JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Having decided to change a suspected noisey cambelt tensioner, I've got as far as attempting to undo the pulley bolt. Now I know there is a special tool to hold the pulley while undoing the bolt and of course I don't possess such a thing, so tried a couple of 10mm bolts in two of the holes in the pulley and using a bar between them to stop the pulley rotating, bravely tried to undo the bolt - just managed to bend the bar and the bolts!
Has anyone out there got any bright ideas or method they've used to budge the thing? or will I have to creep meekly into the dealer and get them to slacken the bolt just enough to enable me to complete the job back at home? (Obviously leave it fairly tight!!) Also - what is the torque of this bolt?
JohnD

tweenierob

Take the starter motor out and place a crowbar end or coal chisel between one of the flywheel teeth and the bell housing, you will need someone to hold it whilst you undue the bolt..
It does work..

Rob

Bob Rawle

Assume you also had it in gear and with the handbrake on as well, every little helps.

Bob

Postman Pat

Get a mate wife/girlfriend will do. Get them in drivers seat put car in fifth and tell them to hold foot on brake pedal. Then loosen bolt. Worked for me anyway

Pat

Pavlo

drop the rad, get an impact wrench on it.

MorayMackenzie

As postman pat says...

Engage Fifth gear
Foot hard on brake
24" breaker bar with socket on crank pulley
Apply appropriate force to breaker bar
Done

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

I tried the in gear plus helper on the footbrake technique but to no effect - there's too much flexibility in the driveline. Before trying the "removing the starter motor and wedging the ring gear method" (a method I've used before - thanks Rob) I thought I would make-up a simple tool consisting of a piece of flat (3mm Ali.I had laying around) 50mm x 500mm with holes to take two M8 x 40 high tensile bolts which go into two of the holes in the inner face of the crankshaft pulley. This lever can now butt against the end face of the metal alternator belt cover as force is applied to the socket wrench on the pulley bolt - Hey-Presto! (Err - does all that make sense?)
Thanks to all who replied, isn't it great to be able to share ideas!
JohnD

tinvek

cheap and nasty mechanics trick
put socket and bar on crank pulley so bar is would only travel an inch before hitting a chassis rail or similar then flick starter, making sure car doesn't start.

sounds bloody awfull and doesnt work on hondas as they crank anticlock whilst still having a right hand thread crank bolt

David_Wallis

**** ALL, PLEASE DO NOT TRY THE ABOVE METHOD ****

If you have to resort to the above then pay a garage.

David

Fifi

Ok,

1. pull your plug wires off

2. put a socket on the bolt with an extension bar slipped over it that will touch the ground.

3. Engage the starter motor for like 1-2 seconds at most.

The bolt will be free....

David_Wallis

NO..

why be stupid??

Why not just use an impact gun or lock the pulley.. I wouldnt dream of doing it this way...

David

Pavlo

You wouldn't?

I would, but only on a £500 run about if I absolutely had no access to any other method.

Shocking it off with single ended blow can damage the main bearings.

Clarke 12v impact gun complete with a socket for the pulley is about £35 from Machine mart, it takes the pulley bolt off in about 2 seconds tops.

paul

tinvek

i agree i wouldn't use the starter methos normally but when youve got a pulley that even with a 3/4 drive impact gun will not undo you tend to get a bit creative

tinvek

also some cars such as cvh engined mk3 escorts have their crank bolts positioned so you can't get access to them with a gun unless you lower the engine off its mounts, given the time available for changing the belt is only 0.8 of an hour for a mk3 escort 1.6 timing belt change work out for yourself how a lot of garages slacken the bolt

Pavlo

The 3 times I've taken said bolt off with the clark impact wrench it came off real easy, but your mileage may vary.

paul

David_Wallis

<shakes head>

3/4 vs starter motor???

do you mean 3/8ths???

David

tweenierob

LMAO 3/4..
Thats industrial strength/size aint it..
I would be worried if that didnt move it

Starter motor impact wrench... DIY forum here i come..

Rob

p.s. no handbags allowed

David_Wallis

dont laugh but someone that used to work with a lad I know took all his fingers off on his left hand with a 3/4 gun.. tried to hold a spanner on a nut on the other side, as it spun the spanner against the machine he was working on.. (CAT plant stuff)

David

SidewaysMatt

Just add my two pen'orth. I always resort to the breaker bar and starter motor trick when all else (even my impact gun) fails. In fact did so the other week on my Xantia (don't laugh) commuter-mobile, wedging the bar against the ground. Lifted the car before it released the bolt but works everytime

Paul_H

Try somethinglike this Boa constrictor from Machine Mart

[Edited by Paul_H - 3/10/2003 12:38:05 PM]