Removing old water pump from 1990 E30

[Hedgie]

I'm having Great difficulty removing cooling fan from water pump . I need to replace faulty one.
Can anyone help with any tips.
Thanks Hedgie.

[Brianmoooore]

Do you mean you don't know how to do it, or you know how, but it won't co-operate? (And welcome to the zone).

[Hedgie]

I have Haynes manual and over the last 10 years as owner of this Fantastic Car , but on this occasion the instructions are as clear as mud. I have a replacement pump but just can't get my head around removing the old one.
Any ideas. !!!
Thanks.

[Brianmoooore]

The cooling fan is bolted to a viscous coupling assembly, which is screwed onto a male thread on the nose of the water pump.
The viscous coupling 'nut' on this thread requires a thin 32mm open ended spanner and it is a REVERSE thread. The technique is to give the free end of the spanner a sharp tap with a hammer in a clockwise direction looking into the front of the car, and this should start the assembly unscrewing.
Problems arise when whoever was last there decided to nip the nut up far tighter than required, or, even worse, decided Loctite would be a good idea.
If you come across this, find a 300mm of 20mm x 3mm steel bar, drill a 6.5mm hole right in one corner, remove one of the 6mm bolts securing the water pump pulley, and bolt the steel bar on using a bolt that is about 5mm longer. Rotate the pulley clockwise from the front until the bar locks against the side of the pulley, then you can stop the pulley rotating as you get more persuasive with the 32mm spanner.

[Hedgie]

Thanks so much a big help. I'll let you know how I get on.
Hedgie.