Help: W123 fan install, seems impossible.
 

I can't for the life of me see how to get the fan back on the water pump pulley. I'm going crazy!!!!

Did you remove the radiator? If you did, you shouldn't have any trouble.

No, radiator is still in. Car came to me without the fan installed (I know, I know).

Can you described in more detail the problem you are having. There should be four bolts holding the fan to the pump unless you have a fan clutch in which case the fan attaches to the clutch and the clutch to the pump.
Only 240d's lacked the fan clutch.

My fan has a clutch. Four open holes on the clutch, leave one bolt on the pulley, slide the fan/clutch assembly on the one bolt, all okay up till now. But then I can't get the other three bolts threaded into the pulley, there just isn't enough room to get the bolt plus my fingers in there to get them started. I tried removing the four bolts that attach the fan to the pulley in the hopes that it would create more room but I'm stymied.

Do you have the OE bolts? It's tight but it can be done. My recollection is that I got the bolts in the general vicinity of the hole, then used a flat bladed screwdriver between the clutch and the head of the bolt to get them in the hole with some pressure while I turned the head with an open end wrench.

Ahh, brilliant. I was wondering if the bolts are not OE and maybe a little too long, thus making it more difficult

Thanks for the suggestion about the flat bladed screwdriver, worked great. Kerry-go buy yourself a beer and send me the bill.

I think I now know why the fan was in the trunk-10 seconds after starting back up with the fan installed I'm hearing a high pitched squeal. Nothing has changed except getting the fan back on so it must be the clutch right???

Now wait a minute, maybe the added drag from the fan is causing a belt to slip??? But the engine drives the pulley, and the added resistance would be insignificant right?? Thoughts?

I am guessing water pump bearings or the belt is slipping from the increased drag on the pulley. I don't believe the clutch can squeal, it is a viscous clutch, so it either works....with proper fluid in it....or it doesn't....and the fan free-wheels. I've never heard of one screeching.

In the time since I made my last post describing the squeal, I have learned lots about these clutches (archives) and I'm inclined to think you are right about a belt slipping or, hopefully not, water pump bearings. PO changed belts not long before I purchased the car, at which time he didn't re-install the fan. I'm thinking a belt didn't get tight enough and didn't start slipping till the fan went back on. Fan clutch seems fine, based on what I've read in the archives. Wouldn't want to have to replace that clutch....ouch.

Tightened up the power steering belt-right as rain!!!! This forum is worth its weight in gold. Of course, that would have to be virtual gold, since an online forum has negligible mass, right?

Gotta love it when a post from 2008 about a technique to bolt the fan back on saves your bacon and makes for a much better afternoon. Thanks kerry.

Here is a DIY tech article from our site that will help you with this.

Mercedes-Benz W123 Fan and Shroud Removal | 300TD 1977-1985 | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article


-Dmitry