Clutch Fan Removal

[cowboysteve]

I have read many articles about what a PITA it is to remove the clutch fan from the

water pump. Even with the special tool to hold the pulley it seems DIYers have a time

getting it off. WELL! After draging out EVERY tool I had to try to hold that water pump

pulley in order to unscrew the fan clutch I figured it out. So simple I had to slap myself

on the forhead. DUH! Take a flat metal piece 1" wide and about !/8 thick at least

12 inches long. Longer for more leverage. Drill a 1/4" hole about 1/4 or 3/8's from one

end. Unscrew one of the four bolts holding the pulley and bolt that steel bar on to

the pulley face. Just finger tighten it. Let it fall to the right and rest against the

next bolt clockwise from the one used to screw the flat steel on and let the second

bolt serve as a fulcrum. You are standing in front faceing the truck. with your right

hand you can now hold the pulley and with your left put the proper size end wrench

or crescent on the nut. Now you have the steel bar on your right and the wrench on

your left. You will push both down to unscrew that clutch fan assembly. They are not

usually on so tight that you are going to damage anything except your knuckles when

it breaks loose. Very simple and no special tools to buy or rent. I used one of those

cheap flat wrenches that came with a radial saw which already had a hole in the end

to hang it up. Worked like a champ. Once it breaks loose you can unscrew the whole

clutch fan assembly with you fingers. After that walk right over and drop the whole thing

in the shitcan, and install a big or double electric fan on the radiator and enjoy the

boost in low end tork and the noticably smoother running of your truck.

This was done to my 98 Silverado 5.0, and will work on most that have that type of

fan clutch. Hope this will save you hours of cussin' tryin' to get that motha off.

[ScottyBoy]

Thanks for the tip!

[pistonslap]

I have used flat prybars or screwdrivers to do the same. Just make sure that they all are broken lose before removing. I cant remember, but I think if you have two wrenches the same size as the bolts you can you the one as leverage to brake the bolts loose too.