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Austin healey BT7

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Paul pugh

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Can you tighten a loose crankshaft pulley nut with the engine in the car? How does it get loose? Looks like you can remove the radiator and get to the nut . The nut on my car rubs on the frame, just happened. Help!
 
I'm thinking you'll need to raise the engine up to clear the crossmember to fit a socket. You'll want to tighten it so it doesn't wear out the key channel. It doesn't need to be overtightened , and you'll need to remove the radiator. A couple bangs with an air impact will do it. It probably wan't tightened enough to start with.
 
Paul pugh said:
Can you tighten a loose crankshaft pulley nut with the engine in the car? How does it get loose? Looks like you can remove the radiator and get to the nut . The nut on my car rubs on the frame, just happened. Help!
Click to expand...

Just did this on my BJ8 in order to change the timing cover seal. It's a bear. The nut should be secured with a foldover-type lockwasher. The nut is 1&11/16" I bought a socket and a 3/4" impact wrench at Harbor Freight, but the wrench is too big to fit in front of the X-brace, and I bodged-up the nut and had to buy a new one.

You might be able to get at it from underneath with a big crescent wrench, or even a pipe wrench. Then, hopefully, you have an unused portion of the lockwasher you can fold over one of the nut flats. It should be torqued tight--I believe the spec is 150 ft-lbs. You'll have to lock up the drive train; maybe put the car in gear with the hand brake on full and someone standing on the brakes, or pull the starter and jam a pry bar against the ring gear (or both!).
 
When raising the engine (I am doing this (again) today) it is a good idea to remove the throttle linkage and the front air filter to allow for no damage to the fender and carbs. I use an eight to ten inch two by four at the front of the oil pan when raising the engine. I have used the long 1/4 in bolt idea in the past and it works well. All you need is one. I've gotten to the point where I can do it in 4 hours. This will be my third time.
TH
 
Well it did take the full four hours. The power went out for 7 hours due to a thunder storm. My wife held flashlights and the compressor tank was full. Kind of like road side repairs.
TH
 
I heard about that thunder storm!

Yes, the radiator needs to be removed and I agree with the wrench size. I have a 2-ft one from Northern Tools to turn the engine over. Make sure that lock washer is folded over a flat.
 
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