cant get crank sprocket bolt off of 6 bolt crank

[onefast2gdsm]

I've tried everything i can think of. This bolt is on so tight, that I put two flywheel bolts on, wedged a huge snap on screwdriver in between the two bolts, had my father in law try to loosen it with a 1/2 inch drive ratchet, and it broke the screwdriver with so much tension it broke into three pieces hit the ceiling and got stuck. We used a mac tools impact gun and nothing. Sprayed pb blaster and nothing. WTF?

The motor is on a stand by the way.

 

[shadow001dsm]

If anyone has any advice im in the same boat as you, im trying to do my oil pump cover but the crank bolt is on so tight and i cant get it off either.

 

[talonDSMerr]

If your motor is on the stand, take the oil pan off so you can see the crankshaft. Take a bunch of rags, old shirts, towels, or any other cloth you have laying around and stuff them around the counterweights on the crankshaft. This will keep the crankshaft from turning. Now you can take your socket and 1/2" ratchet to the sprocket and break it loose. Use a hollow metal pipe or square pipe to get more leverage on your ratchet and it will come loose.

PS: A ratchet and long breaker bar will let you put more torque on the bolt than an impact gun. Putting all your weight on a 4' long breaker bar will get you (if you weigh 150lbs) 600lbft of torque. Expensive impact guns usually have a max of 400lbft for reference.

 

[shadow001dsm]

Good idea +1 for the cloth idea. But... What if the motor is still in car?

 

[talonDSMerr]

If the motor is in the car, I've had success taking the starter out and placing a thick screwdriver in the teeth of the flywheel. When you go to turn the sprocket, the motor will turn slightly before the body of the screwdriver hits the block or bellhousing and holds the flywheel in place. Then you'll be able to break the sprocket bolt loose without turning the crank.

Do this at your own risk, though, as it may damage your flywheel teeth if you use an impact gun. I used a ratchet + 4' breaker bar so I could gradually apply the torque.

 

[onefast2gdsm]

When I had my 7 bolt in my car, I threw it in first gear, pit a screwdriver between the rotor and caliper and used the impact and it came right off. Ill try the towel method on my 6 bolt thanks for the tip. We didn't want to use a long breaker bar for fear we would put too much torque on it

 

[crash89]

When I had my 7 bolt in my car, I threw it in first gear, pit a screwdriver between the rotor and caliper and used the impact and it came right off. Ill try the towel method on my 6 bolt thanks for the tip. We didn't want to use a long breaker bar for fear we would put too much torque on it

Too much torque? You'll break the breaker bar before that bolt! Ive used that towel and ratchet+round piping method before. . worked quite well!

 

[onefast2gdsm]

Too much torque? You'll break the breaker bar before that bolt! Ive used that towel and ratchet+round piping method before. . worked quite well!

Let me rephrase that. Too much torque on the flywheel bolts where the pry bar was to keep it from spinning

 

[donniekak]

Good idea +1 for the cloth idea. But... What if the motor is still in car?

First, disconnect the cas. Take a breaker bar, put it into the crank bolt and wedge it in the control arm. Bump the starter.

 

[crash89]

First, disconnect the cas. Take a breaker bar, put it into the crank bolt and wedge it in the control arm. Bump the starter.

Engine is on a stand boss..

 

[MIdsm]

Get a piece of unistrut ( "C" channel support with holes in it) or a flat piece of steel at your local home improvement store electrical section and a piece of conduit/black iron pipe that would fit over your breaker bar.

Bolt the steel to the crank using two flywheel bolts. Rest the steel on the ground or even on the engine stand where the bolts go to the block.

Tap the bolt with a hammer a time or two.

Grab a butane or MAP torch and apply some heat to the bolt.

Slip a 4-8 foot section of the pipe over the breaker bar and slowly increase the pressure on the pipe.

Good luck.

 

[donniekak]

Engine is on a stand boss..

Did you even look at the question i was answering?

But... What if the motor is still in car?

 

[onefast2gdsm]

Got it off, used Jack handle over the ratchet and pry bar on flywheel bolts. Thanks for the help guys

 

[theslab]

ironically i was doing the same thing yesterday. Just keep at it with the impact gun it'll come off, i had a harder time getting the bolts off my drive plate.

 

[brownfinger]

On the GF's Camry I had the same problem. I went to the dealer and bought a new bolt (just in case), then I went and bought a fatty IR impact gun. I went at it until I rounded-off the hex! So, I used my angle grinder to grind off the head of the bolt. With the head ground off, the shaft threaded right out. It was messy, but what the hell else could I do? The bolt was 6 bucks.

 

[shadow001dsm]

Just got mine off finally, I had to use a 6 foot roll cage bar to get the leverage. it twisted the breaker bar peice, heres a pic.

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[19Eclipse90]

Just got mine off finally, I had to use a 6 foot roll cage bar to get the leverage. it twisted the breaker bar peice, heres a pic.

You didn't use a 6-point socket, did you?

 

[shadow001dsm]

Nope i didnt use a socket at all. I just put it in there

 

[19Eclipse90]

Nope i didnt use a socket at all. I just put it in there

Tip for everyone in the future, use a socket (6-point is much better than a 12-point) for the crank bolt. And when it is suggested to use a breaker bar, use a breaker bar, not a ratchet, with the socket. Add more pipes for leverage as required.

For those of you who haven't seen it, here's a DIY tool you can make to aid in loosening and tightening the crank bolt: Crankshaft sprocket tool.

 

[VisionPaintball]

Many years ago when I did this I wedged a 1/2" x 12" extension in the crankshaft so wouldn't turn. Seemed very secure.