Taking the Nut off the Crank Sprocket

['95EclipseGSX]

I am trying to take the nut off of the crank sprocket. I have used PB Blaster, put a breaker bar on it, and cranked with the starter motor. That did not break it loose. I am thinking maybe of renting/buying an impact wrench but I do not understand what is going to keep the crank from spinning backwards when I try to back the nut out. Is an impact wrench my only option or is there something else I should try? Also, when I used the breaker bar in the starter motor(I wasn't using a socket, I was using the 1/2 inch side of the breaker bar) it ended up cracking the nut and I don't think that a socket will fit over it now. Now I understand why everyone gets the balance shaft eliminator kit. This is not the easiest thing to get done. I guess I am also wondering if any damage would be done if I just left timing belt B on and when it breaks it breaks. Will the break damage the engine and once I take the broken belt off will the balance shaft cause problems when running the engine?

Thanks Guys
--Max

 

[Avionixx]

You really should have used a socket, the walls on the 1/2 drive opening are just too thin to handle that kind of torque. I tried an impact wrench on my 1G and it couldn't knock it loose; granted, I'm using a janky air compressor, but it does make short work of lug nuts...

We got it loose by using a 2 foot breaker bar; I had my 190lb brother cranking on it while I held the socket extensions in place.

DON'T let the balance shaft break; it will get caught up in the timing belt and wreak all sorts of havoc; you started the job, now finish it!

 

[blacklabelbroth]

Im pretty sure that if the balance shaft belt breaks it could very well cause damage to th timing belt.

 

[dantej]

i did it with a breaker bar and a pry driver to hold the crank

 

[snowborder714]

If you're willing to, you can drop the oil pan and put a piece of wood between the crank and the block wall to stop the crank from moving, and then wrench on the bolt with a breaker bar.

 

[slowgsr]

I ran my car for 3 years with the balance shafts still in and the belt just removed.

 

[Shadow21]

If i were you id find a way to get a socket on that bolt before you do ANYTHING else. If you screw that bolt up then what do you do? If you have to smooth the side thats broken and get a socket on there then do so by all means. An impact wrench might help it come out by vibrations but i think locking the crank and using a big cheater bar is your only option. I ran into this problem with the block we got for my gf's 2g. We used a cheater bar and my friend that weighs 260 lbs bouncing on the bolt until it came loose.

 

[210 dsm]

Ok, first of all DO NOT leave the balance shaft belt on the motor. you could just cut the belt and leave the tensioner if you want to be quick and inexpensive about it or you can do it the right/clean way. but what ever you do don't risk the damage to the motor by a failing aux-shaft belt. of course if you're eliminating the balance shaft you HAVE to take care of the oil pump balance shaft. you can look up plenty of threads on the stuff so check up on it.As far as the nut, but i would say to us a good impact with a decent compressor. it shouldent move the motor because a impact dosent apply constant force it hits very hard rapidly within a slit second. if for any reason it moves the motor put a wrench on one of the cam bolts and hold it still. thats what worked for me many times before.

 

['95EclipseGSX]

I got a 22mm socket and have tried for the past few hours to get it on with no success. I tried putting a clamp on the nut to form it and it worked a little but not to the point where I could put a socket over it. I also tried hammering the socket on(haha) and it started to stick but I got scared. I was thinking just a normal wrench tightened around the nut with some extension while holding the gear so it didn't spin the engine. Or an impact wrench, I already have an air compressor. If none of this works or I get fed up I might just cut belt b. It doesn't harm anything in the long run does it? The reason it is not favorable is just because it is so half-assed?

 

[turboawd420]

i just put my car in gear it wont spin try that make sure u have ## brake on.

 

[thomcasey]

Try a 7/8 standard socket. That is just barely larger than a 22, and may fit perfectly on the deformed nut.

 

['95EclipseGSX]

Christ I got the bolt off and put a new belt b on last night(finally) but now I am wondering what the easiest way to tighten the bolt back on would be. The car is AWD and I think that makes it a little different. I don't know how to hold the engine so it doesn't turn while I tighten the bolt.

 

[Avionixx]

I took the easy way out on that one and used the impact wrench.

Do you have the crank holding tool?

 

['95EclipseGSX]

what i ended up doing was wrapping my old timing belt around the gear that has the bolt on it, pulling it up to the bracket on the block, wrapping the belt around there a few times to get good friction. i had someone hold that tight while i went in from below with a torque wrench. it took a few rounds of tightening and we got it all the way up to 85lbs.

 

[Avionixx]

Ingenuity, it's what separates men from animals.

 

[BLINKY619]

I ran my car for 3 years with the balance shafts still in and the belt just removed.

um quick question... what happens if you just remove the balance shaft belt and leave the balance shafts still in?????

 

[92GSXtacy]

Impact off. I personally put the timing belt on and lock the cam gears to torque it back on, worked so far.

 

[MJBean420]

Get a good impact and compressor/tank if needed. Set the psi to like 110 and use a 22mm socket. It should come off.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

You really should have used a socket, the walls on the 1/2 drive opening are just too thin to handle that kind of torque.

Sounds like I got lucky, then. I just used the 1/2" drive on a big beefy breaker bar and then cranked the starter. But the starter also annihilated the first breaker bar I tried.

 

[latintuch112]

leaving the balance shaft in with out the belt does nothing...won't hurt the engine and u may feel a lil bit a more ponies coming out of your engine...I did when mine snapped...luckly for me it didn't get caught up in the main timing belt!!!