Fan Clutch is stuck on good…Any suggestions??

Hi all,

I’ve finally chased an oil leak down to my oil pump. Removing the Crank Shaft Bolt was a pain but eventually got it. To get it back on and torqued to spec I was trying to make room for the torque wrench by pulling off the fan clutch connected to the water pump pulley…Lo and behold this sucker is also stuck. All 4 nuts are off. No idea what the best method to pull would be without damaging.

Video for reference:

Any suggestions?

 

Shoot some Kroil or PB blaster in between the flange and where the bolts anchor into. Get a brass drift and with a hammer tap the flange, It should work its way loose. If it doesn't then keep tapping it towards the front towards the radiator but be careful not to damage anything.

 

What He said!!^^^^

 

Same issue with my fan clutch. Every 12mm 12 point box end wrench is stripping the bolts. 6 point wrenches apparently are a speciality tool? Can’t find anywhere in the county and 10 days shipping online. PB blaster has been sitting for well over 24 hours and I’ve been spraying every couple of hours. No luck with even a vise grip fully locked. Still stripped. I think the bolt material is too soft to overcome the torque required to pull it loose.

just taking it to the damn shop. Not worth all this effort and time to save like $200 in labor.

 

Flare wrenches might work better depending on how badly they've been rounded. Can get a set cheap from Harbor Freight. I'm not sure if it's possible based on the surrounding components, but if you can put propane torch on those nuts it makes all the difference for stuck fasteners.

 

Bolts are still somewhat decent shape. Anymore and it’s probably gonna need a water pump. considered flare nut wrenches but nobody has 12mm. They have 11mm and 13mm, just not 12mm anywhere local.

 

These are 6 point...

Duralast Metric Flare Nut Wrench Set 3 Piece (autozone.com)

Duralast 10mm X 12mm Metric Flare Nut Wrench (autozone.com)

Everyone has these....even napa has flare wrench sets....bought metric set last week..

 

That Harbor Freight set has a 12mm wrench. This Husky set from Home Depot also has a 12mm

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-SAE-MM-Flare-Nut-Wrench-Set-6-Piece-HFNW6PC/203541511

 

Pray tell where do you live ??

You can`t find 6 point wrenches .

 

Yeah, penetrating oil and tapping it may help. There is a centering pin in the middle, it’s probably rusted and stuck. You can also try a small chisel between the fan clutch flange and the P/S belt pulley to try to drive the two apart, then turn 180 degrees and do the same thing to walk it off.

 

So far when I tried everything else on my truck....the torch has never failed..its like bacon, everything goes better with bacon....

However now that I have an automotive cordless impact....almost never have to torch...

If so remember to have extinguisher handy.....dont take chances.....