Fan clutch removal help

[Mitchs07explorer]

okay I'm embarrassed to even be asking for help on this but I'm having a hard time getting the fan clutch bolt loose. I've been loaned the tools from O'Reilly's the 36mm fan wrench is loose but fit well enough I shouldn't round out the nut. Then they gave me another tool that's split at the end and has 4 holes drilled and hooks at the bottom. My belt was so worn that when I just tried using the wrench the pulley kept slipping. So I used the tool with the hooks to to hold the bolts on the pulley but they just bent out of place whenever I got enough leverage. So then I removed 2 bolts from the pulley so I can thread them through the tool and the pulley. I tried this morning again and I'm having a hell of a time getting the bolt to thread to the pulley given the lack of room. I managed to strip on the on the bolts already when I thought I had it in place. There a washers on the the bolts that are mostly a permanent piece, I took another bolt off the pulley and brought the two good ones to work with me and removed the washers so I could get that much more access to the threads to get it in tight. If this fails I'm going to buy a pipe wrench that uses a strap to hold the pulley or a 48 inch pipe wrench that will hold the pulley (if it fits) and give me leverage. Anyone have any advice for me?

 

[XLTrunner]

Here is the 2-pc Fan Clutch Wrench set I use...Performance Tool #W80585. Have used it several times without any problems busting loose the center nut. Not sure what O'Reillys gave you...but, try this type.

 

[koda2000]

I've used the O'Reilly tool multiple times. It's the only tool that's worked for me. I usually have a helper hold the pulley using the fork shaped tool from underneath to hold onto the pulley bolts, then I put the wrench on the fan clutch nut and give it a whack or two with my BFH. I've managed to get the nut loose without too much effort. Once it breaks loose I've always been able to unscrew the nut by hand. Are you sure you're turning the nut in the correct direction? It should be printed on the plastic fan shroud as to whether it's a LF or RH thread.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

I've used the O'Reilly tool multiple times. It's the only tool that's worked for me. I usually have a helper hold the pulley using the fork shaped tool from underneath to hold onto the pulley bolts, then I put the wrench on the fan clutch nut and give it a whack or two with my BFH. I've managed to get the nut loose without too much effort. Once it breaks loose I've always been able to unscrew the nut by hand. Are you sure you're turning the nut in the correct direction? It should be printed on the plastic fan shroud as to whether it's a LF or RH thread.

I'm sure a lot of this is just me figuring it out and how everything fits. Sounds like we are probably using the same tools that O'Reillys has provided. I might try and bolt the scissor tool from the bottom like you did and see if that helps. It might be easier to thread in those bolts that way. I'm pretty sure I was trying to turn it the right way but now I'm second guessing myself and will have to double check when I get home, I'm pretty sure my biggest issue is holding the pulley still. I watched a video on YouTube by FordMakuloco of him showing all the steps on removing the water pump. He was working on a 97 mountaineer 5.0 so I assumed it was all the same setup as my 97 explorer 5.0. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Got the fan off right after work today, I was able to bolt the tool onto the pulley and break it free by hand. I must have loosened it a bit on my previous attempts but then it just spun right off.

 

[koda2000]

Yeah, the nut doesn't need to be super tight when reinstalling it. The rotation of the engine keeps it from loosening. The problem with getting the nut loose when removing is that it's difficult to get any impact on the nut when the pulley wants to move. It's like jacking a tire off the ground w/out first loosening the lug nuts.