Timing Belt replacement - crank sprocket bolt re + re ?

[snick2]

Hello.
'96 Aspire, 161 K Km.
I'm replacing timing belt.
Is it necessary to remove crankshaft sprocket bolt ( main bolt )
to re + re timing belt.
If so, what's best way to get bolt out + in. i.e secure crank pulley from turning? Haynes says 80 - 85 ft-lb torque on bolt -- hopefully not necessary to remove.

Thanks,
-JS

[Damkid]

the best way i get the crank to stop turning is to remove the starter and wedge a flat screw driver in the flywheel

[scitzz]

I have used a chain wrench around the crankshaft pulley, and once, a strap wrench, but that was a PITA, it kept slipping.

[Bathtub Tom]

Erm!

I put a socket and rachet on it, checked to see what it would hit wouldn't do any damage, and, erm, turned the key to start!

Always done all my cars that way.

I presume my Kia's the same as the Festiva, but it was a bit of a pain getting the engine low enough to get the pulley off past the box section.

[Damkid]

Erm!

I put a socket and rachet on it, checked to see what it would hit wouldn't do any damage, and, erm, turned the key to start!

:shock: :shock: hopefully you don't have the ratchet in the wrong direction when you do that

[Bathtub Tom]

Erm!

I put a socket and rachet on it, checked to see what it would hit wouldn't do any damage, and, erm, turned the key to start!

:shock: :shock: hopefully you don't have the ratchet in the wrong direction when you do that

It doesn't matter if you do, the socket turns, but the ratchet handle doesn't.

[Damkid]

^^ :banghead: oh ya i guess your right, i just had a blonde moment ops:

[jglutz]

Snick...Welcome to ff.com

Previously, I've read in this forum where the car was left in gear/park with the e-brake applied and the crank bolt was removed.
I not to sure if I would try a chain wrench for fear of damage to the pulley.
This is what I use...a strap wrench....It works quite well....mine is fabric....they make them with a braided rubber starp that I'm sure works better.

[MPG]

Impact gun.

[snick2]

Yeah, I was thinking impact gun, but I'm wondering if that will impart damaging shock load to
engine internals, crank etc.
I'm grateful for above advice, but is it necessary to remove crank pulley bolt to get to timing belt?

[skeeters_keeper]

its not necessary to remove it for a timing belt.
but if you ever have to, use the starter method. it is VERY easy. Just put the ratchet on, rest it against the floor, and bump the key. I did it on sunday on a toyota tercel. Another method is to leave it in gear and have someone step on the brakes while you use a cheater bar on it (this also works for torquing it down)

[scitzz]

I used the chain wrench twice, after I realized I needed to take off the pulley, after the starter was out and the screwdriver trick wasn't working, wheels off, so the ebrake trick wasn't gonna happen. I did no damage whatsoever, the chain went inside the groove. I like your fiber belt, joe, that is probably much better than the rubber braided one, that is the kind I tried that EVENTUALLY worked, after a bunch of times slipping.
Since the time I FINALLY could afford an air compressor, and a good impact wrench, that is all I have used, and have had no problem whatsoever, on a LOT of cars. I probably service a good 50-60 vehicles a week. Of those, at leat 5-10 are head gaskets, or timing belts, which require taking off the pulley(I sort of force my customers to get a new timing belt/water pump/thermostat if do the head, no extra charge, just the price of the part). I don't think it is an itch. However, it is possible that it is NOT recomended, but I have never read/heard of such......

[kned33]

It seems like a good precaution to the starter method (bumping the key) would be to disconnect the distributor to prevent an accidental starting of the engine.

[Bathtub Tom]

It seems like a good precaution to the starter method (bumping the key) would be to disconnect the distributor to prevent an accidental starting of the engine.

Presuming you've got the spark plugs out, because you're probably going to need to turn the engine over to line up the timing marks, then it's going to have a job starting.

[MPG]

Yeah, I was thinking impact gun, but I'm wondering if that will impart damaging shock load to engine internals, crank etc.

The impact gun is the preferred tool for this bolt since the fast torque pulses will loosen the bolt without rotating the engine. There won't be any effect on the engine internals since all of the power is being put into counter-clockwise rotation of the bolt screwed into the crankshaft. The crankshaft experiences much greater shock loads from the power stroke of the Otto cycle than it will ever see from the impact gun.

However, like anything else there are multiple ways of accomplishing the same result. Some are just easier than others. :idea: