96 E300D W210,

DIY engine fan clutch replace. How hard is it?

I know this is a bit of a bozo question, but is this a relatively easy job?

Well, I suppose this depends on what vehicle you own.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Doi.
I added it to the initial post

96 E300D W210,

Not that bad, remove upper radit or brace to give you a little more room.

__________________
Jim

Do I need any special tools?
I saw one pic with an o-ring puller

I use a cut off Allen wrench.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Is it just undo the bolt in the middle to remove the entire fan assembly. Then undo the screws that hold the clutch to the fan?

Yes and as tjts1 said, use a cut down/modified allen wrench.

__________________
Jim

What prevents the entire fan from rotating when force is applied to the 8 mm Allen Head bolt that secures the fan in place?

Speed. The bolt isn't in there that right, if shouldn't be. Push down on it hard once and it lets go. After that it just spins out.

I hate that design, it makes accessing anything on the front of the engine a PITA. I ditched the fan clutch, it doesn't do much good on this engine anyway.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

How did you ditch the fan clutch?
Doesn't the clutch just keep the fan from self destructing if
obstructed and or avoid severely mangling fingers.
I read one guy said he abandoned this fan entirely and replaced with an electric fan.

See this for the W124, which I think is similar/same to yours for this job:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UwPf_sSTL7s

__________________
Prost!

I'm trying to remember.but it seems I have taken a good, used piece of serpentine belt, wrapped it around the pully and locked it down with a pair of vice grips to secure the fan.

__________________
Jim

In case you are still wondering, there is a hole on the back of the water pump flange that can be aligned with the Ridge on the top of the water pump.
Align the hole just to the driver side of that Ridge and place the tool (there is actually a tool made for this; I used another tool and also think one could be made. Once you have it aligned you will see how it works and what will work to hold it in place.)
When you turn the bolt the tool that you use will act as a stop on that ridge.
When you put it back together just align the hole on the passenger side and it locks it as you tighten the bolt.
If I was home I would get pictures of it for you but I just did this job about 4 times on my 99 (don't ask!).
As previously posted, unbolt the 4 tens holding the upper rad support as this allows just enough room b/t the rad and clutch fan bolt

Grrr.. This seems like a knuckle shredder.