stuck cooling fan clutch removal

[codger]

2002 Ranger XLT 4.0L 4WD ~240K miles
70 YO guy with limited funds running out of options. I'm wanting to replace the water pump, therm. housing, idler and tensioner pulleys, and serp. belt. The first step is to remove the clutch & fan but it's stuck on there pretty good. I got the 36mm tool for the clutch and made a tool to hold the pump pulley. So much for the easy part. I've tried holding the pump pulley still and beating on the 36mm wrench with a hammer, even after spraying down with PB Blaster. Only option I can see is to remove the radiator to get enough room to remove the water pump/clutch/fan as a unit. Will this work? Also, since this means I may need to replace the fan clutch, and I see listings for counter clockwise (reverse) rotation clutches. If standing in front of the truck, the fan does rotate counter clockwise, so is this what I would need?

 

[RobbieD]

Trying to use "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and wondering front view or rear view is confusing as hell to me.

Look at the angle (pitch) of a fan blade; in which direction will it need to go, in order to grab air and push it toward the motor? (i.e.- away from the radiator) That is the direction that the fan rotates.

Since the fan clutch is threaded onto the engine-driven water pump shaft, its "tighten" is against the pump shaft rotation direction, so that the clutch will be kept tight, in normal operation, instead of having rotational forces trying to loosen it.

So to loosen the clutch, turn it in the same direction as the fan's rotation.

That's how I figure out how to change mine, and somehow it works for me.

I just hope that I got all of that right from memory; did I mention that fan clutches are confusing as hell?

I use a blunt drift punch on the clutch flange, and usually a couple light hammer taps in the right direction will loosen the clutch nicely.

 

[codger]

Thanks for the reply RobbieD. Yes, you got that all correct. When standing in front of the truck, the fan turns counter clockwise (left) which means it has a right hand thread. these things I already know. What I'm wondering is if this is considered a counter clockwise/reverse rotation clutch. I'm assuming it is since it turns the opposite direction of the crank. I haven't tried a drift punch, so thanks for the idea. I'm sure I can find something around here to use, maybe even something I can rig up on my pneumatic hammer.