Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by pingu »

After diconnecting the fan cowling, undo the viscous fan from the water pump and remove both items together.

Note the nut is a LEFT HAND THREAD, so the nut needs to be turned CLOCKWISE to undo.

The gap between the water pump and the fan is less than 20mm, so an unmodified spanner will be too thick to allow the waterpump to be locked using a screwdriver, or the like.

Below are images of the tools that I made with dimensions...

Viscous Fan Spanner (milled or ground to 8mm thick)

Image


Water Pump Locking Tool

Image
Pingu
wonderloaf
Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 20:55
Posts: 518

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Basingstoke

Post by wonderloaf »

Just too late for me pingu, I used another drawing from the 'net to make a water pump locking tool which was more complicated and actually didn't work too well, although it did the job in the end (kind of).

I'll be making up a tool to your dimensions when I re-install my pump, think I may be needing it in the future as well if the pump goes again!
2001 Titan Silver 2.2 Sport
Bin
Joined: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 20:50
Posts: 41

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Bin »

I have a passionate disliking for viscous fans having had issues with them in the past on Range Rovers and the like; typically, Haynes to mention that left-hand thread ploy....

Good post, thanks.
Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
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Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Nice one ......................

Just how long is the locking tool. :?:
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by pingu »

Vic-Z3 wrote:Nice one ......................

Just how long is the locking tool. :?:
The tool I made is about 12 inches long as that was the size of the piece of scrap metal I had at the time. I extend it with a length of scaffolding tube to about 5 feet :shock: .
Pingu
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by pingu »

The relative sizes of the tools...
Image

Tools in place...
Image

How to use the tools...
Image

The extension pole has to be carefully positioned between the fan blades to avoid damaging them.
Pingu
Brian4
Joined: Mon 19 Dec, 2011 19:02
Posts: 541

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Hinckley

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Brian4 »

The extension pole seems a bit extreme. If you position the spanner so that it is below the locking tool and push down on the locking tool and pull up on the spanner it will come undone.
Brian
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2000 E36/7 Z3 3.0i
2016 F31 335d
2015 F21 118i
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by pingu »

Brian4 wrote:The extension pole seems a bit extreme. If you position the spanner so that it is below the locking tool and push down on the locking tool and pull up on the spanner it will come undone.
It is extreme, but I needed an extension and I don't cut my scrap until I have to. You may notice that there is another special tool on the other end of it. That was an extension to undo the bottom wishbone bolts on my first Escort van - and there was only just enough leverage with me bursting a blood vessel :shock: .

If the tool was as long as the spanner, it would just about do. As long as you have mechanical sympathy you can have have too much leverage :D .
Pingu
Brian4
Joined: Mon 19 Dec, 2011 19:02
Posts: 541

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Hinckley

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Brian4 »

Too much leverage isn't good one of our underground fitters who was about 18 stone got bored of the section bolts on a machine coming loose so he did them up with loctite and a 10 ft long extension on his 24mm allen key. When it came to machine strip down nothing would shift them except for the gas axe which was on the surface. we weren't impressed as the section left was too long for the cage and had to be slung. 1 hour job took 3 days.
Brian
3.0I Topaz Blue


2000 E36/7 Z3 3.0i
2016 F31 335d
2015 F21 118i
Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
Contact:

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Nice.
Thank you
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by Del »

You lot must be a load of wimps :D - My son and I have taken off several BMW viscous fans with just a large imperial spanner (that fitted perfectly) and a large/long screwdriver used diagonally to hold the mechanism still. Didn't find these bolts torqued that much. I've only used something like Pingu's tool on a hub/bearing nut (not BMW) which was torqued to about 200Nm from memory :D
gookah
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Joined: Thu 07 Aug, 2008 09:51
Posts: 2737

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by gookah »

I just put an adjustable spanner on and give it a what with a lump hammer, always worked for me...
Image

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boustrophedon
Joined: Thu 01 Oct, 2015 20:29
Posts: 34

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by boustrophedon »

Mine unscrewed using a sharp tap from a small hammer on the spanner with the fan held by hand. I was prepared to make a locking tool but found that it was not needed. I did have to buy a big spanner from Halfords.
wonderloaf
Joined: Mon 02 Aug, 2010 20:55
Posts: 518

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Basingstoke

Re: Special Tool - Viscous Fan Removal

Post by wonderloaf »

gookah wrote:I just put an adjustable spanner on and give it a what with a lump hammer, always worked for me...
Worked for me as well.
2001 Titan Silver 2.2 Sport
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