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Crank pulley removal

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Sarastro

Sarastro

Yoda
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Any suggestions for removing that large bolt that holds the engine's front pulley onto the crank? I'm working on an old 1275 that's been sitting for a while, and I can't get it loose to save my life. I made a bracket to prop up the engine, locked the crank, and I can put my full weight on an 18" long socket wrench, and it won't budge. I'm reluctant to heat it, for fear of damaging something.

It isn't left-handed or anything, is it? The shop manual doesn't say so.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
It is a standard thread. You have several choices in order.

1. Air driven wrench like the shops use on lug nuts.

2. Long peice of pipe so you can really get some leverage on it.

3. Old socket and bar with a big hammer.
 
Yep, don't heat it, get a impact wrench, if you don't have compressed air in your garge, don't worry, they make electrical impact wrenchs too, I have a air compressoer in my shop, but i still use a electrical impact wrench, try Harbor Freight, you should be able to get one there for a decent deal, and it will be something you can use on the car in other places as well. Yes for sure down't heat it, it has rubber in the center of it.
 
It took me over a week to get a crank pulley bolt off my Opel's 2,0. I borrowed two rather beefy electric impact wrenches, heat, PB Blaster (which doesn't do much good, the threads are too hidden) no luck. With the car in gear and wheels chocked I still pushed it all backwards! Pulled the starter off to jam the flywheel teeth with a large screwdriver.
Finally I got a 5 foot piece of pipe, slipped it over the socket handle and let leverage do the work. It came off.
A good 6 point impact socket is needed.
An air powered impact wrench might have done it for me in a few seconds but whimpy electrics (even decent ones) don't have the torque. If you have a compressor it might be worth renting a good impact gun for a minute.
 
I tear down many engines a year, and have yet to not get one off with my Makita impact wrench.
 
Thanks--yes, I've been about to get an impact wrench for some time now, and although I didn't mention it in the original posting, I wondered whether that would do it. I do have a reasonable compressor. So, this will push me over the edge. I don't have the hardened sockets either, so I'll need those as well, and in large sizes. Ah well, what's a few bucks when you're having fun.....!
 
Any excuse to get new tools.
 
If you decide to go with an air driven impact wrench, consider this one from Northern Tool:

https://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307151_200307151

I bought one when I started the Spridget Project and it has had a workout. It's their industrial quality model and has the beef, 900 ft. lbs., so you sometimes have to hang on tight. Heavy twin hammers, three speeds plus reverse. I paid the usual $150; it's on sale right now for $20 off.

Great tool!

Ray
 
The problem is, the 1 5/16" socket costs almost as much($25) as a cheep air wrench.

Walter
 
Try someplace like Farm & Fleet, Tractor Supply. Big Sizes of those sockets run < $10 each. Farm Machinery = Need for Big Tools/Wrenches.
 
For the little you use it a standard socket will do the job.
 
I used the Harbor Freight Electric Impact gun and a standard socket. Right off.
 
OK, dragged my sorry tush over to Harbor Freight yesterday afternoon, got one of their upper-end pneumatic impact wrenches (well, as "upper-end" as HF gets...) and a couple sets of hardened sockets. I toyed with the idea of using standard ones, but I had this vision of a socket shattering in my face. And, this gives me a set of six-point sockets, which is nice to have, too.

The wrench is 1/2" drive, 450 lb-ft maximum torque, and uses 4.5 CFM at 90 PSI, which is well within the capabilities of my compressor. Tried it out on a couple of smaller, tight nuts, which it took off in an instant, then turned to the crank bolt. Popped that sucker off so easily I was astonished. Same with the one for the camshaft. Very impressive, indeed.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
 
Be sure and oil that gun regularly. (Like before and after each day's use)
 
Ain't tools cool.
 
No more than we use our air tools. HF ones are usually adequate for the job. I should know, I've got a drawer full of them. I had the same trouble with my crank pulley bolt and had to use an air wrench. I broke two 1/2" drive breaker bars before I broke down and bought the impact wrench.

JC
 
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