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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2004
12:49:36

Subject: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Alright, I've been working on that dang water-pump all morning. Fan-belt and fan-shroud are off, and I have a kit I rented from Autozone to remove the fan. Thing is, while the piece that holds the clutch fits just fine, there is nothing in that kit that fits the bolt on the actual shaft! So I cannot break it loose and remove the fan to get to the water-pump, which is leaking the last of my coolant onto the parking-lot as we speak. How the hell do I get this SOB off?! I can't afford to take my truck to the damn dealer every time a frickin' fuse blows! Yet every time something just major enough to keep the truck from running happens, I wind up in a situation where I MUST take it to the dealer or order some exotic $200 tool to do the work myself. Does anybody have any ideas here? I'm now going to miss a second day of work due to this BS.



Brian6171
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2004
19:22:24

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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What you need to do is get a hammer and a 12" piece of 1\2" pipe. Put one end of the pipe on the nut and hit the other end of the pipe with the hammer. This will allow the nut to break loose enough for you to spend it off with a wrench or by hand. If you don't have a piece of pipe use anything solid.



Daksmack
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2004
19:27:51

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Dont mean to insult you, but are you sure your turning it the correct way?

If you are, a cheater pipe and hammer are the key.



DSW
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2004
20:10:24

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Hmmmm, If the water pump went bad, the fan clutch could be the reason why. If the fan clutch has oil seepage or if it's loose replace the thing before it makes your new water pump go bad.

I got my fan clutch off by putting a 18" pipe wrench on the nut and whacking the pipe wrench with a hammer. You just need a sharp shock to bust the nut loose, then it will spin off by hand.



Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2004
21:22:44

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Found this on dakotart.com

[[Inexpensive Fan Removal Tool

By: Dale Berry #26

Removing the factory fan is a simple process, provided that you have the specially made Fan Removal Tool that Daimler/Chrysler or your Specialty Tool Dealer has. And, at very hefty price to boot!

Well, here?s a very inexpensive alternative: All you need are some Allen Wrenches, and a Hubcap Tool or Long Screwdriver.

If you look closely at the front of the Water Pump Pulley, there are four unused holes in it, approximately ¼ inch in diameter. Once you?ve found the holes, here?s what you need to do: Turn the pulley so the holes line up at the 2, 4, 8, and 10 o?clock position. Then place two tight fitting (or as close as you can get) Allen Wrenches in the two bottom holes (8 and 4 o?clock). Then take either the Hub Cap Tool or Long Screwdriver and place it horizontally under the Alternator, with the shaft under the 8 o?clock and over the 4 o?clock Allen Wrenches. Turn the Fan Nut counterclockwise with a wrench, and off comes the fan.

To reinstall the Fan, just reverse the process. Works like a charm, and can be done quickly and easily with common tools??]]



Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/26/2004
00:45:28

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Thanks for the input. I'll take the lug-nut tool and my sledge to the nut tomorrow morning. I don't have the cash for the tool, hehe. Biggest wrenches I have are 7/8" and I think 18mm. Both too small.



Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/26/2004
00:49:25

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Actually, I forgot to reply about the bad fan. My fan is tight and no oil (there's oil in the thermal-controller?) is apparent. The problem is the bearing inside the water-pump. The entire shaft can be wiggled by hand, but the blades and thermal sensor cnanot wiggle on the shaft at all. One thing I did notice on my fan is the odd blade design. It has two blades close together, then a gap, then three blades close together, then another gap. Any ideas why the blades aren't evenly spaced?



Kevin
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5/26/2004
09:39:11

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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I seem to recall that when I replaced the fan clutch on my 92 a couple years ago, the gaps were the only places I could get my hands in to get good leverage. I had to make sure the fan was just in the right position, otherwise there was not enough clearance for me to get a good grip.



Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/26/2004
11:31:12

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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That's what I figured also. Now, I just got up from pounding on it with a dang sledge and tire-iron. That damn bolt will NOT budge! I hit the thing numerous times, so hard that my hand hurt from holding the tire-iron. What the hell do they screw those on with, frickin' 40000psi drivers?! I now HAVE to take it to a damn dealer to get the bolt off. Even if I only ask them to loosen the f*cking thing they'll charge me $80. This is plum damn ridiculous. I am seriously thinking of switching to Chevy because of numerous instances of BS like this. I love the truck, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay Dodge just because they have proprietary damn sh*t on their vehicles.



Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/26/2004
12:26:14

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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I just called Dodge after bending a frickin' tire-iron on that piece of crap bolt. Apparently they have a f*cking hydraulic tool that removes the thing. HYDRAULIC TOOL. Jesus, once that thing comes off it will NOT go back on my engine, I swear that to the high-heavens. I will drive wihout a fan until I can afford the electric ones. I am so angry right now I could shoot the idiot who invented a damn hydraulic tool to tighten a f*cking nut.



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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5/26/2004
22:08:37

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Sep,

Take a valium, prozac, or whatever!

I used a little 8 inch pipe wrench, it opened just enough to fit the nut. Then a put a 1 foot piece of 2x4 I had perpendicular to the end, and hit it with a regular hammer, it'll come off.

don't you have the 3.9? If it has the elec fan also, leave tha POS fan clutch off like me and many others have done, you don't need it.

Good luck, just kidding about the valium.

Todd Bouton
01, 4.7, real 5 speed, LSd, HO cams and intake, no belt clutch/fan, 3923's, 180 t-stat, ported 68mm TB, home brew 'true' CAI with K&N, IAT adjuster, soon to 'relocate' my third cat to a shelf in my garage!



Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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5/27/2004
13:20:49

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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No offense taken, and I was highly pissed at the time I posted. I got it off though. My friend back home had a large enough wrench, and he even gave me one since he had one larger. It took maybe two seconds after we got the wrench on it. Truck runs GREAT now. No odd vibrations up front and no coolant spraying the engine-compartment. Truck runs cooler also, so I now wonder how long that old pump had been going bad...

Oh and I plan on getting the highest-flow electric fan I can find for my truck. 5000cfm would be good.



Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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5/27/2004
13:29:59

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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Glad to hear you got it off. When I did mine I think it took me two days. I had a garage though, so that helped a little. One day I may put an electric in mine but not until it breaks.



matt
Dodge Dakota
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5/28/2004
03:45:35

RE: Fan w/Clutch Problem...
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WOW... its amazing how one nut can piss ya off, isn't it... I have had people say they have had the same problem, with the loose nut behind my steering wheel...
seriously, I really think its sh#tty that auto maufacturers do that crap too. its BS that they make it so that you HAVE to bring you vehicle to them... on htat note too, if that kinda stuff irks you (as its quite obvious!) DONT get a GM... their notorious for that kinda junk....



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