pontiac gtp supercharger idler pulley hexagonal socket extraction

[wryland]

I drive a 1998 Pontiac GTP.

I read that the pulley I am interested in is the 3'' idler pulley which is reverse threaded. I completely stripped the hex socket for it and I need some good ideas about how to use an extraction kit to get it out! Does anyone have any ideas since I'm working in such a tight space?

[DrRadar]

That's a tough one. The trick is to get the nut off without damaging the threads on the stud. I would try vice grips first, but if you're unable to get it off with a socket wrench, then vice grips probably won't get it done. The other ideas that come to mind are using a hacksaw to cut the nut off or an air chisel. Use the air chisel in a direction that will loosen the nut, but I expect the chisel will dig into the nut which will eventually break off.

CAUTION: There is risk with these methods of damaging the stud threads so proceed at your own risk.

Make sure of the thread direction.

And using Liquid Wrench may help and certainly won't hurt.

Good luck.

[wryland]

Btw, it wasn't a hex female on the end of the bolt- it was a star I believe!

Does anyone know the direction all of these pulley bolts are supposed to be threaded?

I used a dremel to grind off the pulley- the plastic and metal parts of the pulley- this took about an hour.

I got to the bolt but couldnt turn it so I used the dremel again to create four edges- this took about an hour- so I can turn it with vice grips and probably about 100lbs of pressure, I have turned it almost 1/4 inch to the right and it isn't getting any easier- this may not have been enough to feel it loosen... but it also might be the wrong direction?? - this could be still so tight because I originally used a pipe on the end of a hex male socket to possibly turn it the wrong way, but I don't remember. I'm strong enough to really screw this thing up- again, does anyone know what direction these are threaded?? I replaced another pully and it was reverse threaded- arey they all threaded the same way or do some pulleys spin different directions and all just have threads opposite to the direction they spin?

Also, where can I get a new bolt for this pulley because I guess I'll just have to take it to fastenall and use a washer to hold the pulley on- because this thing is destroyed!

[DrRadar]

Sometimes, it is difficult to remember which way these things are threaded. I recently sheared the bolt on the main belt tensioner because I went the wrong way to remove it - it was reverse threaded. I had to take the entire assembly out to drill out the bolt and fortunately I was able to get a replacement bolt through NAPA.

To my knowledge, there are no markings on a bolt that indicates the threading direction.

A good indicator of the direction of threading is to considering the required rotation to relieve tension on a belt (for a tensioner) or the rotation by the belt (for an idler). These should be the "tighten" directions (otherwise the bolt may loosen when trying to put a belt on [tensioner] or normal drive belt rotation could loosen the mounting bolt [idler]). I don't have supporting documentation for this, but this logic could have prevented my last screw up.

It sounds to me like you are tightening the bolt instead of loosening it.

You're trying to get the idler (not tensioner) for the supercharger belt off - correct? I'll try to check my 99 GTP this weekend for threading on that bolt.