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How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Old 05-18-2010, 07:59 PM
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Icon3 How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

The other day I replaced my timing belt and water pump.
As expected I had a lot of trouble getting the harmonic balancer bolt loose.
I got frustrated and took a big channel lock pliers I have,clamped it to the pulley where the power steering pump belt goes,sandwiched the handles of the channel locks between the lower control arm and a big block of wood on the ground,lowered the car so that the weight of the car was on the handles, and the harmonic balancer still slipped when I turned the bolt!
So I looked at what I was working with a came up with a idea:



As you can see I put a big bolt through one of the holes on the crank pulley,put a bolt through the tow bracket at the front of the car, and attached a chain to the bolts via nuts.

After using this method the bolt came off with a couple firm pushes from my foot.
I don't know if someone else has thought of this before since it's so simple but anyway I wanted to share this with everyone so that you all wont end up ruining your harmonic balancer with channel locks like I did.
Hope this helps.
Old 05-18-2010, 08:17 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

I bought the crank pulley tool from Yahoo for like 25 bucks and it came off with no problems it was well worth the money.It took me all of five minutes to get it off.
Old 05-18-2010, 09:54 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Some crank pulleys have a hex shape for the tool to hold the pulley in place.
My engine didn't have that so I assume there is a tool that utilizes the holes in the crank pulley to hold it.
Did you buy that tool or the tool that goes in the hex shape?
Old 05-19-2010, 01:33 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

this (Powerbuilt 648796) $25 from Amazon



or

this (Powerbuilt 648826) $25

Old 05-19-2010, 05:19 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

or put it in gear and wedge a screwdriver in the brake rotor vents and wedge it agist the caliper and use a 3ft breaker bar?
Old 05-19-2010, 05:33 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Nice way to do it but would be best to buy the tools for the job,they are cheap enough for anyone to buy.
Old 05-19-2010, 07:42 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

I bought the first one posted and it worked great.I also agree this tool is very cheap and you can always sell it later if you need the twenty bucks that bad.
Old 05-19-2010, 08:30 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt



this usally works for me. lol
Old 05-19-2010, 09:03 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

use a chain vise grip. Lock the chain on the pulley and prevent it from moving using an big extension.
Old 05-19-2010, 09:32 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by team 15
use a chain vise grip. Lock the chain on the pulley and prevent it from moving using an big extension.
noooooooooo.....if there are pits made in the pulley(which there will be by using this tool for this job), it will tear your belts up in no time.

You can actually go to Oreilly Auto Parts (and others i believe) and get the Honda Crank Pulley Holder tool. Its the correct tool for the job. You can also get your own for about $25 like people have said before. I got mine from Amazon.com and it worked perfectly.
Old 05-20-2010, 05:03 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

crank holder is the right way but the fast lazy way is to put a 3 foot breaker bar and socket on the bolt wedge it against the floor a hit the key . good idea to unplug the dizzy so it dosn't start. ONLY works on motors that spin counter clockwise k sieres and j sieres sorry

Last edited by canadaek; 05-20-2010 at 01:13 PM. Reason: wrong info
Old 05-20-2010, 05:09 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by canadaek
crank holder is the right way but the fast lazy way is to put a 3 foot breaker bar and socket on the bolt wedge it against the floor a hit the key ( motor turns counter clock wise . good idea to unplug the dizzy so it dosn't start.
UUHHHHH what?
standard thread ie tightens clockwise jam breaker bar against floor and hit key,hhmmmmm NO that will tighten bolt even more
Old 05-20-2010, 05:36 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

I tried all the methods that people suggested, but none of them worked. I even broke my 17mm deep impact socket while in the process.

Went to NAPA and bought the crank pully tool for $52 bucks. Kinda steep for some tool, but it's well worth it and instead of returning it, I just kept it for future use.

I'll actually be using it again tomorrow since I need to do some work on my engine.

Here it is....

Old 05-20-2010, 06:39 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Wedge the flywheel.

Easy peasy and best of all: it's FREE!
Old 05-20-2010, 01:16 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by Jockone
UUHHHHH what?
standard thread ie tightens clockwise jam breaker bar against floor and hit key,hhmmmmm NO that will tighten bolt even more
ya sorry was thinking of the new motors and v6's we do this all the time at the toyota dealer but are motors all spin clock wise relized after i posted it won't work for d b or h sieres. good trick for somebody you don't like though
Old 05-20-2010, 05:35 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

i also have that crank pulley tool lol. GREAT investment.
Old 05-22-2010, 10:57 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by kaboom954
I tried all the methods that people suggested, but none of them worked. I even broke my 17mm deep impact socket while in the process.

Went to NAPA and bought the crank pully tool for $52 bucks. Kinda steep for some tool, but it's well worth it and instead of returning it, I just kept it for future use.

I'll actually be using it again tomorrow since I need to do some work on my engine.

Here it is....
Did you buy just the black part and used a breaker bar that you had? or was it the whole set you bought? If it was just the black part, you can rent theses for free at AutoZone. I saw they have it on the list for the loan-a-tool program. They also have breaker bars you can rent. Good to have though if you do anyone elses timing belt, just charge them a little to pay for the equipment you had to pay for. Glad to hear it worked out though!
Old 05-22-2010, 11:40 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

the only way i was able to get mine off was working it clockwise and counter clockwise with an impact gun. hit it a couple seconds then switch directions, eventually it will loosen up. had to use shops air though, my home system wasn't strong enough. make sure you got a good strong impact
Old 06-23-2017, 03:54 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

If the crank DOES turn clockwise, put a breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt, secure the end of the breaker bar against something...maybe a spot on the frame, or some wood on the ground...then turned the engine over momentarily with the key: voila, bolt loose. Keep in mind that turning the crank clockwise will, in effect, turn the bolt counterclockwise.
Old 06-23-2017, 08:21 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by Ph1lD
If the crank DOES turn clockwise, put a breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt, secure the end of the breaker bar against something...maybe a spot on the frame, or some wood on the ground...then turned the engine over momentarily with the key: voila, bolt loose. Keep in mind that turning the crank clockwise will, in effect, turn the bolt counterclockwise.
"B" and "D" series engines turn Counter-Clockwise... so this suggestion doesn't help at all. The OP of this seven year old dead thread is working on a "D" series engine.
Old 06-23-2017, 09:10 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

old thread......and out of all of these methods, prybar against the flywheel with the dust shield off is still the best.
Old 06-24-2017, 05:23 AM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Best method, invest in a good reliable cordless impact gun.

I saw my old man eyeing my makita impact,. he was jelly.
Old 06-24-2017, 02:53 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

What the hell kind of electric impact do you have that gets a crank pulley loose?

Mine laughed at my snap on impact.
Old 06-24-2017, 09:03 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

I have used the Moroso (#61805) crank pulley tool for nearly two decades... love it. It works on darn near every Honda/Acura crank pulley newer than 1992.
Old 06-24-2017, 09:40 PM
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Default Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt

Originally Posted by JRCivic1
I have used the Moroso (#61805) crank pulley tool for nearly two decades... love it. It works on darn near every Honda/Acura crank pulley newer than 1992.
FYI: It won't work on the 92-95 non vtec motors. The undampened pulleys don't have the hex inlay and only have outer holes.

This thread has some interesting methods and some good tools in it but I noticed it misses the whole torque multiplier. My multiplier has been my friend ever since I got it for both pulley bolts as well as axle nuts.

I posted about it here some time back:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-.../#post50583913

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