stubborn crank bolt

viridion · #1 02-19-2004, 05:27 AM

well i been workin on my LS swap all night and i can't get the bolt off the crank to get the pulley off and such... i know the torque specs are high but i've broken 2 half inch sockets, a reducer, a half inch breaker bar and nearly my neck

any tricks to getting that bolt out?

i figured i should put a new timing belt on the motor before i put it in the car..

i was just going to cut the timing belt cover apart and slip the belt behind the pulley but i realized the timing mark is on the cover

it is lefty loosey right? i been using a half inch breakerbar with a 4 foot pipe on the end but i keep breakin stuff

good thing the snapon man comes once a week

johnb16a2 · #2 02-19-2004, 07:00 AM

You're in good company, the most common solution is to use a strong impact wrench and impact socket. You're correct, it's lefty loosey. Let us know what happens. GL

i_a_n112784 · #3 02-19-2004, 10:16 AM

Yeah, the only good way to get those off is with an impact. Some morons like to put locktite on those as well, and you may be in one of those situations.

As for breaking sockets...buy something like craftsman or snap-on/mac, never have to worry about breaking those, because you get a new one free. I use craftsman normal sockets with impact and I have never broken one.

spongerlbc · #4 02-19-2004, 11:04 AM

I used lots of PB-Blaster, a 6 foot metal pipe, and some cheapo socket. Came off the first time I put all my weight on the end of the metal pipe.

viridion · #5 02-19-2004, 04:51 PM

all i use is snapon stuff hehe.. and it keeps breakin.. i gotta wait now til i can get it replaced... that's tomorrow tho.. i don't think my impact can get it off cause it's only 180psi and my weight on 6 foot of leverage is a bit more torque than that.. i'll try her out tho

thx guys i'll keep sprayin the WD40 on it and wrenchin away

91B16Civic · #6 02-19-2004, 06:56 PM

alright well this is what me and my friend did to get mine off. alright..

1) put the car in gear
2) put a person in the driver's seat and have them hold the brake pedal with everything they have
3) put on your 1/2" breaker bar and socket
4) attach your 4' pipe
5) hold end of pipe and crank on it with everything you have.

we were bowing a 1/2" breaker bar pretty good before the sucker snapped loose and trust me when it breaks free it feels and sounds like you just broke the car. But it worked.

or alternative solution

1" drive impact

hitr99 · #7 02-19-2004, 07:33 PM

yea, but an impact gun also uses vibrations to loosen stuff up

PunkAlex · #8 02-19-2004, 07:52 PM

hah hah broken sockets, eh?

Those are two seperate extention bars i broke working on my car.....unfourtunately they were brand x and there was no warranty...Just one more reason to buy craftsman!

viridion · #9 02-19-2004, 09:47 PM

i took that just before i broke the bar

Killa_CRX · #10 02-19-2004, 10:29 PM

to get mine off, I bolted an 8foot pipe to the transmission end of the crank shaft, and then used a 3foot breaker bar with a 3 foot pipe over the end of that... my friend was standing on the end of the 8ft pipe while I worked the breaker bar.... barely took any effort at all with all that done

lilol89crx · #11 02-19-2004, 11:17 PM

3/4" impact gun(1000ft lbs tq rev) 150psi out of 75 gal compressor, pull the trigger and thats all to it :P

rosshatch89 · #12 02-19-2004, 11:46 PM

breaker bars are wimpy and impact wrenches are for fags whip out the torch

Killa_CRX · #13 02-20-2004, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosshatch89

breaker bars are wimpy and impact wrenches are for fags whip out the torch

Heating the metal with a torch damages and weakens it.

Don't believe it? Take a sewing needle and a match... first try bending the needle... then heat the needle with the match (or lighter, whatever you prefer) until the end is good and hot (shouldn't take too long)... then try to bend the needle again. You'll notice that it bends with nearly no effort, and if you bent it fast, it would almost shatter off at the end... Now imagine that happening to your crank inside the engine at some odd thousands of rpm's.

91B16Civic · #14 02-20-2004, 12:47 PM

dude with that setup it should break free.. just keep cranking on it..

viridion · #15 02-20-2004, 03:48 PM

i got that mo fackey.. took an 8 foot steel tube on the end of the breaker bar and a returned broken socket to napa hehe but i got it

all 300lbs of me on the end of that 8 foot handle

jumpin up and down and it finally broke.. made the most godaweful noise

and then i could get it off the rest of the way with my fingers

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