What size and what direction is the fan clutch nut ?

[Explorer_PL]

Tonight I tried to replace the fan clutch. I thought I was ready; I got new clutch, I had a spanner wrench set for Ford fans: 36 mm and the pulley "square" wrench. I tried to loosen the nut but it just went around the nut. Maybe I have a cheap set, but it seems that the nut on the new clutch is 36 mm. Also, I checked the tread and it's the normal clockwise one; I thought it was a reversed one.

Anyway: who can post some instructions, and tell me the nut size and direction of the tread.

Thanks

 

[Flag Gibby]

This is how the 3rd gen guys do it without the special wrenches. It looks to be very similar setup to ours. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319810

 

[Explorer_PL]

Thanks Gibby
So I did some more research: the tread is "regular" lefty loosey, the nut should be 36 mm, but the wrenches are off in some cases, it really should be 35 mm (there is no such wrench).

 

[Explorer_PL]

Small update and warning for others:

I managed to remove the fan assembly (after an hour of struggle). I had an old open box wrench 32 mm, and I just grinded of some material on both sides of the box until it fit. After taking the fan/clutch out I only found out that the clutch I got on eBay for $ 35 is not even close to what I need. You really need whole assembly with the wires, plugs, and the supporting rod. The prices range from around $ 140 for an aftermarket one to about $ 300 OEM. I found some Motorcraft on Amazon for $ 150.

 

[pkn]

... I had a spanner wrench set for Ford fans: 36 mm and the pulley "square" wrench. I tried to loosen the nut but it just went around the nut.

So I'm not the only one who has that sh*tty Autozone fan clutch wrench just bending out its jaws on stubborn nut... I'm glad things did work out eventually for you, that brings hope to me as well

Just few notes:

The spanner wrench set for Ford fan clutch is made of steel too soft. Mine simply bent out its jaws under load, I tried to squeeze it back with few sledgehammer strokes - it did squeeze, and then bent out again equally readily. Crap.

>I had an old open box wrench 32 mm, and I just grinded of some material on both sides of the box until it fit.

Great idea... I didn't have it "old", but got it from Homedepot for $13-something, and it's thin enough to fit in, I checked.

>it really should be 35 mm (there is no such wrench).

Actually, there is... http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-metric-jumbo-combination-wrench-set-33284.html

I've got this set, and will try this weekend if the 35mm wrench from the set will fit in... if not - I will have a choice: make (grind) the already-thin 32mm wrench into 35mm, or make (grind) the 35mm wrench thin enough to fit in... or do both and break both

Drat, and I, at first, planned just one hour for the whole fan clutch replacement job... I have the special wrenches, I thought, what else could be a problem... ha-ha. Now I'm thinking how do I cut the whole assembly off if I still would be unable to undo the nut...

Edited: I'm trying to replace fan clutch on 1st gen (1992) Explorer and having trouble undoing the fan clutch nut. The truck has standard viscous clutch, nothing electric, so there is very tight fit between the clutch case and the water pump pulley for wrenches to fit in. Adjustable wrench big enough for this nut simply wouldn't fit in - it's too thick, I tried. I even tried basin wrench - too thick again...

Edited again: although this idea of removing topmost water pump pulley bolt to ease access to the clutch nut, and use ad-hoc wrenches combination, instead of the spanner wrench, on the other bolt to stop pulley from turning... might be worth trying if everything else fails. Link: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2767518&postcount=3

 

[Explorer_PL]

Actually, once I had my modified wrench on the nut, it went loose pretty easily. It is not that tight. Good luck.

Yes, the cheap spanner wrenches from anywhere are just cheap. You probably need Snap-On quality.

 

[pkn]

OK, just to conclude this, and to make note to myself. I've eventually succeeded replacing the fan clutch in 1st gen 92 Explorer. Shroud molding says "Right hand thread" - and it is right hand. Fan clutch nut is 36 mm sharp.

To stop the water pump pulley from spinning, I used spanner wrench from Autozone "Ford 4.9L" set - it locks on four (yes, on all four, it's a tight fit, but it works) bolt heads on the front face of the pulley. I've put a short piece of water pipe (almost horizontally) under the alternator's upper mount, pipe's other end lying on top of the radiator. Piece of thinwall pipe was on the spanner wrench handle as an extension. Thinwall pipe was leaning on the water pipe. This was enough to block the pulley spin, so that I could use both hands trying to loosen the clutch nut.

What did NOT work:

1. Clutch nut wrench from Autozone "Ford 4.9L" set (black color) - too soft, jaws are bending out and the wrench slips over the nut edges.
2. Similar set rented from Advanced Autoparts (white color) - same crap.
3. Making long chisel and hammering the nut edges with chisel and 2 lb brass hammer.

What did work:

35mm wrench from the above-mentioned Harborfreight jumbo wrench set - I grinded 1 mm off the jaws making in 36mm. Then I cut off the boxed end, and put 4 feet steel square pipe on the handle as an extension. So my total leverage was around 5 feet - and I still had to apply at least 60 pounds of force to loosen the nut. After that it was easy, almost by bare hand. But the initial loosening required around 300 lb*ft torque, I was freaking impressed... As a precaution, I've put anti-seize grease on the new nut thread.

Old clutch was shot - it did rotate the blade, but there was virtually no difference between cold and hot. New clutch is "severe duty", Autozone's variety "TorqFlo".

Result? Well, it roars louder...

 

[optimist]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but it seemed silly to start another with almost the same title. I've heard many folks say the thread direction is stated on the upper shroud...but I must be blind...I don't see it. Is it not very obvious? 2006 4.6...that should be "regular" threads, right?

 

[pkn]

... Is it not very obvious?

It's molded, not painted, so the words are same (black) color as the shroud. Still quite obvious in my case. Your shroud might just not have it...

...that should be "regular" threads, right?

Yes, "right hand thread" is "regular" thread.