Can't get the fan nut loose

I've done the reading on how to remove the fan, I know it's a reverse thread but I can't get mine to break loose. The belt tension is not enough to hold it, it just slips.

I've sprayed it with PB blaster and let it set.. no luck.

You can't really put any pressure on the pulley because of the cheap plastic crap it's made out of... does anyone have any ideas?

The writeups make it sound like it should come loose so easily... I'm about to drop a tree on this car.

You need to get the tool

what other tool is there?

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&s...2&tx=100&ty=55
Make sure you get the one that fits your car. They are not universal.

I spent the better part of a whole day trying to get mine off. Tried different size screwdrivers to hold the w/p, tried fashioning a homemade tool.
Got the right tool and it came off in 10 seconds.

Originally Posted by occhis

I spent the better part of a whole day trying to get mine off. Tried different size screwdrivers to hold the w/p, tried fashioning a homemade tool.
Got the right tool and it came off in 10 seconds.

+1.

The right tool, for any job, is often the difference between a good experience, and a bad one.

thanks guys...

I made one out of bar stock I picked up at Home Despot for well under $10.

For me the trick turned out to be a little heat.

I'd soaked nut with penetrating oil the day before, banged on wrench with a BFH for a couple of hours & ruined my home make pulley holder, twisting it into a pretzel. In desperation I took the car for a drive to get the fan clutch hot. Two or three bangs on the wrench later, only restraint on the pulley was the belt, and the nut broke loose.

Worth a try, I'd say.

Originally Posted by rdl

For me the trick turned out to be a little heat.

I'd soaked nut with penetrating oil the day before, banged on wrench with a BFH for a couple of hours & ruined my home make pulley holder, twisting it into a pretzel. In desperation I took the car for a drive to get the fan clutch hot. Two or three bangs on the wrench later, only restraint on the pulley was the belt, and the nut broke loose.

Worth a try, I'd say.

What he said ^^^

Long round screwdriver always works for me. The trick is getting the right diameter screwdriver and to know where to lodge the screwdriver on the waterpump bolts. Once you get used to this it works all the time.

I use a square cross-section pry bar to hold the bolt heads on the back side while my son backed off the nut. Less than 5-minutes. FWIW - Craftsman pry bar set.

We made a tool here at work like the one you'd buy, great having a small tool room at work..lol anyway, I used a piece of flat bar stock and we drilled a few holes in it, was able to get it on one bolt and apply pressure to the other to hold the pulley rigid.... bingo, nut popped loose.

Now if I can just find that clip that popped off of one of my radiator hoses...

Thanks for the reply's everyone... you're the best.

Remember to put a dab of antiseize onto the fan clutch nut before reinstallation. The nut will come off easily the next time!

Originally Posted by Fudman

Remember to put a dab of antiseize onto the fan clutch nut before reinstallation. The nut will come off easily the next time!

+1 to that, absolutely.
Using Fudman's advice, mine now releases every time with just a light tap on the wrench. A far cry from the struggle the first time.

Something else that helps.
Ignore the specified torque of 45 N-m (33 lb-ft) and instead tighten with just a gentle tug to ensure the nut is fully engaged on the entire thread length. Given the reverse thread, the waterpump direction of rotation has the effect of automatically applying a tightening twist to the nut. There is no chance that the fan can spin itself off.

Some might worry that such a light torque could allow the clutch to wobble on the thread since it is not seated tight on the shaft. I've checked for that and found no movement; the fine thread has little clearance between male and female forms to permit wobble. I've been using this method for over 18 months with no ill effects. Further, IIRC several others on this forum have used the same light snug without problems for considerably longer.

Some how I was able to get mine off with a a pair of channel locks. Twice now, Ill buy the tool some day im sure, maybe the PO was the original owner and had it serviced at BMW, maybe they used anti seize? I didnt see anything on the threads though. I just hand tighten it on and let the engine torque it down for me. Came off without a issue. Lucky me I guess. Now on my E36, that sucker was near welded on! It was a fight for sure! BFH and a open ended wrench.

Originally Posted by 2k528i

what other tool is there?

More than you would ever want to know about 'the tool' and the tool substitutes are here:
- How to make your own BMW cooling system overhaul fan clutch nut counterhold tools (1) (2)

BMW_E39_Fan_Clutch_Counterhold_Tool_CAD_Template_t oscale.pdf

Originally Posted by Fudman

Remember to put a dab of antiseize onto the fan clutch nut before reinstallation. The nut will come off easily the next time!

Just to give credit where credit is due, this tip originated with Cnn, not me! Thanx, Cam!

Originally Posted by occhis

this tip originated with Cnn, not me! !

Another great tip from cn90 for reinstallation is this one:
- How not to put your E39 fan clutch back on (crooked fan clutch nut)

Originally Posted by bluebee

Another great tip from cn90 for reinstallation is this one:
- How not to put your E39 fan clutch back on (crooked fan clutch nut)

I found out that if you rotate the fan nut enough there is a point where it will settle on the shaft and stay there. Once its stabilized then slowly tighten it. No need for that string trick.

Originally Posted by bluebee

More than you would ever want to know about 'the tool' and the tool substitutes are here:
- How to make your own BMW cooling system overhaul fan clutch nut counterhold tools (1) (2)

BMW_E39_Fan_Clutch_Counterhold_Tool_CAD_Template_t oscale.pdf

That's awesome. I always use a screw driver and jam it in between the pulley bolts, but now that you posted this template, I'll try and make one.

I never put any anti-seize, slides of like butter all the time.