balancer removal advice

[durwood]

I'm trying to replace my crank position sensor, but can't get the balancer off yet. I can't find anything that will keep it from rotating. I tried wedging a fat screwdriver into the flywheel, but it keeps flying out when I put too much torque on that blasted balancer bolt. Does anybody have some advice?

Thanks!

92 Chevy Lumina APV 3.8L

[tblake]

Have an impact wrench?

[jeffcoslacker]

You sure the bolt isn't a reverse thread?

[cadgear]

If you have a loooong breaker bar (I'm talking two feet or so, 1/2" drive or larger) you can try that with someone helping you hold the flywheel. I'd be wary with an impact but if that's what it takes...

My mentor was crazy; when I started out, he'd have me hold the breaker bar a few inches from the core support and he'd give the engine a quick turnover via the starter. Bar hits the support, breaks the bolt loose, he'd laugh like a mad scientist, I'd worry about OSHA finding out if the bar flew out and bashed me in the head...No way would I recommend that to anyone but it worked. Crazy old man, he is.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by cadgear

If you have a loooong breaker bar (I'm talking two feet or so, 1/2" drive or larger) you can try that with someone helping you hold the flywheel. I'd be wary with an impact but if that's what it takes...

My mentor was crazy; when I started out, he'd have me hold the breaker bar a few inches from the core support and he'd give the engine a quick turnover via the starter. Bar hits the support, breaks the bolt loose, he'd laugh like a mad scientist, I'd worry about OSHA finding out if the bar flew out and bashed me in the head...No way would I recommend that to anyone but it worked. Crazy old man, he is.

I actually posted this to this thread, but then deleted it, as it is dangerous and there is a chance of breaking the bolt off in the crank if the rotation is wrong.

[cadgear]

I'm fairly sure about the threads on the 3800s being 'normal', but hey, GM has done some wacky things that make zero sense so I can't state it as fact.

[jeffcoslacker]

You might be able to wedge a screwdriver through one of the torque convertor to flywheel lugs, if you haven't tried that already.

[durwood]

Thanks for all of your ideas. I wasn't able to get an impact wrench, and couldn't apply enough leverage on the flywheel to keep the shaft from spinning, so I went the "mad scientist" route. After verifying crank rotation and removing the plug wires, I lowered the van all the way onto my floor jack and used the jack to wedge my breaker bar. Two quick turns of the starter and the bolt broke loose. A pretty scary solution, but it worked quickly.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by durwood

Thanks for all of your ideas. I wasn't able to get an impact wrench, and couldn't apply enough leverage on the flywheel to keep the shaft from spinning, so I went the "mad scientist" route. After verifying crank rotation and removing the plug wires, I lowered the van all the way onto my floor jack and used the jack to wedge my breaker bar. Two quick turns of the starter and the bolt broke loose. A pretty scary solution, but it worked quickly.

Sweet Sometimes it's kinda fun. Gets the adrenaline going

[cadgear]

I *knew* being crazy would come in handy one day...

[mattsdominion]

Originally Posted by cadgear

I *knew* being crazy would come in handy one day...

Woah, you guys are insane...

here's how i got mine off...

I lowered the subframe, and supported the engine with a jack.
and then i took a pry bar, and had someone hold it between the frame of my car, and the balancer.

You apply pressure to the frame, and use the pry bar to force the wheel to stay in place.

You are able to unbolt it that way, relatively easily.
Same thing, in reverse, to get it back on. I had to use a three prong puller, to get the wheel off after getting the bolt out though.