undoing the nut on a fan

[User Name]

I have a fan, loose
how can I hold it still to undo the nut, I don't want to jam something in the fan blades incase I damage another fan blade, one is already damaged

I've held it down with someone else with a wrench trying to undo it, this far is too tight

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by User Name

I have a fan, loose
how can I hold it still to undo the nut, I don't want to jam something in the fan blades incase I damage another fan blade, one is already damaged

I've held it down with someone else with a wrench trying to undo it, this far is too tight

You need the pulley fan wrench shown below to hold the pulley while you undo the nut.


Edit: sorry, I just saw your last line under the photo where you mentioned you held the pulley with a wrench. You may try to use an impact wrench and be certain you are turning the nut counter-clockwise--carefully!

[User Name]

I was hoping to avoid using an impact wrench, incase it gets away, I don't want to risk damaging the tool or the pully
I think I might cut the nut off, that'll save everything else

unless there's something else I could try

[moneymanager]

Get the tool and do it right. You'll need it again.

[Flat6pac]

Thats a Motorola alternator and there is other problems. All 12 of the small holes are suposed to line up with the holes on the fan. Yours dont.
Youre probably missing the key in the slot to hold the fan to the shaft. It either backed up when you installed the fan or wasnt there when the fan was installed.
Youre going to have a hard time saving the fan because it has been running on the shaft eating the shaft or the fan metal or both.
Hold the fan, impact the nut off but I think you ll find the key is not on location
Bruce

[User Name]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Get the tool and do it right. You'll need it again.

I have the tool, I don't want to risk trashing it and the pully with the impact wrench

Originally Posted by Flat6pac

Thats a Motorola alternator and there is other problems. All 12 of the small holes are suposed to line up with the holes on the fan. Yours dont.
Youre probably missing the key in the slot to hold the fan to the shaft. It either backed up when you installed the fan or wasnt there when the fan was installed.
Youre going to have a hard time saving the fan because it has been running on the shaft eating the shaft or the fan metal or both.
Hold the fan, impact the nut off but I think you ll find the key is not on location
Bruce

if the key is missing, am I looking potentially looking at a dead fan and alternator
I recently bought the fan I've done nothing with it yet appart from trying to take it appart
I do have 2 other outer rings and an alternator, if the alternator is toast, but not another fan

[fastfredracing]

You wont hurt it with the impact gun, just carefully hold the fan still with your hands, be super careful , not to put your fingers in the blades, the fan will try to turn a little, a couple of quick blasts with the gun, and the nut will be off. The impact gun is your friend, you will do far more damage trying to cut the nut off .

[User Name]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

You wont hurt it with the impact gun, just carefully hold the fan still with your hands, be super careful , not to put your fingers in the blades, the fan will try to turn a little, a couple of quick blasts with the gun, and the nut will be off. The impact gun is your friend, you will do far more damage trying to cut the nut off .

thanks
will give it a go then

[johndglynn]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

The impact gun is your friend, you will do far more damage trying to cut the nut off .

+1: take your time and suffer no damage. You can wedge it with some rags if that makes you feel better. I got mine off with the tool and a spanner:



You may find you have a similar prob to me: pulley outer cutting into shaft as not fitted correctly. I fixed mine with some JB: all works a treat now, though I have a little fan and alternator to fit sometime.

[User Name]

Originally Posted by 86 911 Targa

Take the fan, and the tool, to your local Porsche mechanic.

Not only will he do the job, will show you how It's done correctly.

good luck,

gerry

I don't have a porsche mechanic local
I'm at the bottom end of the scale, I'm a VW man
I'm trying to put to gether a 2 + ltr 914 motor with a 911 cooling system


this one is VW type 1 based

to go in this

[HarryD]

Cool project.

When you get the alternator apart, count the shims, you should have 6. If you are short, that is also part of the problem.

[86 911 Targa]

Since you have the fan off the car, any mechanic can help you with this task
especially if you have the right tool (the pulley fan wrench).

If not johndglynn's approach is the best.

IMPORTANT: Count/record the shims between the pulley halves and under the cup.

The shims under the cup nut are visible in your pics.

There should be a total of 6.

All 6 must be replaced in the same location to accomodate belt tension.



On our 3.2 I used two shims between the pulley halves, and four under the cup nut.

I've done this several times on our '86.

Please check my post dated July 18, 2009 on this subject.

There is a breakout diagram showing all of the fan parts.

And as per John' post, take your time.

Get someone to help you.

Good luck,

Gerry

[LeGino]

johndglynn,
I was looking at the pictures and noticed that your fan hub had significant damage from the half pulley. I just noticed similar damage on mine (1988 3.2L Carrera engine), do you know why this occurs?

[Jesse16]

The key wasn't on right and the shims weren't installed correctly. I found this exact same damage on my 87 carrera after purchase. A carefull repair with JB Weld, a little filing to get things nice and smooth, carefull reassembly and everything works great now. Runs true, shouldn't be much heat here so the JB will be fine in my opinion. $2.00 repair plus my time.

[Walt Fricke]

LeGino

That groving of the hub happens when the outer pulley half isn't tight against the inner. This usually happens because there aren't enough of the washer shims installed on the outside of the outer pulley. When there aren't enough total shims, the cup washer (right below the nut) bottoms on the fat end of the hub. It can do this before it puts enough pressure on the outer pulley. For that matter, the cup washer can get distorted from overtorquing, losing some of its effective depth.

Pretty common issue. Also fairly easily avoided. I've seen the groove go all the way around the hub, making a JB weld fix kind of iffey.

Took me a long time to realize why all authorities insisted on using the whole shim stack. Which can be a pain, because the outer shims want to fall off of the hub or otherwise get out of line while you are trying to tighten the nut and nudge the belt into place at the same time. So obviously it is tempting to try a shortcut until you realize how this works.

[LeGino]

Thanks guys, this make sense, since I had installed a new belt and had to shim under the pulley for the first time. I torque the nut to spec every time, but i didn't pay enough attention of the thread run, obviously.