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Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:47 pm
by jafi
Hello all,
So, I decide to change my fan belt as the current one looks very rough. I cannot get the fan nut to budge! Even resorted to the 1/2" impact...no luck.
I have of course already applied some lube in an effort to get the nut to break loose.
Before I get medieval on this I would very much appreciate suggestions.
Thanks much!

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:23 am
by rmel
In spit of the direction of the fan, this is a Right-Hand thread. I presume
you are unscrewing this in the left hand direction -- normal direction.
You may also want to invest in the fan locker tool, if you don't have that get
one and keep it in your Truck tool box.. Fits in two holes on the fan housing
to secure it while removing the nut. If your doing all this and it still don't budge
someone must have done some serious over-torquing of this nut :?

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:11 am
by jafi
Unfortunately, yes I am using the tool and yes I am turning the nut in the correct direction. I was shocked at how tight it is. I am not sure whether it is over torqued or seized as there is little sign of corrosion. That is not uncommon though if its rusted/corroded on the threads...

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:41 am
by 63rover
Try a 50/50 mix of acetone and transmission fluid as penetrating oil. It's a not so secret recipe.

A friendly garage with an induction heater may be necessary. If all else fails a small chisel will either drive it off or cut it off. You may want to buy a spare before this.

Good luck.

Cheers, Clive

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:53 am
by rmel
Unfortunately the design of that nut prevents getting any penetrating oil on the threads.
Might want to try applying some localized heat to the nut itself but not so much that the
fiberglass blades get too hot. Heat is your friend on ceased/corroded fasteners. An old
mechanics trick is to also apply paraffin (candle wax) right at the seam of a heated joint
as the heat will result in capillary action drawing the wax into that joint and may provide
some lub. I have used that trick several times and it's pretty effective.

Good luck.

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:59 pm
by Jimm391730
Be VERY careful using heat near the fan; a replacement fan is almost $500!!! Unless you feel the need to purchase a new fan, do as little as possible to hurt the one you have; be that hurt thermal, mechanical, or chemical. It spins almost twice the engine speed and IMHO is stressed closer to its failure point than I would prefer. FYI, my son missed a shift when he was learning to drive stick and grenaded every fan blade from the hub!

Re: Fan belt nut seized??

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:46 pm
by pinzinator
Cut the belt off and grab the shaft with a vice grips, if possible. The washers may allow room for that. Then hit it with an impact wrench.