603 Crank Bolt HELP - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dufflespank · #1 09-18-2007, 07:58 PM

Hey, I was wondering if anyone here has ever tried to turn a 603 over by hand. I gave it a look and it seems to me that the crank bolt is inaccessible with the the fan, shroud, radiator, etc. in the way. Has anybody managed to get to it while removing a minimum amount of components? Thanks!!

BodhiBenz1987 · #2 09-18-2007, 11:32 PM

Yes, you can do it without removing the fan shroud or anything else. It's a tricky task, though. I put mine up on ramps, then reached up underneath to get the bolt. Use a 27mm deep socket on a breaker bar ... add to that a lot of patience and you should be able to get it.

Hit Man X · #3 09-18-2007, 11:50 PM

Yeah, or just pull the fan and shroud. Maybe five minutes.

dufflespank · #4 09-19-2007, 01:18 AM

I think I have the old style fan with the hex bolt in the center (hard to tell, is it even a hex bolt?), but there doesn't seem to be enough clearance between the radiator and the fan to get a ratchet down to the bolt. I suppose I will try it first without pulling everything out, and if worst comes to worst, I'll pull the fan and shroud.

Hit Man X · #5 09-19-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dufflespank

I think I have the old style fan with the hex bolt in the center (hard to tell, is it even a hex bolt?), but there doesn't seem to be enough clearance between the radiator and the fan to get a ratchet down to the bolt. I suppose I will try it first without pulling everything out, and if worst comes to worst, I'll pull the fan and shroud.

It's an 8mm Allen. Just use an "L" shaped Allen, put on a cheater pipe... left to loosen. Off it comes.

bustedbenz · #6 09-19-2007, 11:06 AM

Last time we did my fan clutch, even our 8mm allen was too large to fit between the radiator and the fan front... I think the final solution involved one of those "Squeeze Wrench" things we had lying around... it's a flattish wrench thing that goes about 1/8 of a turn per click of the handle. Rotary thingie turns at the bottom of it, so you don't have to move the handle. Pretty nifty, if Chinese. Anyway.. the smallest socket we had for the thing was 9mm... so we ended up first using the lathe to cut off a little piece of the 8mm... then crimped that down into a brass bullet casing of some kind (no I don't remember what caliber) and then flatting those edges down around it... wrapped the whole mess with a little electrical tape until the tape plus the brass layer helped it stay put inside a 9mm socket... finally got the thing out.

There are always solutions

dufflespank · #7 09-19-2007, 05:01 PM

Hit Man,

I've got the allen on the bolt in the center of the fan. However, when I turn left (CCW) to unscrew, the belts move. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't that mess up the timing? Or do other bad things? When I turn CW, there is a strange click noise. Help?

dieseldiehard · #8 09-19-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dufflespank

Hit Man,

I've got the allen on the bolt in the center of the fan. However, when I turn left (CCW) to unscrew, the belts move. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't that mess up the timing? Or do other bad things? When I turn CW, there is a strange click noise. Help?

Will not affect timing. You are turning it CCW as viewed from the front of the car?
I had a tool someone made with a short section of hex wrench cut off and welded into a flat metal strap about 2 ft long.

dufflespank · #9 09-19-2007, 05:19 PM

CCW as viewed from the front of the car. The bolt does not seem to want to come lose, so the pulley is taking the belt with it, therefore pushing the engine in the wrong direction. What should I do!?!?

dieseldiehard · #10 09-19-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dufflespank

CCW as viewed from the front of the car. The bolt does not seem to want to come lose, so the pulley is taking the belt with it, therefore pushing the engine in the wrong direction. What should I do!?!?

Hold the serp belt so it doesn't turn, you can mess the engine up if you turn the crank in reverse (I've done that but got off with no adverse effects - lucky I guess?)

Hit Man X · #11 09-19-2007, 06:02 PM

Before I bought that $7 tool to lock the water pump pulley, I just put a 27mm on the crank and my cheater bar to the ground and jammed it. Popped off.

dieseldiehard · #12 09-19-2007, 06:21 PM

I also recall jamming a small od but long screwdriver shank into a hole in the pulley.

dufflespank · #13 09-19-2007, 07:28 PM

Got it without getting rid of the fan. What a mess. Thanks!