 5 blizzard, simultaneously drinking yak milk from a glass slipper.


Ok. Normal threads. Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

 

[RobbieD]

simultaneously drinking yak milk from a glass slipper.

Only a barbarian would drink yak milk from a glass slipper.

A proper heathen drinks it from a mukluk.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

So this may be a very dumb question. I am trying to remove the clutch fan from my 94 Mazda b4000 4.0 and the fan shroud says right hand thread.

Is it right had thread as I look at the engine from the grill or right hand thread as it I was sitting in the driver's seat?

Thank you in Advance

I don’t know if the pushrod 4.0s are the same, but on my SOHC 4.0 it is a standard thread. Easy (enough) with the special tool, but it feels like every time I do it, no matter how careful, I bust my knuckles on the alternator or something.

 

[Snoranger]

I don’t know if the pushrod 4.0s are the same,

They are.

 

[Walksnotruns22]

Thank you to everyone who is answering.

So as I am understanding, if I am standing in front of the truck looking under the hood from grill side. I need to turn towards driver side (right) to loosen?

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Thank you to everyone who is answering.

So as I am understanding, if I am standing in front of the truck looking under the hood from grill side. I need to turn towards driver side (right) to loosen?

No. Turn the wrench toward the passenger's side (counterclockwise as you look at it from the grille side).

Here's the kicker: the Haynes manual for '94–'12 Rangers says that on some earlier models the big nut has a left-hand thread. Since your shroud says right-hand, what I said just above applies.

Just went through the same thing on my '11 Ranger. The big nut was right-hand and I loosened it as described. I also had the two special tools and they made the work a breeze.

 

[Walksnotruns22]

No. Turn the wrench toward the passenger's side (counterclockwise as you look at it from the grille side).

Here's the kicker: the Haynes manual for '94–'12 Rangers says that on some earlier models the big nut has a left-hand thread. Since your shroud says right-hand, what I said just above applies.

Just went through the same thing on my '11 Ranger. The big nut was right-hand and I loosened it as described. I also had the two special tools and they made the work a breeze.

Ok. Thank you very much.

 

[Mechrick]

Easy way to tell is to look at the pulley. If it's smooth and runs off the back side of the belt it's normal (lefty-loosie) thread. If it's grooved and runs off the grooved side of the belt it's reverse (left hand) threaded.

 

[RobbieD]

The angle of the fan's blades are also a tell for rotation direction. The blades are angled to pull air through the radiator, not push it.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

They are.

I figured as much, since the SOHC is based off the pushrod design.

Although @RobbieD will still insist the 2.9 is better than either.

 

[RobbieD]

Although @RobbieD will still insist the 2.9 is better than either.

Absolutely!

Seriously, I currently have trucks with a 2.8, a 2.9 two 4.0s; and a 2.3. (I think I'm just a "wanna be museum")

So what's my favorite?

The 2.3 liter Lima four.


It's like a refreshing break from all of that cologne.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

Absolutely!

Seriously, I currently have trucks with a 2.8, a 2.9 two 4.0s; and a 2.3. (I think I'm just a "wanna be museum")

So what's my favorite?

The 2.3 liter Lima four.


It's like a refreshing break from all of that cologne.

I see what you did there...

But I honestly do love those lima engines. I learned to drive manual on a Ranger with one, and I somehow didn't stall it once in the process. They may be small, but have more torque than meets the eye. They also don't seem to have any of the "well known" issues that plague the V6s, like cam synchros and timing chains in the SOHC.