fan belt replacement

bbaer6676 · 11-28-2006, 07:37 AM

Does anyone know the part number to the pulley wrench that i need to replace the fan belt on my 912. Ive tried to do a little research and it appears that it is the same wrench as on the 911 but i think that is wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks
brian

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

These J-wrenches come in different sizes.
Measure the O.D. and post so that someone can compare.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

I didnt want to start a new thread so i thought id ask here. On my 82 sc 3.0 im wondeing if i can remove the fan without a wrench. The end of the shaft has a hex key hole can i use that to hold it instad of a pulley wrench?

Early_S_Man · 12-09-2006, 10:42 AM

Nope on the Allen wrench!!! That will just lead to a broken bit in the alternator shaft!

Try ViseGrips or Cheannelocks on the fan belt if you don't have the proper spanner wrench. Then you can use an impact wrench with a 6-point 24 mm socket on the nut.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

ok. Why cant i just hold the fan with my hand or a wooden stick while i loosten the nut

Early_S_Man · 12-09-2006, 01:02 PM

You can try holding the belt by hand if using a breaker bar and six-point socket, but if the pulley turns ... get a better grip with the Visegrips or Channelocks!

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 12-09-2006, 01:05 PM

If you can get the nut off that way, either it's too loose or you risk damaging the expensive magnesium fan. Why not use the correct tool? An old craftsman's line is, "Let the tool do the job."

Walt Fricke · 12-09-2006, 01:54 PM

You can't hold the fan with your hand well enough to break the nut loose. I don't care who you are, you aren't that strong and tough.

If you put a stick in there it will probably break. If it doesn't, it will probably break the fan (as would a screwdriver or steel rod). When changing from the 5 blade to the 11 on a 2.7 I decided to see if this conventional wisdom was true. It is.

If your car still has the tool kit, it will have the tool needed. If not, buy one. Our host will gladly sell you one.

I can't see how vice grips or channel locks will work, especially on your new belt when you are retightening the all important nut. Early-S man, will squeezing the two sides of the belt together with car in 5th and brake firmly set let you get the torque you need? The pulley (typically not really fully in position at the start when reassembling) won't just slip? How have you done this?

I wonder if a better emergency (no proper spanner to hand, belt is broken or thrown off, have replacement belt but need car right now) method might not be to take the crank pulley off? Maybe that would be too tough to reinstall with the new belt trying to pull it up?

Walt Fricke

Early_S_Man · 12-09-2006, 02:20 PM

Walt,

I concur with your statement about holding the fan with sticks, screwdrivers, or by hand!

I have used a big Channelock to pull the belt sides inward so I could lock the ViseGrips on an old fan belt with transaxle in 5th gear and handbrake on to loosen the nut on a pulley that had been damaged and wouldn't hold with the proper spanner tool. It took an impact wrench to break the nut loose! One of the few cases on a 911 where I have needed to use one ...

I strongly recommend using antisieze compound on the alternator shaft threads!

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

So i get the impression that this nut should be pretty damn tight. I havnt tried to remove the nut yet but i am going to try without the spanner wrench just to prove to myself that it can or cant be done because it seems possible as i sit here. Ill apply my superior skill and knowledge and try not to bust anything in the process. Ill report back when the results are in

spikej40m · 12-09-2006, 03:12 PM

I used a breaker bar & socket, but pulley wrench would have been
alot easier.--- mine was missing when i got car.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

I just want to take it off so i can shine it up and the shroud . Do you think they will maintain a shine once polished up? i plan on painting the band or maby shining it up as well. whats the easyest way to do this without a bead blaster. Can i wiz wheel it then polish it with fine wet/dry paper and metal polish. It will probrobly be a pain to get in all the little curves

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 06:48 PM

I can't believe the amount of useless effort you're going through just to avoid buying a simple tool,. I think I have a spare one in the barn. If you send me your address, I'll mail the frickin' thing to you. Hell, you're just up the road from me, I'll even drive it up.

Oh, and good luck on "shining up" the fan and shroud, a pursuit that has occupied hundreds of thousands of hours of the wasted leisure time of 911 enthusiasts. Magpies love shiny things, so do Porsche fans, no pun...

Evans, Marv · 12-09-2006, 07:38 PM

I agree with buying the wrench. Another thing to be careful about is the nut itself. If you damage it, it will be hard to replace. If I remember right, I couldn't get a replacement from the dealer here in this area or from PP.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 12-10-2006, 03:57 AM

There's a replacement nut in the Performance catalogue that I just noticed yesterday, if PP doesn't have one.

bkreigsr · 12-10-2006, 05:49 AM

don't count on the fan just sliding off in your hands once the nut is removed unless it's been off lately (thread indicates otherwise).
you are going to have to pound the fan off the shaft on a work bench (gently) with a couple of strategically placed blocks of wood.
good luck
Bill K

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

Well i got it apart. Your right the nut was the easy part. I first tried to hold the fan and loosten it. That did not work so i just put it in gear and held the back side of the belt and the nut came off with minimal effort. The fan however ws firmly in place. I had to gently heat it with a propane torch which couldnt melt warm butter by the way. So after i heated it up i worked it off by pulling on the back side working my way around and taping the shaft with a hammer. I should have wore a glove because it was kinda hot. Anyway thats done and i was pleasently suprized to find a new looking alternator behind it

No special tool required. If i wanted to i could easily make a spanner for it. Just use an old pair of cheapo channel locks and weld a nub on the tip. Or use a spanner from a coilover shock

ossiblue · 12-10-2006, 07:40 AM

Brian,
Unless there was a typo, you wish to remove the belt from a 912, right? You need to loosen the nut on the generator pulley--similar to the VW type 1. If that's the case, the nut will vary in size with the generator. Pre-69's sometimes have smaller sizes. Typically, the nut is 36mm, and you "hold" the pulley still by wedging a screwdriver through the slots.

If I misread your post, I'm sorry, but bein a 912 owner also, the number jumped out. Seems most of the responses (naturally) refer to 911's which requires a different technique and tools.
Larry