Crankshaft Pulley Removal

Trying to replace the timing belt on a 1996 Ford Escort 1.9 . I can't get the crankpulley bolt out with my impact. I am trying to turn it counter clockwise. Is this the correct direction?

Starter bump method. If you don't know how to do it just google it. There are vids out there explaining exactly how to do it

Thank you for the reply. Is the direction counter clockwise to remove the bolt?

It should be.

Yes its a right hand thread, so turning the bolt counterclockwise would loosen it. When you use the 'starter' method to turn the engine, the crankshaft will turn the engine clockwise - as viewed from the end where the crankshaft pulley is. So having a wrench (with a long lever arm) on the bolt to keep it from turning will result in it loosening.
The torque on that bolt is supposed to be between 81 and 96 ft-lbs. If the last person to have it off put it back on using an impact wrench, they may have gotten it much tighter than it needs to be. That is all too common.
I have an electric impact wrench which will undo that bolt, though it takes maybe ten seconds of rattling before the bolt moves. With one of the Escorts I worked on, I finally had to take the oil pan off, and shove a chunk of wood up between a con rod journal and the side of the engine block to keep the crank from turning. It had been wayyy overtightened. Didnt hurt anything though.

There are so many better and easier ways you could have went about getting it off without taking the pan off. I mean, it worked, but I would never have done it.

And about the impact wrench, what people don't seem to realize is an impact is for REMOVING bolts, not putting them on.

Broke down and got a Milwaukee high impact took it right off.....

You can always pull the starter and use a large screwdriver to block the flywheel.