Foiled by a fan clutch

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TomO - 10 May 2007 16:28 GMT

I'm having a helluva time getting the fan clutch loose from waterpump on
my truck.

It's a 1988 Ford F-250 with the 7.3 litre diesel.

I checked and double checked the new water pump, and yes indeed, it is a
left-handed thread. (I still just feel wrong turning a bolt the 'wrong'
way to loosen it).

I started off just trying to turn the nut with belt tension holding the
pulley, but the pulley just slipped in the belts. I then tried adding
additional tension by jamming something between the pump pulleys and the
damper pulleys. Still no joy.

I have since removed the pump from the front of the engine, jammed a
steel bar into the impellor, and only managed to turn the shaft inside
the impellor.

Anyone have any good ideas for getting this clutch off the old water
pump without ruining the clutch or fan?

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TomO

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lugnut - 10 May 2007 20:45 GMT

>I'm having a helluva time getting the fan clutch loose from waterpump on
>my truck.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Anyone have any good ideas for getting this clutch off the old water
>pump without ruining the clutch or fan?

Can't remember if it is the same size or not, but, there is
a 2-piece wrench kit for this available for about $15 at
discount auto stores. One of the wrenches holds the pulley
by the mounting bolt heads while the other is used to remove
the fan hub from the pump.

Lugnut

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TomO - 10 May 2007 21:49 GMT

> Can't remember if it is the same size or not, but, there is
> a 2-piece wrench kit for this available for about $15 at
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Lugnut

Thanks.

I did pick up a fan clutch wrench set from the FLAPS and didn't even
realize that the larger wrenches were for holding the hub.

The one I got is similar to this, but it is a 5 piece kit instead of a 2.

http://greatnecksaw.com/product_info.php/pName/fan-clutch-wrench-49l/cName/servi
ce-tools-cooling

I guess tonight I'll have to stare at the thing for a while to figure
out how the holding part works. It's just not apparent to me working
from memory.

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TomO

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lugnut - 10 May 2007 23:03 GMT

>> Can't remember if it is the same size or not, but, there is
>> a 2-piece wrench kit for this available for about $15 at
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>out how the holding part works. It's just not apparent to me working
>from memory.

The large wrench actually goes over the pulley bolt heads
using them to hold the pulley while you use the smaller
wrench on the nut-like flats if the hub. They can be quite
tight. A sharp wrap with a deadblow hammer can be helpful.

Lugnut

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TomO - 11 May 2007 00:56 GMT

> The large wrench actually goes over the pulley bolt heads
> using them to hold the pulley while you use the smaller
> wrench on the nut-like flats if the hub. They can be quite
> tight. A sharp wrap with a deadblow hammer can be helpful.
>
> Lugnut

Proving once again that it not just having the tools that accomplishes the
task. Knowing the proper way to use them carries much more weight.

I used the 83mm wrench to just catch a couple of pulley bolt heads, added
about 1 foot of length to the 43mm wrench to turn the clutch nut, prepared
myself for one major struggle and damned near broke my knuckles because it
popped free about halfway into my initial attempt.

Thank you again. Mission accomplished!

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TomO

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