radiator fan removal on M20

[naika]

Hi,

This was also posted in the M20 section, but I plan on doing this tonight and really need to find out quick if there is a trick to do this.

I tried replacing my timing belt this weekend and I couldn't remove the fan of the water pump. I turned clockwise when facing the car, as advised by Pelican and bentley but impossible to losen up.
I was blocking the alternator but the belt slipped on the pulley.
Is there any way to hold that pulley to losen up the bolt of the fan?
I have the 32mm open wrench and tried to hit it with a rubber mallet but it didn't go anywhere.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks and sorry for the double post.

[Mike325]

You need to hold the pully for the WP. That pully is directly behind the fan, iirc. There is a special tool for this. You could try to use a screwdriver to hold the pully in place.

Also, did you ever end up getting the shocks?

[Tangent]

You need one of these to hold the fan while you turn the nut behind the fan.

[chrisesteschiro]

I just leave the belts on the engine then hit it clockwise when facing the car and it works every time, so if the belts are taken off put them back on instead of having to go buy a holder.....2c

[atomic]

http://www.samstagsales.com/bmwtools.htm

Altough I think they are a bit overpriced on that particular fan tool

[Erick]

What ever happened with a good jerk? Just spin the nut back with a huge wrench and tug it back. Those things are not torqued too hard to break loose.

[AndrewBird]

What ever happened with a good jerk? Just spin the nut back with a huge wrench and tug it back. Those things are not torqued too hard to break loose.

Sometimes they are stuck. Josh and I had a hell of a time once on an older engine. We ended up using a BIG pair of slip joint pliers on the water pump pulley to hold it from spinning.

[Erick]

Hmmm, I guess. It worked fine both times I attempted mine though. The third time I just got lazy and got a chisel. :p

[Massive Lee]

Hit the 32mm wrench handle with a small hammer. It will take a few small hits to break the thread. That's it. Do the same in reverse when tightening back the nut.

[naika]

You need to hold the pully for the WP. That pully is directly behind the fan, iirc. There is a special tool for this. You could try to use a screwdriver to hold the pully in place.

Also, did you ever end up getting the shocks?

Yeah, I got them on soatruday after much fighting with Fedex. They left a postcard in my mail box requesting "further directions to deliver", How dumb?
Anyways, I called and they delivered them saturday afternoon. Thanks

I tried to take the fan out again last night, no luck.
I am building a tool, basically a thick flat piece of metal with 2 holes that I can bolt on to the pulley. I am working on it tonight again. I will get it out, eventually.
No choice since I need the car wednesday....

The tool I am building is actually the same as in the link above. Flat bar with two holes and a curve cut to avoid contact with the bolt.
I believe the PO had replaced the water pump right before I bought the car and they might have torqued it too hard.
I tried hitting the wrench, even when jamming a bar between the bolts and it didn't help any.
I'll see if the tool works tonight ;o)

[Mike325]

Wierd Glad you got them. Sorry they were too late for you to use them like you planned.

[speedhop]

I had the same problem as you. I put 32mm on the fan and an extension to whack with hammer, and tightened the shit out of the alternator and stopped the belt from moving. Knock the hell out of it...that's the best you can do. Don't buy any of those silly tools ;)