2000 Mercury Mountaineer

[Jim Walles]

I just drove a 40 miles round trip to AutoZone to rent a clutch fan removal tool set. Guy charges me $64.00 for the tool rental. The label on the tool case specifies my vehicle but the wrench does not fit. Im open to "CountryBoy Engineering" but I need ideas. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crunchie_frog]

It is a 36 mm size. The jaws get stretched on the rentals, I have squeezed the jaws back together in a vise to get them to fit. Finally broke down and bought a 36 mm wrench made for this purpose. You can try large channel lock pliers and I have hit the nut with a punch at an angle with a heavy hammer to beak it loose. It is a righty tighty lefty loosey nut.

Just curious, what job are you doing that you need to remove the fan?

 

[Jim Walles]

It is a 36 mm size. The jaws get stretched on the rentals, I have squeezed the jaws back together in a vise to get them to fit. Finally broke down and bought a 36 mm wrench made for this purpose. You can try large channel lock pliers and I have hit the nut with a punch at an angle with a heavy hammer to beak it loose. It is a righty tighty lefty loosey nut.

Just curious, what job are you doing that you need to remove the fan?

The ongoing job is to replace the water pump.

 

[crunchie_frog]

My 2 cents on the water pump having done 3 of them. You will have issues with the bolts if it is a v8. I try the ones that are hard to start backing out with an impact first and if that did not start it I heat the bolt head to cherry red and then use a socket wrench to start it out. There is usually a bolt or two that will give you trouble around the water ports due to corrosion on the bolt shaft. I have not broken one, yet...

 

[Jim Walles]

My 2 cents on the water pump having done 3 of them. You will have issues with the bolts if it is a v8. I try the ones that are hard to start backing out with an impact first and if that did not start it I heat the bolt head to cherry red and then use a socket wrench to start it out. There is usually a bolt or two that will give you trouble around the water ports due to corrosion on the bolt shaft. I have not broken one, yet...

My 2 cents on the water pump having done 3 of them. You will have issues with the bolts if it is a v8. I try the ones that are hard to start backing out with an impact first and if that did not start it I heat the bolt head to cherry red and then use a socket wrench to start it out. There is usually a bolt or two that will give you trouble around the water ports due to corrosion on the bolt shaft. I have not broken one, yet...

My 2 cents on the water pump having done 3 of them. You will have issues with the bolts if it is a v8. I try the ones that are hard to start backing out with an impact first and if that did not start it I heat the bolt head to cherry red and then use a socket wrench to start it out. There is usually a bolt or two that will give you trouble around the water ports due to corrosion on the bolt shaft. I have not broken one, yet...

 

[Jim Walles]

The fan clutch nut is starting to rotate and will be off shortly. This engine is 4.0 SOHC V6. Its my own personal vehicle. That is good information and it is greatly appreciated. ThankYou Friend!

 

[koda2000]

Anytime you borrow a tool at an auto parts store you have to leave a deposit (which is equal to the cost of replacing the tool). If they didn't require a deposit there would be no incentive to anyone returning the tool. You get your deposit back when you return the tool, so in the end the rental on the tool is free. I always use a credit card to leave and return the deposit to. That way I'm not out-of-pocket any cash.

Did you buy the tool, or borrow it? I never buy expensive tools that I can borrow, especially when I will seldom use them. The fan clutch tools that AutoZone and Advance lend and sell are cheap junk. Even a brand new one will stretch the first time it's used. The fan clutch tool that O'Reilly lends is much stronger and works much better, Also, it's much easier to get the nut off if you leave the serpentine belt on until the nut is loose and hit the wrench with a hammer to break the nut free.

 

[Jim Walles]

I rented the tool from AutoZone with a $64.00 deposit. I agree completely that they have cheap tools. The wrench didnt fit so I just used to 'NutLock' tool to hold it and took it off with some large vice grips. AutoZone is the closest parts house to me and its still a 40 miles round trip. next nearest parts house is almost 100 miles roundtrip. But I got the job done. Thanx Guys for all your input.