cooling fan installation

[bcjm]

Is it just me or is the cooling fan really hard to install?  No space to finger tight the 4 bolts at all.  Do you put the water pump pulley on the water pump first or do you install the pulley/fan/fan clutch all together?  I can't believe I struggled for couple of hours just to do this.

[Raymond]

It's not just you. It ain't easy.  My engine is on a stand and it was still difficult.  Doing it bent over the front of the car is just that much more fun.  The pulley is held on with the same four bolts that hold the clutch, so you don't really have a choice.  I started one bolt in the pulley and slid the slotted fan/clutch ass'y on it, then added each of the three others.  You then have to work your way around and around tightening each a little at a time with an open end wrench.  That's why you want clean or new bolts that are exactly long enough and no longer.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[bcjm]

You can't really do one bolt at a time can you?  All 4 bolts has to be in all together otherwise there is not enough to add the second bolt.

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:You can't really do one bolt at a time can you?

No.

Install all the bolts, a few turns at a time. The hole in the flange rides on the w/pump shaft to help keep it centered.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[Raymond]

That's what I thought I described.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[ja17]

Hello Bob,
Yes to install, start one bolt before placing the fan assembly in place. Place the fan assembly in place. Start the other three bolts and begin tightening down all four bolts evenly.

I have a long handled 10mm with a skinny box end which works great. The box end will loosen tough bolts without ruining their heads.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[bcjm]

Finally this is how I did it.  It was not as painful as the first try.  I don't know how do you insert one bolt first.  The bolt is very long, once you insert one bolt in the pulley first and put the fan clutch in place, no space to insert the other three.  

I put the pulley in first(it can sit on the water pump without any bolt) with the inner fan belt ( It was hard for me to install the inner belt if the pulley is already in place), make sure the bolt holes are lined up to the water pump holes.  Use a electric tape to close the open bolt holes of the clutch so all 4 bolts can stay with the clutch without falling off.  Insert the clutch with all 4 bolts at the same time into the pulley.  Peel off the electric tape.  Finger tighten the bolts one by one.   Finish it with a open wrench.  Install the outer fan belt.  Tighten the belt tensioner.