I used to fight with the old style fan clutch tools on Detroit 60 series engines.

Last week, I tried a strap wrench on the water pump pulley and a long breaker bar on the clutch nut, and it came off in one go. The shop foreman saw me and said, 'See, sometimes the simple way is the strong way.' What's your go-to method for those stubborn fan clutches?

3 comments

3 Comments

thead443mo ago

Hold on, that strap wrench trick is clever but risky. You can easily bend the pulley fins or warp the hub. I've always had better luck just biting the bullet and using the correct spanner and a big hammer.

verab283mo ago

Ugh, felt that pain before.

oliviadixon2mo ago

My buddy tried that strap wrench thing last year. Totally warped the hub on his alternator. Cost him way more than a proper tool would have.