OK OK OK I Know a bunch of you are smacking foreheads and sighing but I'm a young Jedi and I need guidance from you elders.

How the HECK do you remove the stock fan...I've done everything I can think of and it ain't going anywhere...NOW...I need to remove the clutch assembly and all...I have actually removed the FAN but it's pointless cuz its locked on by the clutch assembly...SO WHAT AM I DOING WRONG???


Thank you in advance for you assistance...my truck appreciates it!!!

Jeff

 

Put a big wrench (36mm?) on the clutch nut and smack it with a hammer a few times. Another alternative is to use a large chisel on the corner of the nut flats - haven't tried that second method myself but I got it from a knowledgeable source.

Either of these methods will only work with the FEAD belt in place.

 

OK...I already tried pulling on it with the wrench but the WALLOPING with a mallet will probably work...thanks for the quick reply...here I go...

 

Hmmm I'll have to check that out D. I tried the "other" method with a lot of gusto, improvisation all to no avail. Perhaps its just on there or I'm not giving it ENOUGH gusto.

I will try again tomorrow...err this morning...after I get some sleep and then...ok what time is it the sun's coming up!

 

if you think that is hard, try the 3.0 with recessed bolts...

you need to get the fan clutch kit, you put one wrench around the 4 bolts on the pulley, and one ont he shaft of the clutch, and there you go

 

OK Jeff - looks like these guys gave some good advice.
Did you finally get it off or are you heading to AutoZone/Pep Boys today for the tool?

 

AND: 4.0's have "normal" threading. That is, standing in front of the truck, you will turn the fan nut counter-clockwise to unthread it.

3.0's are reverse threaded and have to be turned clockwise to loosen it.

I got mine off by whacking the bolt with a hammer and chisel on the corner of the hex and after that it came off by hand. Mine was actually hard to make myself do what felt like TIGHTENING it to loosen it, lol. Wierd how instinctive such things become and are hard to beat.

But you're in good shape because yours are not counter-intuitive.

 

righty tighty - lefty loosy.....

 

And that works politically as well...

[sits back and waits for Colin's response...]

 

Or if you do them enough, you can get a kit for an air hammer and buzz em off that way.

 

Thanks for the quick response...the "fan clutch kit" worked like a charm...It always helps to have the right tools!

Still finishing it up...have the day off again so I'll report results and take some photos for everyone. It's my gradumagation present to myself fur gradiating coollage! :)

 

I rented 2 of those wrenches and they were both junk, all they did was spread open and slip off. I ended up modifying a large open end to fit and it came right off.

 

Hi there...very new to the forum but like most of you...I'm in a jam. So i'm removing the waterpump from my 2002 3.0 ranger and there is one bolt directly behind the belt adjusting pulley that cannot be taken out unless I remove pulley/AC compressor/powersteering container...Help please, anybody know how to remove the waterpump. Thanks in advance

 

sorry meant to say that being in a jam drives you to network...you know what i mean

 

I had a miserable time also removing the fan clutch from the water pump pulley. I purchased the special 36mm removal tool set from Amazon for $20. This consists of a long bar pulley holder that is bolted with two pulley screws (takes a while and a lot of patience to bolt this on by the way) and a 36mm thin open ended wrench for the fan shaft nut which on my 2005 4.0 Ranger was regular threads - lefty loosey to remove. After soaking the fan nut in PB blaster overnight and using a rubber mallet to tap on the wrench it wasn't budging at all. I used an additional bar on the 36mm wrench for extra leverage and tried for over an hour to remove it and in no way was it comming off. I was able to wedge the holding bar on one of the AC compressor clutch pulley bolts which worked out really well, it held the bar and water pump pulley very solid. Out of frustration, I used a map gas propane style torch to carefully heat the 36mm fan nut on both sides being careful not to come close to the plastic fan blades. Once the nut was very hot, just a few seconds on each side, I tapped on the wrench again with the mallet and it finally broke loose! I couldn't believe it, it was finally off. When it goes back on again it is going to have plenty of anti seize compound and it will not be overtightened, never again will I go through this hassle!