fan clutch wobble 87 300sdl
 

How much play should be in the fan clutch on a 1987 300sdl? Car is running warmer than normal in city when it's hot. Fan blades wobble front to rear at outer edge, probably 1/8"..is my fan clutch on it's way? If so hard to change out?

THX

Assuming the attaching bolt is secure, that is not "a lot" of wobble but there really shouldn't be any.

The function of the viscous clutch is a separate issue and could be related of the engine running warmer than normal. If you do a search you can find quite a bit of info regarding the diagnosis and operation of the viscous clutch/fan.

Many people opt to "upgrade" to a later 98-99 606 viscous clutches and an 11 blade plastic fan if replacement is determined to be necessary, that combination is usually less expensive also.

The only real difficulty in the R&R is holding the water pump pulley while unbolting the Allen head bolt securing the clutch/fan in position. Harbor Freight has a pulley holding tool that sells for about $8 that will make holding the pulley a breeze, if you work on your car it's a worth it to have it. With the SDL you can usually get a standard 8 mm Allen wrench or Allen ratchet tool into the space between the clutch and the radiator.

Billybob exaggerates as usual. The HF pulley tool is $7.99 on sale, not $8 :D [edit] Oops, he did say 'about.'

http://www.harborfreight.com/pulley-spinning-tool-66385.html

Release tension on the belt to determine whether the fan wobbles on the clutch, the clutch wobbles on the pulley or the pulley wobbles on the water pump flange. Unlikely it's 2 or 3, more likely to be 2 and 3 since the pulley floats between the clutch and the flange. The pulley will have to come off to determine definitively if the water pump shaft is wobbling. Check for wobble, radial and axial play. Then decide what parts you need.

Sixto
87 300D

I have the HF pulley tool if you want to borrow for free.

I've never been worthy! I only try to hold the fort until someone with real experience saves the day; like a moderator!;)

SOME waterpumps have a ridge on them that extends to the bearing end, and you can use a 3/16" allen wrench to catch the hole in the WP pulley instead of using the tool... however, none of my 87's have it.
most auto parts stores have the large strap wrench needed to hold the pulley still for 4.99 but you don't get the smaller sizes that the HF kit includes...
also, you don't have to order the entire fan! call Phil from the buy parts link, and order just the clutch if you need it, for less than 120.00...

The hole would actually need to be in the water pump flange as it is positioned rearward of the water pump pulley. I don't think OE pumps on the 60X ever had those holes and I don't think very many OEM or aftermarket ones did. The M103 engine is designed with a hole9actually two holes 180 degrees apart) in the water pump flange and has an elongated L shaped holding tool though.

The HF pulley tool is nice because you don't have to screw with the tensioner or remove the serpentine belt to get the clutch and fan removed.

ahh. yes, that tool is nice! I may have to add it to my collection!

The water pump in my 93 SD had a big rib on top so you could hold the pulley ala M103. I haven't seen a .96 pump with the big rib.

Sixto
87 300D

Best thing about it after the way it works, is the price! The factory tool which is similar but not exactly the same design is around $60! But you can also buy the $8 HF tool all over ebay for $15-20 plus shipping if that works for you!?!?!? I noticed the exact same tool on German ebay for 25 Euros!

If you had nothing to do and your time was cheap you could probably make something that would work the same way, also!

HA! what's it mean to have nothing to do?:cool:

Do you think that pump was original? I have one from a 91 SD that was the same as a .96, I just know that because I recently swapped it on to a 602 engine that started leaking on a Sunday when my kid had to drive about 150 miles home that evening! Luckily I had that used part and a new gasket in my stash. So far it's working great even though I've got a new pump on hand now.

As an aside and for furure reference, NAPA has Chinese 60X pumps for $40 each!

No idea if it was original. I saw a 92 SD and another 93 SD with the same big rib.

Sixto
87 300D