603 fan clutch removal - special tool? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wheelguru · #1 07-24-2006, 11:38 AM

Any way to get the center 8mm allen head screw loose on the fan clutch without making or buying the special clamping tool? The tool is shown in the shop manual, I don't know where to find such a thing and shudder to think what the "special tool" costs. I bet I could make one, but has anyone managed this operation without said special tool? thanks

mj_sid · #2 07-24-2006, 01:22 PM

My dad has small hands and was able to get one of the L allens (you know the cheap ones that come in all the tool sets) and was able to get to turn. It was a bit of a pain but it worked. We disconnected the fan shroud and put it over the fan so that there was some room to work. Instead of the other special tool that holds the serpentine belt in place I just held it steady

while he turned; it was only a pain for a second or two until it broke free.

Hope this helps; let me know if you need more info.

--Matt

EDIT: use a breaker bar on the allen. That is what finaly made it go.

Hatterasguy · #3 07-24-2006, 01:33 PM

Pop the fan shroud forward, stick an allen wrench in the bolts head, grab the fan with your hands and losen the bolt.

mj_sid · #4 07-24-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Pop the fan shroud forward, stick an allen wrench in the bolts head, grab the fan with your hands and losen the bolt.

That is exactly what I wanted to say!

Hit Man X · #5 07-24-2006, 01:44 PM

8mm "L" shaped allen. CCW to remove.

M103 clutch fits and works.

aersloat · #6 07-24-2006, 02:00 PM

I bought the MB stubby 8 mm allen driver for around $8 and put it on a long breaker bar. Hold the fan with gloved hands and it is no problem. Make yourself a bolt turner out of a short section of 8 mm allen and two thin pieces of wood or metal similar to what gsxr shows as it makes life much easier and it can be done for just a few dollars. I used a yardstick I had around as the long end and a small (5") scrap of hardwood flooring with two holes drilled in either end. I cut off about an inch of an allen wrench, friction fit it in one hole of the scrap and bolted the other hole to an existing hole in the end of the yardstick (you know, the hole to hang the thing up). The thing works like a charm and the business end of it is only a few inches long and comes right off the yardstick.

wheelguru · #7 07-24-2006, 03:33 PM

Thanks all,
engine is out of the car, fan blades off, serpentine belt removed. I will make a pulley holding tool myself. -Andy

Jeremy5848 · #8 06-09-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aersloat

. . . Hold the fan with gloved hands and it is no problem. . .

I tried this and discovered that the 8mm bolt and water pump pulley rotate while the fan clutch slips. Holding the fan does no good at all (unless I totally misunderstood what is being recommended here).

Not having the proper fan pulley holding tool, I put the serpentine belt back on, tightened it with the idler pulley and its spring, and leaned on the belt to add more holding power. Then I was able to loosen the 8 mm bolt with an Allen key and a short length of pipe for leverage and remove the fan and shroud.

Having the fan and shroud out of the way should make it easier to R&R the vacuum pump, which is my reason for being in there in the first place. The idler assembly and the belt were replaced last year and are in good shape. The fan appears to be the original metal one; didn't someone recommend a replacement plastic fan and idler from the OM606 engine?

The idler pulley is attached to the timing cover with an Allen bolt that is larger than 10 mm but smaller than 14 mm. Anyone know the size of this bolt so I can get the correct wrench in case I need to remove it?

Jeremy

sixto · #9 06-09-2008, 09:54 PM

The tensioner arm is attached to the front cover by a bolt that takes a 12mm hex bit.

The manual says to put some special sealant on the bolt.

Don't forget the washer from the old tensioner arm if you're fitting a new tensioner arm.

Sixto
87 300D