Great site! Just bought a 97 e420 and cant find the info on the size wrench I need to remove the fan clutch. I've seen 36mm mentioned but the bolt is a little smaller than that.
Replacing the water pump and finding that the fan bracket needs to be loosened. From what I can see, the fan and clutch as well as the pulley needs top come off in order to get to the bracket bolts.
Does anyone know the size of the fan clutch bolt? Unfortunately I have it all apart.
I removed mine a few months back now and I would highly recommend the tool needed for the job. It's a Y shaped tool that fits over the few bolts that hold the clutch in place.
I managed to use a few wrenches but I can't remember the size. It's a headache if you don't have that tool. The mechanic and I had to actually cut the plastic fins to freely reach the bolts and not damage the radiator grille.
If you are lucky and have the clutch with big hex to unscrew -air chisel usually removes it on about 3 seconds.
This is what I found on youtube after spending 2 hr trying slipping wrenches on my Ford.
Wasn't so lucky on my E300 as it had Allen bolt on the center of the clutch holding about 200 ft-lb.
A picture of what you have would make it easy answer?
I just replaced the water pump on my E320 three weeks ago. I unscrewed the allen bolts and took the fan blade off. By some miracle I was able to unscrew every last screw from the water pump with the fan clutch still attached. After that I went to Autozone and borrowed their tool kit for removing the fan clutch, If you put a deposit (I think it was $60) Autozone will let you take the loaner tools home. You get the deposit back when you return the tools. I put the old water pump in a bench vise and then used the special tools to get the clutch off. Even with the right tools the clutch was a beast to get off. This is also a good time to check and replace any whiny bearings. Should one fail while on the highway it could get messy. This was the reason for replacing my water pump in the first place. Pump bearing collapsed. Made a terrible noise, and the fan blade took out much of the shroud as it wabbled around. Glad it happened in my driveway.
Thanks all. I finally got! What a PITA. First try the gasket on the bottom slipped into the pump. Luckily it didnt ruin the gasket.
Spent too much time and skin trying to get the fan clutch off. I was able to loosen a couple of bolts on the fan bracket, pry it just enough forward and slid the pump in with the gasket this time.
The fun part is that all of the vacuum lines broke in the process. I guess they needed to get done so they are.
Spent too much time and skin trying to get the fan clutch off. I was able to loosen a couple of bolts on the fan bracket, pry it just enough forward and slid the pump in with the gasket this time.
The fun part is that all of the vacuum lines broke in the process. I guess they needed to get done so they are.
I never get it. Why come to internet forum ask for advise when you do it the hard way anyway?
My Mercedes has different clutch, so I could not use that method on it, but it worked as a charm on my Ford.
Here is the video that I used. The guy on it is a talker, but look between 5:20 and 5:45.
This is the 25 seconds the guy needed to break his clutch nut loose.
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