How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt
#1
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
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.
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.
#3
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
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?
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?
#5
Honda-Tech Member
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?
#6
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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.
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#9
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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.
#10
Honda-Tech Member
Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt
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.
#11
Honda-Tech Member
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
#12
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Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt
standard thread ie tightens clockwise jam breaker bar against floor and hit key,hhmmmmm NO that will tighten bolt even more
#13
Honda-Tech Member
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....
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....
#15
Honda-Tech Member
Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt
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
#17
Honda-Tech Member
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....
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....
#18
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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
#19
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.
#20
Honda-Tech Member
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.
#24
Honda-Tech Member
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.
#25
Re: How to remove the infamously tight crank shaft bolt
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