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Stupid question

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M

mbillips

Freshman Member
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I am trying to remove the head from my 1986 Series III Vanden Plas, and the shop manuals all blithely say to turn the crankshaft in order to line up the camshaft bolts, without saying exactly HOW to turn the crankshaft. I'm not sure which direction to go with it, and everything is so crowded that I can't get a wrench on the crank. Also, my biggest socket is 1 1/4 inch, which is too small. Should I remove the belts, or some of them? I can get a little movement by pulling on the power steering pump belt, but not enough to actually turn the crankshaft. I've removed the spark plugs, so engine compression shouldn't be in the way.

Can anyone tell me the exact size sprocket and which way to turn, or any useful tips on an easier way to turn the crankshaft? Being baffled by such a simple step is highly frustrating. Thanks.
 
If it doesn't have to be exact.. you can bump it with the starter. That should get you approx where you need to be.. Then you may be able to turn it over with a wrench on the generator..
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[ 04-23-2003: Message edited by: TypeRboy ]</p>
 
If the engine is at tdc, spin it over and do those bolts first, then turn again back to tdc and do the last ones. (in case you have your engine at tdc when you start, it will be when you put the head back on, or else the cams are 180 out)
I think its 1 3/16, just check that the store is cool with you returning wrong sizes before you buy it.
I turn it over from underneath, I think I use the socket, and a 1" wobble extention on the ratchet.
If you haven't already, pulling the plugs should make the engine spin quite easily by any accessory pulley.
 
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