kaz_r555

guys ive noticed a slight play in my crank pulley, the cambelt has been changed by previous owner could it be that it hasnt been put back on correctly?

Alan Jeffery

The bolt may not have been tightened up properly, in which case, the movement of the heavy pulley may be wearing out the keyway. It's important that you take immediate action, as the result of not doing it is a pulley that falls off, and a crank damaged beyond repair.
We have got over the issue in the past by using a light alloy pulley in place of the stock one, and making sure the bolt is really tight.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

What vehicle, what MY?

The one on my classic went "wobbly" and produced a ticking noise too.

It turns out that the steel crank pulley is in two halves, separated by a layer of stiff-ish rubber, whether for shock absorbing, I dunno.
But that rubber perishes,

You need to replace the pulley, I have a spare here, but they are bloody heavy, so would be a PITA to post out. Mine now has alloy ones, I replaced all three for £100.

musso2010

Deffo get it checked out. I had a nightmare with mine when it decided to chew the keyway to bits knocking the engine timing out and causing all sorts of problems. I was lucky i caught it before i did or it would have been ££££'s to fix.

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

Defo get it looked at pronto. May be VERY expensive if you ignore it.

Good luck

kaz_r555

ah ok thanks for the advice guys, its a 96 wrx sti.

had the car for 1 month and half now. been like that since i got it. so should it be just buying a new pulley and replacing the old one? simple swap over?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Remove the alternator belt, (simple to do, just loosen the alternator and slip it off, but DO mark the position of the adjuster before loosening so as to put it back how it was: paint will do it, or TipEx on the threads), then you can feel the pulley and see if it's loose on the shaft, or in itself.

If it's the former, get it fixed asap, may be just tightening the bolt will do it.

If it's the latter, think about renewal: another the same, or an alloy one.

As I said, I have a spare you can have for the postage.

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

check if the bolt is loose, if its been wobbling Id get a new woodruff key as the one fitted maybe worn.

kaz_r555

thanks for the help bud, pm me the details on the postage and stuff please.. then once i find out what the problem is will get back to you.

musso2010

Also budget for a timing pulley and new key. Hopefully it wouldn't have gone that far though.

harvey

iTrader: (48)

You got a special price Jeff because we did your engine at the same time. As Alan says above, check the bolt is fully tightened and if it is consider fitting an alloy pulley. In our workshop we have recovered a few pulley/crank shaft issues but not everybody will be lucky. If it goes too far then you are looking at a new crank or removal of crank and machining work. Do it sooner rather than later. Good luck.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I know about my price, Harvey, I was thinking of giving him my old one, the one you put on to cure it BEFORE I bought the alloy ones.