Acura has a special tool used to hold the crank still while breaking loose the crank lock not. This is a required part of the procedure for changing the timing belt. Does anyone have an alternative? I thought of two possibilities.

First:
go to harbor freight and buy a 55mm socket (this is supposedly the size of the surround which can be used to hold the crank still), cut off the drive end, find a friend to weld a big honkin' handle on it. Use it just like the special tool

Second:
use an adjustable plumber's wrench (the big red things). Use it to grip the 55mm surround

Anyone tried either of the above? Anything else that works?

THANKS!

 

tried the first method. excepted that the handle broke-off from the weld and had to wait another day to weld another one at work. used a big nut instead of a socket.

 

My dad and I bought a strap wrench with a fairly large handle and used that to hold the crank still (take off all accessory belts and put strap around the main pulley), then used a breaker bar with the apprpriate socket to take the bolt off. HTH

 

You could always try jamming the flywheel with a hex bit. There is usually a bump in the tranny casing where you can jam the bit between the bump and the flywheel teeth. You can also put the tranny in 5th gear and slam on the brakes (or in combination with the flywheel trick), but this wont isolate movement as well. The whole idea is to isolate movement and the only two things that have worked for me is the flywheel trick and a crank holder. Use 1/2" drive breaker bar and extensions. Use a jack to support the end of the extensions to keep the socket in straight to prevent stripping. Put on a 4' pipe and go at it.

 

you can get that $69 Moroso tool.. not sure if thats cheaper than the Honda tool....

you can try using a chain/strap wrench (the metal ones) to hold the pulley while using a socket and breaker bar to break loose the bolt...

not sure maybe other people will post other methods

 

Ahhhh, the joys of air tools...I don't even remember having to use anything to hold the crank ?

 

I've got a 200 lb ft torque wrench. Do you think this will be sufficient to do it with a strap wrench holding the pulley?

Thanks.

 

you shouldn't be using your torque wrench to loosen things it can throw off the calibration... get a breaker bar.. my 1/2" drive 18" Craftsman breaker bar was only like $23...

 

Sorry, I guess I just typed the wrong thing. I have a 200 lb ft impact wrench. How about using a strap wrench to hold the pulley and popping the lock nut with it?

I have a torque wrench and a 2' breaker bar as well. Sorry I mistyped. I had the word "torque" on the brain!