Break crank pulley bolt loose with no special tools?

[TajMan]

I have no impact gun capable of the ft-lbs to get my crank pulley bolt loose. (air, or snap-on electric, etc)

I have no 'chain wrench', which I have borrowed and used sometimes to hold crank pulleys from moving while I get the bolt loose in the center with another wrench.


Just my '91 Tsi AWD, and I need to get the crank pulley off.

If I remove the downpipe and the T-case and the lower flywheel/clutch shield/cover near the oil pan, is there a way I can hold the engine from spinning with a big screwdriver etc wedged in the flywheel teeth?

If all 4 wheels are on the ground, and someone is pressing hard on the brakes, is the AWD clutch pressure plate strong enough to hold the engine from spinning while the crank pulley bolt is broken loose?

 

[Tyeler18]

I have no impact gun capable of the ft-lbs to get my crank pulley bolt loose. (air, or snap-on electric, etc)

I have no 'chain wrench', which I have borrowed and used sometimes to hold crank pulleys from moving while I get the bolt loose in the center with another wrench.


Just my '91 Tsi AWD, and I need to get the crank pulley off.

If I remove the downpipe and the T-case and the lower flywheel/clutch shield/cover near the oil pan, is there a way I can hold the engine from spinning with a big screwdriver etc wedged in the flywheel teeth?

If all 4 wheels are on the ground, and someone is pressing hard on the brakes, is the AWD clutch pressure plate strong enough to hold the engine from spinning while the crank pulley bolt is broken loose?

I'm in a similiar boat, got 3 timing jobs to do/finish on 1g/2g's. I can get the tools to do it, I'm just being a lazy ass and not doing it.

 

[92DSMErdrick]

Get a good ratchet with a 22mm on the end, put a pipe over it or just find a braker bar. Put it on the crank pulley bolt and rest it up against the ground in the direction the crank will turn. Get it nice and tight so that there no play.

This part is the awkward part, go into the the car and blip your key as if you were gonna start the car, doesn't take much but it'll get that bolt loose

 

[92AWDHX40]

My car was in gear, i sprayed the bolts, used a torch, and they broke loose, keep at it, or take the timing cover off and put a pipe on the valve cover between the cam gears i did that before no problems.

 

[19Eclipse90]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/385028-remove-crankshaft-pulley.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/43602-cant-get-crank-sprocket-off.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/352233-removing-bolt-holds-crankshaft-sprocket.html

 

[ThomasGSX]

remember to use 6 point sockets, 12 points will strip the #### out of them if they are stuck on there pretty good.

 

[talonDSMerr]

Remove the starter, revealing a portion of the flywheel. Place a screwdriver across the teeth of the flywheel. As you begin putting torque on your ratchet/breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt, the screwdriver will follow the flywheel until it hits an obstruction (bellhousing or block). This stops the flywheel from turning, and thus, the crank. With a nice breaker bar, the crank pulley bolt should come off with ease.

 

[Detective Coating]

Remove the MPI fuse, place breaker bar in pulley bolt, place the bar on top of the axle and crank the car over for a second, maybe 2 and the impact will loosen it up. This is how I do it since I never use any type of air tools on my car.

 

[1997_GSX]

Lol 4 12mm bolts hold the crank pulley on.

 

[DSM1G90]

yea, AFTER I get the pulley off, I do the breaker bar trick on the bolt...

But, to apply the 100 plus ft lbs on that bolt is when a chain wrench and a torque wrench comes in handy.

One guy grabs on the chain wrench wrapped around the inner pulley (I have a pulley that has been separated and that inner section does great to wrap that chain wrench around after I bolt it up to the sprocket) and the other guy torques that 22mm bolt down to specs.

 

[wishin4nX]

if the timing belt is still on then just swing clockwise and jerk it counterclockwise to break the bolt loose,or if you have that jay racing tool that keeps tHe cams in place (belt still on) then just use a 1/2 in ratchet, insert it in the middle and use a hammer.

 

[Detective Coating]

Lol 4 12mm bolts hold the crank pulley on.

He needs the bolt out, the one that takes a 1/2" drive ratchet to remove it and is threaded into the crank. He's not referring to the 4 bolts that hold the pulley onto the crank gear.

 

[1997_GSX]

Is he changing his front case? There really isn't a need to take that bolt out unless he still has his balance shafts.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Is he changing his front case? There really isn't a need to take that bolt out unless he still has his balance shafts.

Tell me, then, how you go about changing the front main seal.

I really don't see how having balance shafts makes any difference in the matter, either.

 

[whe3ls]

i used a breaker bar and a coreless impact

 

[ThomasGSX]

just attach the socket on the bolt, and wedge the ratchet on the frame, then bump the starter, assuming you still have your timing belt on. didn't you say you wanted the pulley off only? if so, you don't remove the center bolt, its just 4 12mm bolts.

 

[Silvertune]

100 plus ft/lbs AND 20 years of heat cycles and rust. Have fun without air tools. Using the breaker bar gets dangerous. Something bends or bounces and you've got a lot of energy flying around under there.

 

[hardcorandy]

Plus one for the breaker bar and tapping the key trick. I ran into that problem before and a female mechanic showed me that trick.

 

[Tyeler18]

I guess my questions wasn't directed at how to get it off. Mine's directed at how to get it ON without using air tools or threading a bar onto the crank pulley holes.

 

[TajMan]

I still have my balance shafts, I'm doing a timing belt and a water pump and the balance shaft removal.


I got the bolt loose with the starter motor trick, thanks guys.
(I was very surprised it work on my car, figured my bolt would be stuck)

 

[Detective Coating]

Works every time, well for me at least. Glad you got it loose, I just went and did all of those things also. If I was you I would go ahead and get a new water pump, head gasket and ARP's while you're in there.

 

[TajMan]

I have standing water on top of piston #4
I think head job may be required...

 

[Jcolby]

Remove the MPI fuse, place breaker bar in pulley bolt, place the bar on top of the axle and crank the car over for a second, maybe 2 and the impact will loosen it up. This is how I do it since I never use any type of air tools on my car.

Hey, will this trick work if I already took the timing belt off? Im just trying to change my front main seal behind the crankshaft pulley, so I can put the timing belt back on real quick if that trick will get the bolt loose. Right now the passenger side tire is off, the serpentine belt and timing cover and timing belt are off. And the cam gears are held together with a pair of vice grips.

 

[Vegas Smith]

It should. The starter rotates the crank and that bolt goes into the crank.

 

[Jcolby]

It should. The starter rotates the crank and that bolt goes into the crank.

This is on a 2005 Suzuki Forenza if that makes a difference