Need help removing this fan clutch. It is very frustrating.
Any Ideas?

 

Ya that fan clutch can be PIA to get off.

A few tips.
The nut is regular (right hand) thread.
NOT reversed (left hand) thread.
36mm wrench or large crescent wrench.

Use plenty of penetrating oil.
You can keep the belt on to help hold the water pump pulley down.
You can crank down on the belt tensioner bolt to help hold the pulley some more.
There is a tool you can buy to hold the pulley down with called a spanner wrench. http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...157_0009852042

Here is a list of suggestions from other members. This will be posted in the FAQ.
Use a strap wrench to hold the pulley. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=Y&origin=prod
Use an air chisel to hit the nut on the corner. I could see it damaging it but if it is a last resort.
Put 2 bolts in 2 of the holes in the pulley and wedged a large flat head screwdriver between them to hold the pulley.
Put a large adjustable wrench on it and hit it with a hammer.

Or build your own spanner wrench



Or use a Lisle LI43300 Pneumatic Fan Clutch Wrench

You won't need to hold anything and it will come right off. Once you use this tool, you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.

 

Penetrating oil is Key like Crazy4x4 says. What I have found very useful for holding the pulley in place believe it or not is one of those Craftsman strap wrenches. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...d=strap+wrench

I take the serpentine belt off and use the strap wrench in the opposing direction that I turn the nut on the fan clutch.

 

Just to add one more idea to the list... when I took mine off, I put 2 bolts in 2 of the holes in the pulley (they aren't threaded, I just slid them it) and wedged a large flat head screwdriver between them and pressed the screwdriver and wrench together.

 

I usually put a large adjustable wrench on it and hit it with a hammer.

 

Lol, but how do you keep the water pump pulley still?

 

I second this idea (kind of ). I took a long piece of flat 1" X 1/4" steel stock. Drilled two holes in it at the same center-to-center spacing as the ones in the pulley. I put bolts in those and held them in with a couple nuts and insert those into the pull holes so I had something to hold onto. Then I took a big wrench and spun it off.

One tip on the penetrating oil, if you are going to use the belt or a strap to hold the pulley, don't get any on the pulley surface. I did that the first time and couldn't hold the pulley for anything.

 

Lol, yeah, mine is the cheap and lazy version of your way. Your way is definately better cause I came out with a few busted knuckles.

 

A few others have used a air chisel to hit the nut on the corner. I could see it damaging it but if it is a last resort.

 

Leave the belt on, if necessary pull the tensioner against the belt. It's worked 3 times now believe it or not lol, got the idea from another forum.