Tips for fan clutch

[scott93EB]

OK, I searched and saw that someone had a similar problam but never saw what fixed it. I am trying to put a new fan blade on, I got the tools from Autozone, so not only the does the smallest wrench, meant to hold the big nut down there, not fit(too big by 3mm) none of the other 5 shapes come close to fitting the four bolts on the water pump pulley. So I saw a old fanbelt can hold teh water pump full stilll, got that, but find a wrench to grab the nut is not working out. My 1 1/4 wrench is not big enough, and one of teh bigger crescent wrenches works, but is toog big(it is wide enough it is jammed into the bolts on the pump pulley, meaning it cant turn serparately from the nut) ahH,AHAHA, is there an easier way, or am I missing someting , do i have to buy a huge wrench, like 1 3/8 or metric close to that? We only have an autozone, there is a napa i am going to see of they loan tools, but there kind of treat me retared for wanting to do ANYTHING to my explorer.

 

[RangerX]

I got the loaner set from Autozone to do the fan on my F250. The box the wrenches came in listed what vehicles/motors it would fit. It included the 4.9 in my 250, and also listed Explorer/Ranger4.0. Are you sure they gave you the correct size set?

 

[scott93EB]

yeah, its a "universal" set that includes the 4.0L for 1st gen, actually like thorugh '01 but its the only kit, and yeah the smallest wrench for the fan clutch nut is too big, so I may just save it until I go in to the shop for something else.

 

[Rhett]

haha "universal" kit, AutoZone says...here's my experience:

I loaned a kit from AutoZone back in 2001 or 2002, and I changed my old fan (which was cracking) for a new supercool fan. Anyway, back then, the kit worked and I was able to use the wrench and holder to loosen the nut.

Now, jump to 2004. Last year I was messing around and wanted to remove the fan clutch. Well, I went to AutoZone and rented the same? tool. No dice. None of the wrenches fit. Seemed to be the same kit to me, but something was wrong. Or else in 2 years my mechanic skills have gone bad...I sure couldn't use it.

NAPA carries a Ford fan clutch tool but you'd have to check on what it fits. I don't have one.

 

[scott93EB]

yeah, I don;t think im that slow, im positive they dont fit correctly, Ill give napa a try though, even though they suck there...

 

[91Expgeek]

Doh!

Just went through the exact same process on my 91 Exploder v/s fan clutch removal kit from AutoZone :fire:

Finally got smart - got on the Interent and found this forum.. About all I can say is I share your pain. The smaller wrench is too big for mine - still looking for a solution for that but at least the large wrench fits nicely over the four bolts mentioned before. Wish me luck with Napa tomorrow.

-=dave=-

 

[CDW6212R]

I just finished changing my 91 fan clutch out using a friend's tool set. The wrench was a little large, but did work. The threads are right handed, FYI. I could not use the big wrench over the four bolts. It took a big screwdriver to hold the pump still. Regards,

 

[91Expgeek]

I just finished changing my 91 fan clutch out using a friend's tool set. The wrench was a little large, but did work. The threads are right handed, FYI. I could not use the big wrench over the four bolts. It took a big screwdriver to hold the pump still. Regards,

Sounds like you got lucky there CDW! Congrats! I'm a bit tempted to modify the kit with a sledge and anvil - but what the heck, will try Napa first in the morning before I get stubborn and start saying any more Navy Prayers about Ford engineers.

-=dave=-

 

[Maniak]

I have removed my fan clutch on our '92 using the autozone kit. I did have to modify it with a sledge hammer so it would grip the 4 bolt better...

the 2nd time I replaced a fan clutch I used a snap-on tool. It goes on an air hammer and it acts like an impact wrench for the fan clutch. It took it right off.

~Mark

 

[91Expgeek]

I have removed my fan clutch on our '92 using the autozone kit. I did have to modify it with a sledge hammer so it would grip the 4 bolt better...

the 2nd time I replaced a fan clutch I used a snap-on tool. It goes on an air hammer and it acts like an impact wrench for the fan clutch. It took it right off.

~Mark

Thanks for jumping in there Mark. I'll be wishing I had gone with the snap-on tool soon enough. Just got back from Napa with a brandy new kit for my '91 4.0L - to the tune of 58 bucks and odd change. While I was down there I compared the smaller of the two wrenches from the AutoZone kit with the new one and found there was a huge difference in size although they both read 1 7/16 or 36mm.. Taking an even closer look I was able to see where someone had carefully modified the AutoZone tool with a file to take it up to about 38mm or so, therebye ruining it for use on the older exploders. :fire: I had already asked the local AutoZone about having another kit and they reported "that's the only one we have" - bet they have another one on order when I get done down there.

Anyhoo - thanks for the sharing folks. I should have my own little problem taken care of in short order now that I've got the proper wrenches. (But I'll be regretting being unaware of that Snap-On).

One thing I know for certain is that the next time I run into an Explorer related problem I'll be logging in here FIRST! :exp:

-=dave=-

 

[CDW6212R]

Good luck. I'll be doing it again myself soon. Regards,

 

[91Expgeek]

1991 4.0L Explorer fan clutch removal?

Well - I'm rapidly aproaching that spot wherein one runs out of ideas..
Understanding this is a reverse threaded assembly, I am attempting to loosen it by turning it clock-wise as you look at the engine from the front. Had to use a little 2lb sledge to tap the new "small" wrench down on it (nice and snug) and couldn't budge it using both hands and all my milk. Rigged a peice of pipe about 18" long as a "come along" and have now succeded in spreading the "brandy new wrench from Napa" and still no give. I'm not weak and with that come along must have been exerting quite a bit of torque - all to no avail.

The wife is asking if I am "certain" it is a reverse thread - my response is that I'm not certain of much of anything right now. Thought I'd take a break (rest) before I take a different kind of break (sledge) and ask if anbody has any ideas/recommendations on how to proceed other than the obvious?

Is it "possible" that on this one model it "isn't" reverse threaded and I'm simply trying to tighten it further?

 

[91EX4x4]

I believe you are supposed to turn it counter clockwise(looking from the front) im pretty sure thats how mine was. I was able to just loosen it(holding the fan in place while turning the nut counter clockwise) and then just spin it off counter clockwise(once i was done it fell to the ground. I used a pair of channel locks and i took it right off. If you search the forums i think there was a post on removing it.
edit:
here is the thread:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115302&highlight=removing+fan+clutch
counter-clockwise to loosen

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, mine is right hand threaded, and I bet all 91-94's are.

I saw a picture at Autozone which depicted the top of the shroud. next to the wording "Warning Fan" was also imprinted "right hand threaded fan..." Check the top of the shroud, and try it the other way. Good luck,

 

[91Expgeek]

Thank You!

Thanks guys! I'll do exactly that. Need to "adjust" the wrench with my sledge and anvil first. Also going to rest for about another 5 minutes. I go at about 245 lbs more or less and if that thing was reverse threaded it really should have given up and begged for mercy.

I really appreciate your advice/support - but you will pardon me if I don't tell the wife she was right - at least for a little while? :exp:

 

[Brock94]

Thanks guys! I'll do exactly that. Need to "adjust" the wrench with my sledge and anvil first. Also going to rest for about another 5 minutes. I go at about 245 lbs more or less and if that thing was reverse threaded it really should have given up and begged for mercy.

I really appreciate your advice/support - but you will pardon me if I don't tell the wife she was right - at least for a little while? :exp:

It's not reverse threaded-- I think the Haynes manual says it is though. I wasted a lot of time because of that.

 

[savant]

I don't remember which direction the threads were, but the kit I rented from Murray's worked out just fine on my 1991.

 

[91Expgeek]

Lesson Learned

It's not reverse threaded-- I think the Haynes manual says it is though. I wasted a lot of time because of that.

Ayup! Mine (1991 Explorer 4x4 4.0L) turned out to be a normal right hand thread. (I just got the fan clutch off after "fixing" the new wrench from the Napa kit that I had spread going the wrong way with a torch, vise, sledge and anvil). The wife made me wait until today to play "blacksmith" out of consideration for the neighbors. I figure what good is it to play smitty if nobody can hear ya but conceded that when she pointed out *every* body here owns a gun.

1. Don't trust the book! READ the bloody note on the FAN COWL! I overlooked that until another forum user pointed it out - mine says right on it "FAN CLUTCH RIGHT HAND THREAD". If I had done so I would have saved myself a lot of trouble and been turning it counter-clockwise to begin with instead of playing Ron Mercer's "how big an ol boy are ya" game trying to go the other way.

Again, this forum is a super resource and I'll not forget that soon! Thanks everybody!

-=dave=-

I'm gonna go have a beer with tomato juice before I go back out there in the SoCal heat.

Edited: The wife got home from work. She hasn't done a little dance or any of that stuff yet - but when she reads this thread she'll be tickled she was right too. Guess I owe her a margarita or three.

FINAL Edit: Chiltons Lies! Chiltons - BRONCO II/EXPLORER/RANGER 1983-94 REPAIR MANUAL PART No. 9159 - Page 3-70 4.0L Engine note in bold type says "The nut has left-handed threads. It is removed by turning it clockwise." THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG! Per above - and as vouched by other users in this thread - it is a right-hand thread and removed by turning it COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. The reverse is true for their equally wrong statement on page 3-71 for putting it back on. Sorry to hear I wasn't the only one sucked in by bogus info in aftermarket repair manuals.

 

[91Expgeek]

Some days the bear eats you..

Well Guys and Gals,

I would have sworn it was leaking from the water pump - but I was absolutely wrong. Got everything back together - refilled old "Belle" - fired her up and had the exact same leak as before.

My Son-in-law and I were all over the front end of the engine, both with it off and with it on (yeah we aren't too smart) using droplights and inspection mirrors and he (Jeff, God Bless him), finally located the REAL leak at a position just above the highest point on the water pump and below the thermostat housing. I have a leaking gasket between the intake manifold and the right head.

Bad news is that I've got a lot more work to do as there is a ton of stuff to remove to get down that far, but the good news is none of the parts already installed weren't going to be needed soon anyway.

Some more good news is that I've already found an article on this *excellent* site from a guy who as gone through the same thing entitled "Coolant Loss from the lower intake manifold:
http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/coolant3.html

Wish me luck! -=dave=-

p.s. I guess if there is a final lesson learned here its to make *absolutely* certain you know what the problem is or you may be fixing something that just isn't broke!

 

[Tony H]

Take the Therm housing off, unplug the one Injector and just ever so slightly snug up the one Input manifold Nut in that corner. It worked for me.
Don't go crazy! the hardware is supposed to be torqued to 18 ft lbs. so just a little snugging up may save you several hours of disassembly