Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Ok, pretty frustrated at this point.
In wanting to go to the fan clutch spacer, removed fan but the clutch ring and “iron cross” are held on by Allen keyed nut, which just spins on the water pump shaft, (as it should)
I shredded the fan clutch outer bands in removing them, so no going back at this point.

Thought the inner black ring was a seal and I would find a circlip underneath, but the black ring was the bearing outer seal.

Do I have to pull the water pump to take off the fan clutch ring? (u20 water pumps are almost as expensive as catalytic converters!). Probably means holding the water pump shaft from the back (after removal, on the bench) to break loose the Allen keyed nut, then use a puller to get the Iron Cross off the shaft.
The freaking Allen key is 4mm, so tiny, wants to snap the wrench...

perhaps drill a hole in the outer surround and stick a screwdriver in the hole and rotate until it is 'fixed' against something ??

Yep, sacrificial part, good idea Peter, will try that. More report to follow.
Thanks buddy, miss your unique perspective.

FergO2k wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 7:45 pm The freaking Allen key is 4mm, so tiny, wants to snap the wrench...

If you are referring to the bolt that retains the main crosspiece, it should come out easily: it's a left hand thread.

Jon

SRL311 08153
SRL311 13270 (LT1 swap)

Yep, thanks, and many thanks to all who have contributed advice helpful inputs throughout this semi-mess I have made of this job.

Starting with Dean, whose spacer was so well done that I took it out of the package, read the directions and admiring the craftsmanship, then proceeded to place it somewhere where I couldn't find it.
So he express shipped me another one, keeping my schedule for a week off of garage work over the 4th holiday on track.

Then going on to identify / diagnose my errant installation (spacer on top of the fan clutch ring, which I thought was in-separable from the pulley).

I think I have determined a path to getting the 4mm allen bolt loose, then will either be renting or making a puller depending on the level of fight it wants to put up.
(I assume it has been on there for 40+ years, so not being too hopeful)

Example: I got to almost the end of the new clutch job and noticed one good size bolt left in the egg flat.
(what I use for bolts removed during each step in the process)
I panicked, thinking I had left out something major internally when I re-married the engine and trans.

Drove over to Stan's, and he identified it as an SAE bolt, meaning it was left over on the garage floor from a previous front suspension overhaul. (when I used Pat Mahoney's bolt kits extensively, so then had a LOT of leftovers)
So many thanks to Stan as well.

Truly a testament to community support.
"It takes a village"...... and every village has to have at least one Idiot!

Ferg, I hope you read Jon's post above...4mm allen is LEFT HAND THREAD! Maybe your local Auto parts store has a loaner program where you can get a small puller to use. I did one a few months ago, don't remember it being hard to pull off. Good luck

Thanks to all for helping with this, installation now completed.
I had pulled the guts out of the fan clutch and removed the 4 screws holding it (and the pulley) to the water pump flange.

I put the 4 screws back in (to give me something to grab onto) and bought a 4mm allen key socket driver (my allen wrenches were too long, they were flexing and starting to lose grip and spin out).
That did the trick on the 4mm nut.

For pulling the "iron cross", I used the fan spacer screws as jackscrews, (just 2 spaced 180 degrees apart) and sure enough it started creeping out and finally off the shaft.

All back in and running. (though still up on stands)
and I am now REAL good at removing and replacing the radiator!

When we put a waterpump on 610 and 720s ,it was a assy. that came as a unit ( pump & fan clutch).... purty experiencive to

Yep, lots of things upgraded for the L series based on Lessons Learned.

I met an "old guy" who worked at Long Beach Nissan back in the day, and he said
"whenever roadsters came in, we all ran from them, because if it gave you 3.5 hours for a repair, you never got it done in that time."

I feel that pain now, can certainly see that numerous areas were never designed for the repair hands to be the size of my hands.
(like when I installed Honda Prelude seats and suddenly looked like the performing bear at the circus)