Disco 2 V8 radiator fan

I'm trying to remove the radiator fan but it's really tight on its pulley! Is there an easy way of removing it? I need to hold the pulley at the same time as turning the bolt that's holding it on!

I had the same issue. Eventually, I bought 2 spanners on ebay for £20. These are made specifically for the task. One is 36mm for the fan bolt. The other has 3 holes drilled into it that will fit the 3 pulley bolts. Although expensive, well worth it. For a number of reasons I have removed the fan on at least 5 occasions - easy now.

Just thought, these were for td5. I am sure they do them for v8.

36 mm spanner and a hammer to shock it. Knock in direction of rotation.

Exactly as above, and no 'special' spanners required, I just use a large adjustable spanner and whacked the end as I don't have a 36mm spanner.

Thanks everyone for their advice, I've got a 36mm flat spanner and tried to undo it via the sharp smack with a hammer route; however, it just turned the pulley. I think purchasing the pulley holder is the way to go. I've now dismantled the upper inlet and taken AC and ACE units off, it's just the fan that needs removing now so I can progress.

either a tool to lock pulley or you can hit the center of each flat of fan securing nut in turn and often several times till nut is loose, a long flat headed punch and decent hammer, hitting the center of each flat slightly stretches the nut

On the tdi the fan is opposite thread.so lefty loosey doesnt work turn it to right and try that

20 quid for the spanners! I tried everywhere here and couldnt find any, so made them up as per my posting here. I could not fit an adjustable in the small space, let alone with something holding the pulley in place. Plus my pully turned real easy so would not have worked. Once you lock the pulley its real easy to remove. Worth having the tool for the job. Just make your own if you cant find any, like me!

PS> V8 is right hand thread.

A quick update, I bought the tool to hold the pulley, wedged a bit of wood between it and one of the other pulleys and smacked the 36mm spanner with a lump hammer a couple of times. Came undone quite easily in the end.

I streched my homemade 36mm spanner putting the fan back on. Mk2 is in prgress as we speak!

I saw your post; hopefully, it'll be easily remade.

I can just bend it back into shape and run a few weld beads up the sides to strengthen it. Will be sorted for next time!