One ton of pressure wouldn't budge my fan

[John Mullins]

I am trying to remove the alternator from the fan on my '74S engine.

Squirted it with Kroil over a two day period then tried the zip-tie gear puller method and broke a bunch of zip-ties.

Brought it to work where we have a press. Supported the edges of the fan and pressed on the shaft with 1250lbs of pressure. Didn't budge.

Heated the fan around the shaft and applied 2000lbs and it didn't budge.

I chickened out after that.

Any ideas?

TIA

[John Mullins]

help?

[DRACO A5OG]

I can come by and show you, I just serviced mine and it seemed it would not budge but finally it let go.

PM me.

Jim

[rusnak]

That's a ridiculous amount of force. I hope the woodruff key is not damaged.

[JohnJL]

You might hit the shaft with freeze spray directly for a solid minute, while it's positioned in the press already, quickly warm the fan with some propane and turn up the pressure again right away.

[1QuickS]

Put the pressure on it and give a tap with a hammer. I had to remove a 4" diameter pin that wouldn't move with 100 tons on it until I gave a rap with a 8 pound sledge which loosened it up. I also extract 1/16" diameter brass pins when servicing the early Solex carbs using a slide hammer (a small one I made) to get these fragile pins out -works much better than just applying a simple, axial force.

[MBruns]

I have used the air hammer method on the end of the alt shaft with a small driver like you would remove a valve guide with when they are tough, the shock from the impact does wonders
Mike Bruns

[euro911sc]

Have you used the jack screw method yet? Tap 1/4-20 in the holes of the fan on opposite sides. Put 2 1/4-20 x 1" screws in the holes. Turn one a 1/2 turn then the other 1/2 turn till the fan comes off.

It is very possible that you are not pressing the shaft straight off the fan and that would make it hard to get off. This two screw technique actually rocks the fan back and fourth on the shaft which may be of help removing yours.

good luck!

-Michael

[John Mullins]

Thanks for all the input guys! Still stuck, but I haven't had a chance to try all options yet. Seriously considering just cleaning and painting the damn thing while its on the alternator.

[euro911sc]

Naw. Better to get it fixed now as taking the alternator out is a pain with the fan attached. Might not even be possible...

[gsxrken]

Have you tried John Walkers method of rapping the fan housing on the edge of a step and allowing gravity to permit the alt to fall out? Go around in a circle tapping, spinning and tapping the housing until alt suddenly drops out. It works.

[euro911sc]

As I read it its the fan that is stuck on the shaft, not the alternator in the housing...

[john walker's workshop]

air hammer. drill a divot into the center of the shaft with a semi-large bit so the hammer bit doesn't walk sideways. put the nut on the threads with a 1/8" gap to the fan hub before you kill the threads.

[gsxrken]

Originally Posted by euro911sc

As I read it its the fan that is stuck on the shaft, not the alternator in the housing...

Oh, I did misinterpret that- thanks. For separating the ALT and fan, I used my air hammer with a pointy bit and it shot the ALT right off the fan.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by John Mullins

Thanks for all the input guys! Still stuck, but I haven't had a chance to try all options yet. Seriously considering just cleaning and painting the damn thing while its on the alternator.

Since you are local, take it to Velios on Manhattan Beach Blvd.

Good luck,

Gerry

Vellios Machine Shop Home

[John Mullins]

FYI, finally got the thing off without breaking it.

- Put it in the freezer for several days (wife really appreciated having an alternator/fan assy next to the frozen peas...)
- Then took it to work again and put it in the freezer there
- Had one of my guys move it directly to a prepared setup on the press and apply pressure while heating the area around the spindle
- It finally separated without damaging the fan

No visible signs of corrosion or anything else that would make it stick so firmly, but it was coated with oil...the idea all that Kroil I squirted in there may have "surface locked" it could have some legs....

Anyway, thanks again for all the help and advice!

John