Fan clutch query

[Cloggy Saint]

I know these are meant to be stored upright (don't know why though!), so on this basis would it be a problem if I had one sent in the post or is it only long-term incorrect storage that damages it?

[kam-325i]

its long term inncorrect storage that cause's the problems.

[Cloggy Saint]

Thanks. And is replacement as simple as undoing the large reverse-thread nut and then pulling out the whole assembly?

[spook]

Thanks. And is replacement as simple as undoing the large reverse-thread nut and then pulling out the whole assembly?

Yes mate

[RM2186]

Thanks. And is replacement as simple as undoing the large reverse-thread nut and then pulling out the whole assembly?

It sure is, I have done a few recently. I find it best to use a 32mm spanner amd belt it with a hammer to break the seal of it and then just spin it off, all in reverse of course!

[Cloggy Saint]

Cheers lads

[StuBeeDoo]

Cheers lads

I'd store it in an upright position for 24hr before fitting it, just to be on the safe side.

[Cloggy Saint]

What's the story with the storing upright

[StuBeeDoo]

What's the story with the storing upright

Something to do with the viscous fluid inside.

[Cloggy Saint]

Following on from this, is it always going to be a knackered clutch that stops the fan from working? I need to know the options before shelling out on a new one. Cheers.

[E30BeemerLad]

Ed, if these are much cheaper sourced in the UK then let me know and I'd be happy to sort you out.

Eurocarpars are wanting £64 for a fan coupling, which seems expensive to me, this is for a BOGE one.

Edit
there is also a cheaper one for £42.93

[Chase007]

Thanks. And is replacement as simple as undoing the large reverse-thread nut and then pulling out the whole assembly?

It sure is, I have done a few recently. I find it best to use a 32mm spanner amd belt it with a hammer to break the seal of it and then just spin it off, all in reverse of course!

I need to change my fan belt & pas belt is this the same way to remove the fan to get the belts off & on without messing it up? Cheers

[sihooker]

Thanks. And is replacement as simple as undoing the large reverse-thread nut and then pulling out the whole assembly?

It sure is, I have done a few recently. I find it best to use a 32mm spanner amd belt it with a hammer to break the seal of it and then just spin it off, all in reverse of course!

I need to change my fan belt & pas belt is this the same way to remove the fan to get the belts off & on without messing it up? Cheers

You dont need to take the fan off to replace the belts,just loosen the alternator and the PAS pump adjusters and they should come off easily enough.

[Dreamracer1]

Is there an easy way of checking if the coupling as failed?

[stonesie]

There sure is, search for "newspaper test"


On another note GSF are cheaper for these and im having to replace mine again, i had 2 used ones "in stock" and theyre both duds, its only a 10 minuite job and i always put a dab of grease in the thread to save any future drama, some of them can be a right swine to get off.

[Cloggy Saint]

Thanks for the info' guys, but again, is it always going to be the clutch if the fan has failed?
Lee, I'm going to be in the UK next week so I can pick one up then. Thanks for the offer though. By the way, if you ever need another intake boot, let me know!

[Brianmoooore]

i always put a dab of grease in the thread to save any future drama, some of them can be a right swine to get off.

Especially if the last person to change it confused 'grease' with 'loctite'!!

[Barnz]

Ed, if these are much cheaper sourced in the UK then let me know and I'd be happy to sort you out.

Eurocarpars are wanting £64 for a fan coupling, which seems expensive to me, this is for a BOGE one.

Edit
there is also a cheaper one for £42.93

.

I wouldn't bother with the cheaper one..... Sachs Boge all the way. I've just changed one my 325, had a couple of duds kicking about in the garage, chose a good Fichtel & Sachs one, seems to be working fine now.
BMW retail is wrong side of £100 I think but prepared to be proved wrong.

Brianmooore - loctite / grease

[bimanut]

my viscus stays on permenantly i think because when i pull off you can hear the blades roaring,any one know why?

[Brianmoooore]

my viscus stays on permenantly i think because when i pull off you can hear the blades roaring,any one know why?

'cause it's knackered!

[bimanut]

my viscus stays on permenantly i think because when i pull off you can hear the blades roaring,any one know why?

'cause it's knackered!

being as this is the technical section i thought i would ave got a more technical ansa

[Cloggy Saint]

Thanks for the info' guys, but again, is it always going to be the clutch if the fan has failed?

Disregarding a broken/missing belt of course

[Dreamracer1]

Very good at technical stuff Brian. Always seems to come up with an appropriate engineering term!

[Brianmoooore]

my viscus stays on permenantly i think because when i pull off you can hear the blades roaring,any one know why?

'cause it's knackered!

being as this is the technical section i thought i would ave got a more technical ansa

Alright then - the bearing between the two parts has probably seized - usually because its been bent. Still knackered though!

[Cloggy Saint]

How do I stop the whole shaft turning when trying to loosen the nut?

[E30BeemerLad]

either putting a large socket and breaker bar on the crankshaft nut to stop the engine being able to turn or you need to be giving the spanner a good twatting with a hammer to shock the nut off.

You may be a victim of a previous hooligan using threadlock on the nut, which causes all sorts of problems. Also, remember the left hand thread

[Cloggy Saint]

crankshaft nut?

[Brianmoooore]

How do I stop the whole shaft turning when trying to loosen the nut?

Smack the handle of the spanner hard with a hammer, not forgetting it's a reverse thread.
For the few that won't come undone by this method, I've a "special tool" which consists of 300mm of 20mm x 3mm flat steel bar with a 6.5mm hole drilled near one corner. Remove one of the four bolts holding the pulley to the pump, and bolt the bar to the pulley, using a slightly longer 6mm bolt.
Use the 32mm spanner to turn the big nut, until the steel bar locks against the centre hub of the pump.

[Cloggy Saint]

Finally got the damn thing off, courtesy of Brian's special tool. Trouble is in my excitment I removed the clutch without noting which way around it fits! The fan has a deeper recess on one side than the other, so which side does it sit in?? Is the clutch fitted on the engine side of the fan and bolted from the radiator side or the other way around?

[stonesie]

It should go on the opposite side to the big nut and the 4 bolts/washers should have left 'witness marks'

The fan spins clockwise when viewed from the front of the radiator and the blades are swept back slightly.





Back to a previous point about storage of the clutch units, if i may?

I was suprised to see arrows on the box and inside the box indicating that it should be stored FLAT? this is on a SACHS unit, not the ElChepo version...

[Cloggy Saint]

Unfortunately I gave it a good clean before stopping to think so there are no marks where the bolts were. At the moment I have the clutch mounted on the engine side and bolted from the radiator side but it fits just as well the other way around.

[stonesie]

The blades are curved, kinda like an airplane propellor so have to be fitted the right way or they will not pull enough air through to keep her cool in traffic.

[Cloggy Saint]

I'm not making myself clear! I know I have the fan on the right way, the problem is the clutch can be mounted on either side of the fan, front or back. Which is correct?

[stonesie]

Right, got ya, it should be at the Front of the viscus unit.

As i put above 'the opposite side to the big nut'










Its been a long day

[Cloggy Saint]

Aaah, ok, so with the bolts holding the viscous to the fan on the radiator side?
Also, should there be any resistance on the fan with the engine off and cold?