Removing fan

[Harry's E30]

okay so heres the deal im in the middle of replacing my timing belt and my fan wont come off. The reverse thread bolt will not break loose from its thread and yes ive tried hitting it with a hammer any suggestion thanks in advance.

[BMW_325i]

Soak it with some good penetrating lubricant eg crc 5.56?

Can also try to give it some heat to expand the nut...

[Harry's E30]

Soak it with some good penetrating lubricant eg crc 5.56?

Can also try to give it some heat to expand the nut...

thanks, will definitely try that tomorrow.

[MR 325]

Or find somebody with a real fan clutch removal tool. :)

[Harry's E30]

Or find somebody with a real fan clutch removal tool. :)

well if there is actually a difference between a 32mm bike wrench and 32mm bmw wrench i would love to know.

[Ceeker]

32mm bmw wrench is a thin wall. need for early model e30 but not late model e30. u can use a reg wrench on late model but need to find a spot in the rotation of the fan to slip it through. I have done this before: clamp a vise grip to the lip of the pulley - NOT both lips as you might squash them. then get your hammer and give it a good tap. it should break loose. remove grips and you're good to go!

[Harry's E30]

32mm bmw wrench is a thin wall. need for early model e30 but not late model e30. u can use a reg wrench on late model but need to find a spot in the rotation of the fan to slip it through. I have done this before: clamp a vise grip to the lip of the pulley - NOT both lips as you might squash them. then get your hammer and give it a good tap. it should break loose. remove grips and you're good to go!

thanks all go try that right now sounds like it should work.

[Harry's E30]

got it off! the vise grip is definitely the best way to do it.

[KenC]

well if there is actually a difference between a 32mm bike wrench and 32mm bmw wrench i would love to know.

Fan clutch removal tool(s) is two flat wrenches. One holds the water pump pulley still.

[Ceeker]

Fan clutch removal tool(s) is two flat wrenches. One holds the water pump pulley still.

that would make lots of sense.. :-) all my bmw tech buddies never used the second wrench to hold the pump pulley. I wonder how they did it? Since the pump pulley spun on trying to remove the fan I thought.."what if" with the grips..I didn't damage the lip or warp the pulley.

Those tools up here are big $$$$. I found a thin wall wrench made by Hazet. but I don't know if they still manufacture it. So I took a regular thick wrench and planned it down at a machinist.

[KenC]

The wrench pair is like $60 here.

[Ceeker]

The wrench pair is like $60 here.

I paid 10.00 at princess auto for the chrome vanadium wrench.