removing crank fan

[1990LTD]

Is there a trick to removing the crank driven fan? I'm trying to loosen the 4 bolts (the heads are facing the front of the car) and all it's doing is spinning the WP on me. Even when the belt is tight, it just wants to spin the pulley


It's entirely possible that I'm trying to loosen the wrong bolts or something, I've never removed anything but electric fans.

[84merc951]

you cant hold one of the fan blades and turn the bolts out. i usually just use i thinj a 7/16 rench

[zoomie]

you can buy or rent a tool to remove the fan from the waterpump they come in manual or airpowered variety

[84merc951]

sorry i forgot about the clutch on the fan. if you have the belt all the way tight try to put some weight on the belt to sinch ot super tight use your hand or a pipe and maybe a big screw driver. also ive had luck with instead of just turning them out to hit the rench with my hand to sort of bust it loose.

[1990LTD]

you cant hold one of the fan blades and turn the bolts out. i usually just use i thinj a 7/16 rench

I'm working on the wrong bolts, then. When I try to turn these ones, the fan can remain stationary and the water pump starts to spin. The heads of the bolts I'm fucking with are facing the grille, should I be removing the ones facing the rear of the car?

[1990LTD]

sorry i forgot about the clutch on the fan. if you have the belt all the way tight try to put some weight on the belt to sinch ot super tight use your hand or a pipe and maybe a big screw driver. also ive had luck with instead of just turning them out to hit the rench with my hand to sort of bust it loose.

ahh okay, gotcha.



so I'm on the right track, just haven't got the belt holding the pulley tight enough?

[84merc951]

yeah some times the bolts get stuck on. just try to get the belt as tight as you can. you can also try to grab the water pump pully by hand and hold it while you take the bolts out.

[1990LTD]

thanks! i gotta grab a new top alternator bolt/washer tomorrow so i can get the belt a bit tighter. my only 7/16 wrenches are pretty short, i'll see if i can't find a longer one.

[sly]

I use a box-end wrench on those bolts. They're a PITA cause they're so f'n long. Though, I might try using my 90 degree air wrench next time I have to venture there with a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter to use the skinny sockets on those bastage bolts.

[86VickyLX]

double up on wrenches, or give it a blow with a hammer, to break them free. Sounds like your belt isn't tight enough if it's spinning from turning those bolts.

[1990LTD]

yeah the top bolt has been questionable for a while. cheap hardware store nut/bolt/washer that doesn't wanna stay in place. i'll grab some gr. 8 hardware to put in there. it's entirely possible it's not holding it tight enough


thanks all. i'll tell you how it goes

[Piece-it pete]

If you don't destroy all the knuckles on at least one hand you're not doing it right

Pete

[gadget73]

really long 11mm box wrench pulls them right out.

[1990LTD]

I got a case of the lazies today so I painted the rad supports and sat in the basement porting the lower intake some more. Tomorrow. Probably.

[BerniniCaCO3]

yup, 11mm wrench. No room for gear wrench, sadly, just gotta do it the slow way. I like to use the belt tension to hold it, undo or or two, loosen the belt, rotate, do the next too.
It'll be easier once it's not held on with 20 years of rust (i.e., the next time you have to remove 'em).
Or, you could always install an electric fan! No more clutch fan bolts! That's totally the primary reason for going to electric. Actually, installing an electric fan was more annoying and expensive than I'd figured on, and it's really not clear that it was worth it.