Fan Clutch Bolt Issue Solved: Beat The Living H*#! Out Of It

JKP said:
With that long wrench, you should have enough leverage. I used a 15 in adjustable wrench and a large strap wrench to hold the pulley. I'm going to take a guess that the ratchet and small bolt are absorbing the impact.
Click to expand...

Exactly my issue…

I’ve got a big strap wrench so I’m going to give that a go next. I figure that I’ll keep exhausting the low-cost options first and if that wont get it done, maybe its time for me to invest in a quality compressor and some other tools.
 
Barely Krawlified said:
Exactly my issue…

I’ve got a big strap wrench so I’m going to give that a go next. I figure that I’ll keep exhausting the low-cost options first and if that wont get it done, maybe its time for me to invest in a quality compressor and some other tools.
Click to expand...

I tried the hammer method using just the serpentine belt to hold it, no go.

Removed serp belt and put strap wrench on the pulley and it came loose just by pulling on the wrench, no hammer required.
 
I use a piece flat bar that I drilled a hole to match one (4) of the bolt's that holds the pully on the water pump. Re-install the bolt through the flat bar hole to keep the pully from turning when using the wrench on the fan nut. You will need the turn the wench from driver side to passenger side. The flat bar will need to be held/pushed to the driver side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barely Krawlified
JustDandee said:

This trick worked very well for me
Click to expand...

And the winner is…this amazing video sent from my new best friend.

I just followed the video step by step and beat the holy hell on the top of the wrench. A few hard strikes and just like that it broke free. Now I can finally proceed onto replacing the water pump and gasket. Outstanding!

Many thanks to all of you who posted in this thread. I’m grateful to be part of this awesome community and hope I can pay it forward to someone soon.

EF7C4D06-0D9F-4C34-B6D2-1BF04A0A4F5F.jpeg


2D0897C9-C5FE-4AEF-B634-07081826B6CB.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: JustDandee
Barely Krawlified said:
And the winner is…this amazing video sent from my new best friend.

I just followed the video step by step and beat the holy hell on the top of the wrench. A few hard strikes and just like that it broke free. Now I can finally proceed onto replacing the water pump and gasket. Outstanding!
Click to expand...

Just passing on the torch of wisdom from deeper in the archives- I had one of “dang that really worked”. moments.. had to pass that on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barely Krawlified
machoheadgames said:
Hammer on the end of the wrench (from above, don’t hammer in the unthreading direction) while you tug in the unthread direction.
Click to expand...

You my friend first identified the technique that worked for me and obviously I should have paid attention. The video that I credited in my last post is just your words in action. Thanks for the leading me to the water.
 
  • Like
Reactions: machoheadgames
Barely Krawlified said:
You my friend first identified the technique that worked for me and obviously I should have paid attention. The video that I credited in my last post is just your words in action. Thanks for the leading me to the water.
Click to expand...

You’re welcome. It was the video posted after me that I learned that from, 3-4 years ago. My brother and I had identical Rangers with timing cover leaks a week apart (his first). We fixed his first. Couldn’t figure it out, ended up buying a sawzall and long ass blade to cut the fan off. Made a huge plastic shard mess and he had to buy a new fan as a result of chopping his to a million pieces.

A week later, time to fix mine, same issue with my Ranger fan, wouldn’t come off. I did more research before we dove into mine and I found that video. Mine spun right off with the hammer trick. We both felt really dumb after that.

Live and learn.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barely Krawlified
Top Bottom
Back