Best way to remove OE fan?

[Rockrz]

Well, my eFan conversion hit it's first snag, and I'm tempted to get a cutting torch after it!

The last time I had to remove my OE fan was when I did my water pump a couple of years ago. Then, I couldn't get the fan off so I ended up leaving it on since I had to remove the water pump anyway.

After I got the water pump off, I took it down to a local shop where they had some special tools for this kinda crap.

Now, I don't need to remove the water pump. I just need to get the fan off, so I went down to Auto Zone and borrowed a fan clutch wrench that is 36mm...but it's not doing the trick.

First off, this big ol nut IS left handed threads, right?
I'm assuming it is because I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to stay on tight.

Second, how do I hold the pulley it's mounted on still while I loosen the fan? That seems to be a problem.

If all else fails, I guess I could pull my water pump again and go find me a shop somewhere that has whatever kinda tools needed to get this off...but I shouldn't have to.

Is there a special wrench or tool kit for this? The 36mm wrench was marked as a "Ford Fan Clutch Tool", which might be part of the problem (my truck does not like Fords!)

Any ideas would be appreciated!

[nomaboy]

i got a really big adjustable wrench. you could use any wrech that fits the bolt and sticks up above the radiator shroud. then i got an even bigger hammer and smacked the wrench. if you impact it like this you don't need to worry about holding the pully,
and i am pretty sure it is left handed threads...i think can't really remember but sounds right

[Rockrz]

Yeah, I guess that's the only way to get it loose is by hitting it hard with a hammer which is the same concept of an impact gun.

I squirted some JB-80 around (twice as good as WD-40) it so that can soak in overnight, while I'm resting

[T Man]

you dont need to remove the fan and clutch. At the base of the fan assembly where it bolts to the pulley are 4 10mm (I believe) bolts. Hold a combination wrench on one of the bolts while you use a ratchet on another. do this all the way around until you get to the last bolt, tighten down one of the other bolts, break the last loose, and then you should be able to hold the pullley to remove the bolt you just tightened down. Easy process, shouldnt take more than 15 minutes without air tools. Since you are converting to an e fan, you wont need the fan shaft, so just put the bolts back in to hold the pulley in place and you will be good to go.

[Rockrz]

I've already pulled it all apart by removing the water pump (it needed to be replaced anyway)
Once I got the whole thing out on the ground, I was able to beat it all apart!
I'm almost done. All I have to do is wire up the fans.

I should be done tomorrow.

[nomaboy]

you dont need to remove the fan and clutch. At the base of the fan assembly where it bolts to the pulley are 4 10mm (I believe) bolts. Hold a combination wrench on one of the bolts while you use a ratchet on another. do this all the way around until you get to the last bolt, tighten down one of the other bolts, break the last loose, and then you should be able to hold the pullley to remove the bolt you just tightened down. Easy process, shouldnt take more than 15 minutes without air tools. Since you are converting to an e fan, you wont need the fan shaft, so just put the bolts back in to hold the pulley in place and you will be good to go.


on these engines there is 1 threaded shaft that comes out of the pully. the fan has a big coupler that threads onto this shaft. to get the coupler off you have to impact it.