Need help with fan clutch

[peytonracer4]

I can't get the fan clutch off. I hold the alternator pulley still and try to loosen the nut on the clutch. However the water pump pulley slips and moves. The tension of the belt will not keep it from moving. How else can I keep the water pump pulley from moving? I can't even see the thing so idk what I'm supposed to do

[Gregs///M]

Its reversed thread so turning the nut clockwise will loosen it. Check bentley manual for removal procedure.

There is also a tool designed to hold the clutch in place while the nut is loosened.

[peytonracer4]

Its reversed thread so turning the nut clockwise will loosen it. Check bentley manual for removal procedure.

There is also a tool designed to hold the clutch in place while the nut is loosened.

I know it's reverse threaded. I'm trying to turn the top of the nut towards the drivers side

I don't have the tool. But even if I did I'm not sure what I would do because I can't see shit. There's so little visibility. The only thing I can see is the nut. Nothing else. I can't see the water pump at all and I need a way to hold it still. I can't figure out how

[peytonracer4]

20 minute job has taken me 2 hours and I have accomplished nothing. Awesome.

[the_ps]

You've tried hitting the wrench with a mallet? Is the belt very old?

[gp.plus]

I don't have an m20 anymore and I can't remember... Can you see the bolts that hold the wp pulley on? I have used exhaust strapping with excellent results on other cars with similar set-ups, pull 1 wp pulley bolt and bolt strapping to pulley then bolt the other end o the strapping to something stationary. I know I have gotten the clutch off of an m20 before without the BMW tool, just can't remember exactly how.

Also as said above, you want to shock the wrench by tapping it with a mallet, just pulling on it will never break it loose.

[Jaxx_]

it's a clutch. you have to do it fast.

edit: probably a bad description of it, but the water pump will move. I've never had an issue removing a few fans simply by doing it quickly --think impact wrench.

[peytonracer4]

You've tried hitting the wrench with a mallet? Is the belt very old?

I don't have direct access to the wrench to hit it with a mallet. I have put a piece of pipe at a 90 degree angle of the wrench and hit that. So sorta the same energy transfer.
The belt is somewhat new.

I'm going to get a thinner wrench so I have room to use a screw driver or something to hold the wp pulley bolts.

[the_ps]

I don't have direct access to the wrench to hit it with a mallet. I have put a piece of pipe at a 90 degree angle of the wrench and hit that. So sorta the same energy transfer.
The belt is somewhat new.

Can you try to hit the wrench directly from below? A strap wrench or chain wrench might help.

[peytonracer4]

no there's really no way i can get in there to hit the wrench directly. i even have the air box out to get some more room in there.
if i can hold the water pump pulley still shouldn't i be able to force the nut loose without having to shock it with a hammer?
problem is i don't have the special tool so i can't figure out a way to keep the pulley still. there's not really too much resistance using just the belt to hold it still.

[bmwguy325is]

http://www.bavauto.com/lview.asp?imgfile=assets/imglib500/KT20202.jpg

Bavauto.com has it for $28 bucks.
You could also try a prybar on the two of the water pump bolts.

[canakami]

You could also try a prybar on the two of the water pump bolts.

I've done this with good success, or at least a version of it. I braced a couple bolts on the pulley with a long thin screw driver; put a little tension on with the wrench, and then snapped it loose.

[gp.plus]

Buy this from autozone etc., in exhaust section, triple it up, bolt one end under water pump pulley bolts and other end to something solid, total cost <$5