fan cluch wont come off

[bigfltruck]

i have a '87 2.9 v6 and cant get the fan cluch off. i rented the tool for it and it just wants to round off if you have some tricks or tips please help. sorry if spelling is bad not to good at it.

 

[crusin93]

I will explain this the way it was explained to me a long time ago. "The big clutch nut always loosens the opposite way of rotation while running". I find if you still can't budge the thing, use a little heat. I use a 24'' adjustable wrench instead of the chinese crap you get at the parts store rental counter.

 

[snake]

Not too many good ways to get those bastards off besides the tool. You may want to swap the smaller bolts, the ones that are trying to round off with new ones. Put longer ones in and have them stick out a little further. I'm thinking yours is set up that way with the four bolts and the big fan bolt? It should go counter-clockwise. You may also remove the smaller bolts, slip the tool over the holes, and use washers to bolt the tool down if you have the room to do it. The fastest way would be to weld the tool to the damn pully and get it off that way!

 

[bigfltruck]

thanks guys ill give it go this weekend when i get some time.

 

[88_Eddie]

i had a hard time with mine as well. i ended up taking the water pump off as well and put it on my work bench. put it in my vise, used a strap wrench, a big adjustable wrench and a 3 lb. mallet. i hit the end of the adjustable wrench with the mallet and it somehow came off, prob spent a good 3-4 hours over 2 days to get it off. good luck

 

[country0001]

Yeah, I stripped mine on my 4.0 w the fan clutch removal tool. Ended up taking the whole water pump off and replacing everything.(turned out that the fan and clutch needed replacing anyways.)

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Surprised everyone has that much trouble... I've taken a number of them off with nothing more than an adjustable wrench and a couple whacks with a dead blow mallet to get it started.

Remember, most clutch fans on RBVs have left hand threads - which means turn it to the right to loosen it (the opposite of most screws and bolts).

 

[xr75er]

Had an old ford mechanic use a straight point on a air chisel. Just a few taps of the trigger and off it spun.

 

[heptofite]

Had an old ford mechanic use a straight point on a air chisel. Just a few taps of the trigger and off it spun.

+1

Do this.

 

[TurboRay]

"The big clutch nut always loosens the opposite way of rotation while running".

That's wrong! It loosens in the SAME direction the fan normally turns.

If the hex "points" on the nut are all rounded, I suggest using an "extended" cold chisel (extend w/socket and extension) or air chisel on the damaged nut, as xr75er mentioned. BTW, I AM an old Ford dealership mechanic!

C'ya - RAY

 

[bigfltruck]

wow glad to see im not the only one with this problem, thanks for all the tips.