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View Full Version : DIY - Fan Clutch Nut Installation

cn90
10-29-2007, 07:39 PM
Just replaced my defective "MTC" Fan Blade.

Those of you who have replaced water pump or done the cooling overhaul know it is a PITA to install the Fan Clutch onto the WP Hub: the space is tight, the thin 32-mm wrench does not have much room to move etc and etc. Sometimes it can take up to 15 minutes to thread this stupid 32-mm Nut.

Well, I just came up with this trick that makes the Fan Clutch Nut Install in 10 seconds! It was a breeze!

- Remember that this NUT is reverse thread, so turn it Counter-Clockwise to tighten it.

- Get a short section of a poultry cord (dental floss or shoe lace is also OK)

- Use a small piece of masking tape to tape one end of the cord onto the NUT.

- Wrap the cord around the 32-mm Nut 3-4 times in such a way that when you pull the cord, the NUT turns CCW (Viewed from FRONT of car)....See Picture.

- Apply a bit of grease or antiseize on the 32-mm Nut to make install easy (also making future removal easy).

- Hold the Fan Clutch snugly against the WP Hub, then Pull the cord upward. This will turn the NUT CCW. No need to tighten the nut. Engine rotation will tighten it.

Install takes less than 10 seconds!

HTH.
jvcajita
10-29-2007, 07:45 PM
ingenious! i'll do that next time. gonna put it on as a bookmark!
djfitter
10-29-2007, 07:46 PM
I don't need this advice, but I like it. :thumbup:
cn90
10-29-2007, 07:59 PM
I don't need this advice, but I like it. :thumbup:
My advice is always free...hehe....:)
chivas
10-29-2007, 08:56 PM
slick... i would just put it on when the car is running..... NOT. :D
325ic a beer
10-29-2007, 11:15 PM
slick... i would just put it on when the car is running..... NOT. :D

Heh he heh ehheheeh funny stuff!
cn90
10-30-2007, 06:51 AM
slick... i would just put it on when the car is running..... NOT. :D
Buy $1M life insurance before doing that chivas...hehehe...:)
ross1
10-30-2007, 06:59 AM
That's great! Don't pull too hard, you might start it.
bimmerd00d
10-30-2007, 06:59 AM
If your fan clutch is in proper working order, just spin the blades and the nut tightens 90%. The last 10% i use a 32mm wrench and a rubber mallet.
cn90
10-30-2007, 07:15 AM
If your fan clutch is in proper working order, just spin the blades and the nut tightens 90%. The last 10% i use a 32mm wrench and a rubber mallet.
bimmerd00d, that is not the issue: the issue is how to start the first thread of the stupid NUT!!!! Once it starts to catch the 1st thread in, you spin until it stops. The engine rotation will tighten it.
poolman
10-30-2007, 07:26 AM
Thanks Cn90--When I was opening the thread ,I started to wonder if it was possible to tie a piece of cord on and make it do the trick--will be useing this in the next couple of weeks.
I was just imagining how difficult putting the fan back on was going to be-no room and all
The fan will sit on the hub I understand and with the rope trick I can see this greatly aiding the rebuild.
cn90
10-30-2007, 07:33 AM
Yeah, some people spend up to 30 min to thread the 32-mm nut in, after some "nice" language like "wtf" it will go in. This is because the space is so tight, unless you have small child hands, it is very difficult to catch the 1st thread...Been there done that...:)
2slow4u
10-30-2007, 07:49 AM
Very clever, but sense my both belts snapped last week and left me stranded on the side of the beach...the easiest way I found to put the fan back on was to hold the fan so that the nut was pushed up against the bolt and have my buddy give the car a real quick crank(not start the car) on the ignition.
drbeck
10-30-2007, 08:32 AM
Another option is to go from the bottom and thread the nut on. The fan shroud has larger gap on the bottom that makes it quite easy to reach your hand up and start the threads.
TemporarySanity
10-30-2007, 08:44 AM
Or you could just give up and weld it on.
ross1
10-30-2007, 08:56 AM
Would you be offended if I took a life insurance policy on you?
bmwm3coupe
10-30-2007, 09:40 AM
Very clever!
bimmerd00d
10-30-2007, 10:47 AM
bimmerd00d, that is not the issue: the issue is how to start the first thread of the stupid NUT!!!! Once it starts to catch the 1st thread in, you spin until it stops. The engine rotation will tighten it.

OH, yeah that's a pain in the buttocks (forrest gump).
e39dream
10-31-2007, 02:20 PM
good tip- getting the thing started is the hard part, at least for me.
Eric528i
09-19-2008, 08:40 AM
I am getting ready to replace mine this weekend on my 528i and can't thank you enough for the tip before I get started.
xWulfgar
01-19-2009, 06:13 AM
Good job.
Lbert
05-23-2009, 07:44 PM
Great idea!