Wow, there's actually a special tool for that? The last time I tried changing a timing belt I couldn't get the crankshaft bolt loose ! Ended up letting my mechanic do it.
That's exactly why I bought the Schley version of this tool - it takes a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar. You either use a long breaker bar or slide a pipe over your ratchet. Every car is different, so the Schley is pretty much universal.
The problem with the Honda tool & some other ones is that the bar is a seperate part # and has a fixed length.
Thanks. I use the impact wrench to open crankshaft bolt in many cars before. I just want to make sure this is not something I have to have to replace the belt. As long as there is enough room for the impact gun I should be ok then.
Thanks. I use the impact wrench to open crankshaft bolt in many cars before. I just want to make sure this is not something I have to have to replace the belt. As long as there is enough room for the impact gun I should be ok then.
The true advantage of the tool is not in getting the Crank bolt lose, it is get the correct torque when tightening. As many have detailed, the starter trick works to remove the crank bolt. Try to hold the crank and apply roughly 190 FT-LBS of torque without the motor turning. I don't think torquing against the parking pawl of the transmission (and applying the torque back through the trans-axle) is a good idea. And just making sure the bolt is tight is just plain dangerous. As I recall I paid ~$28.00 on eBay and it had free shipping, has worked fine for me.
You have a point. Not sure how critical it is to torque to a specific number in this application. 9 out of 10 shops do not use torque wrench to tighten lug nuts for example.
Just talk to anyone who has had a harmonic balancer loosen up on them, if your lucky you get to tighten it, if not, it will likely cost a new crank shaft / short block. Not worth the risk for a tool that cost less than $50 (as I said I paid ~$28 on eBay). Russ
You can also rent the Crank Pull Socket from Auto stores like O'reily or AutoZone. They had me put a deposit down of $52, but that was refunded when I brought the tool back.
I think yes. The tool will absorb the torque of the impact wrench. Otherwise your connecting rod bearings will take a beating. That's probably why Honda says to not use an impact wrench to remove the crankshaft bolt.
With an impact wrench, you don't need to hold the pulley at all. The whole point of an impact wrench is that the torque is applied with ridiculous pulses. The crankshaft barely moved when I was applying the 500+ lbs/ft of an air impact wrench several months ago.
So I'm going to be doing the timing belt service on my 07 EX-L before long and was thinking of approaches to breaking free the crank nut. People say getting a breaker bar on the nut and then whapping the starter works..... could be, but I've read not to do that (on a volvo forum) because you can damage the ring gear on the flywheel, and then the crank impulse sensor may not be able to read the crank speed properly without replacing the ring gear (read: drop the transmission $$$). So I'm a little hesitant to try that approach.
So here's my thought. Use a crank holder - the plumbing supply holders on page 4 of the 3rd gen t-belt diy thread sound like a cheap winner to me - and then use a breaker bar on the nut, with a pipe to lengthen the breaker "handle", and then jack upwards on the pipe, or maybe without the pipe extender. Put a folded towel over the pipe so if it breaks free quickly there's padding to prevent damage. Torquing the nut would just be a reverse of this process, but with the jack balanced on the handle of the torque wrench.
Go ahead and try your idea, it may work. After you spend a couple of hours trying to get the bolt loose you can then spend two minutes doing the starter bump method and get on with the belt installation!
The bump worked for me, no problems during or after, and that was 20kmi ago.
Just get the tool. It fits every Honda I've ever owned and was a huge help when I had to do this timing belt service.
I got mine from EToolCart.com a number of years ago, but now Amazon has it for $27.25: LINK That is a great price for the right tool. I don't feel bad about paying just over $30 because it's been used a few times in our household (we're on Honda #5).