Here's a stupid question. I want to take the pulley and fan off the front of my generator so I can paint it. Im afraid that if I wedge something in the fan to prevent it from turning while breaking the nut loose I might hog the fan up. Is there an easy way to do this that I'm not thinking of...thanks for the help
You need a powerful air ratchet. The hammering action will get the nut loose before the fan spins, or quicker then the fan can spin. Give it a try. Some people will hold the fan with a rag or towel wrapped around it. Be careful.
I tried using an air impact but with no luck it spun the fan...I'm going to give it another shot tomorrow.
Is the generator off the car? Wrap the fan belt around the pulley, and clamp the belt in the vise to hold it in place.
spray the nut with some penetrating oil then give it another shot. if not try a different impact for some reason out of the 3 that i have only one likes to take the nuts off alternators
Put five drops of air-motor oil into your air fitting on your 1/2 drive impact...wrap a rag around the fan and then slam it...it'll come off.
If you have access to a replacment nut, you can just break the nut off with a nut splitter (if the impact wont do it)
We use the electric to drive concrete anchor bolts. They look like lag bolts that are not tapered. It drives it with ease, and it does not give me fits like my air impact does.
Another way...strap wrench. It might grip pulley adequately, will certainly grip armature. I have a new Klein one found at Sears that has an almost sticky surface on the belt, which really helps get it engaged.
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