InvisiBill

Anyone have a LOT of trouble getting the cooling fan off? I have a ‘94 GC with a 5.2. As per the book I’m using a 36mm wrench and a big hammer, hit it to the right facing the motor. No luck. Nut won’t budge. Made a tool to hold the pulley. No help either. Water pump was replaced two years ago so It was off then.
I’ve done this on other vehicles before, NEVER had this much trouble.
Anybody got any ideas? Because at this point I’m starting to think about using the saws all to slice the nut off the viscous drive.

dave1123

Try using a mixture of acetone and ATF as a penetrating oil. The best source of acetone is nail polish remover. When you re-install it, use some anti-sieze.

Bugout4x4

Are those left hand threads Dave?

Bugout4x4

Are those left hand threads on those? Going the wrong way maybe? I ran into this awhile back on a GM product. I had forgot it comes off the wrong way.

wingless

The fan rotation must be immobilized to unscrew the fan nut.

A combination wrench may be placed onto one of the four fan blade nuts, then rotated against the fan nut shaft to immobilize the shaft while removing / replacing the fan nut.

dave1123

I'm pretty sure they ARE left hand threads, but he stated he was hammering the wrench to the right as he faced it which is the right way.

wingless

This is my old water pump showing the right hand threads.

Tonyf

It's right handed thread, so, standing in front of the vehicle, you'd strike it to the left. Use a ratchet (3/8) with a 10mm or 13mm socket (whichever it is) to "lock" the waterpump pulley behind the clutch fan, via one of the four bolts holding it to the water pump. Then smack then , smack the snot out of the clutch fan nut.

Bugout4x4

Thank you Gentlemen... Pretty self explanatory after looking at those threads, It comes off counter clockwise. It obviously turns opposite of engine rotation due to pulley and belt configuration or it would be left hand threads.

dave1123

AH....YES! I forgot about the reverse rotation used with the serp belt. So, remove the nut turning the wrench IN THE DIRECTION the FAN rotates!

InvisiBill

Thanks for all the replies. I’m trying Dave1123 idea of acetone and atf mix. Been soaking it today, will try the big hammer again tomorrow. My factory book says “right hand threads” remove counter clockwise when facing the engine. Don’t know if this is odd or common but my pulley does not have bolts to the water pump hub, only thing holding it is the big fan nut.
I do want to thank everyone for all the help I’ve been getting for the past two years.
Bill

dave1123

You can take the belt off and try using a strap wrench around the pulley to hold it from turning.

wingless

Glad to help.

Yes, the OEM water pump uses bolts to retain the pulley shell to the pump.

Aftermarket pumps have the shell integrated to the pump hub. The aftermarket pumps I've seen have holes in the face of the pulley shell. A rod, like a bolt could be inserted into the hole, that could be used to immobilize rotation w/ a combination wrench acting on the large nut.

InvisiBill

Well guys I got it off finally!! Thanks to dave1123 for the tip on atf fluid and acetone. I mixed that 50/50 and soaked the fan nut for two days. The pump shaft was rusty but the oil and a big hammer with about four smacks did the job.
The pump does indeed have right hand threads, so turn to the left as you are facing the engine if you have to this job.
Thanks everyone.
Bill

dave1123

I can't take credit for that acetone mixture. That was discussed at length here on the forum! Glad it worked!