how to remove vibration damper pulley/harmonic balancer?

[kajsdf]

trying to get everything apart for the timing set replacement and having quite a bit of trouble getting the 3/4" bolt that secures the vibration damper pulley off.  i tried using the strap wrench as suggested in the eaglepedia, but strap itself snapped under the tension.

does anyone else have any ideas?  i was thinking to somehow block it with a bar of some sort but i can't think of any place that will keep it immobilized...

[WoodenBirdOfPrey]

I had a breaker bar on it to keep the motor from turning over when we removed the flexplate bolts and we ended up breaking the balancer bolt loose instead on the 3rd one. It wasn't hard to use a pry par engaged with the ring gear to hold it still, you'll just need a second person to hold it if you do it that way.

[kajsdf]

if only i had an impact gun...

Take a spark plug out and feed a rope into the cylinder. That'll keep the engine from rolling over when you're trying to remove the bolt. Make sure to leave a bit of the rope outside the cylinder in order to remove it after.

how much rope?  this doesn't get stuck in the engine, does it?

I had a breaker bar on it to keep the motor from turning over when we removed the flexplate bolts and we ended up breaking the balancer bolt loose instead on the 3rd one. It wasn't hard to use a pry par engaged with the ring gear to hold it still, you'll just need a second person to hold it if you do it that way.

like wedge a pry bar in the pulley against the ground?

[68AMXGOPAC]

I think what he means, and this is in my imagination only. Is feed enough rope into the cylinder ( but yes leave some hanging out ) ( and be sure to put it into a cylinder that the piston is down some of the way) the rope will then stop the piston from comeing up all the way thus stop the engine from turning over.I would think clothesline would fit in a plug hole.I have NEVER done this but seems like a good idea if your by yourself.

[BenM]

The clothesline tip is an old tip for replacing valve stem seals without removing the head. It's a good trick, get a thicker rope if you can, nice and soft so it goes in easily.

Give the bolt some good penetrating oil, and clean the threads with a wire brush first, and try working back and forth, which will be hard with the rope I'm sure.

[kajsdf]

rope did the trick.  leave it in until i put it all back together i assume?

[DaemonForce]

I had to do this a few months back and it was a bit awkward. It's my spare block so this probably won't work for you guys unless it's out of the vehicle like mine. I used a simple puller. I undid the three small bolts, took them to NAPA and asked for extended ones. After $2 in parts I used those bolts to thread into the balancer, centered the puller and just kept turning until it came free.

The center bolt came free very easily with a bit of blunt force. The engine was sludged up pretty good and the purpose of this disassembly is because it was frozen. I'm certain you would almost have to have some impact tool to break it free. Very nasty.

[carnuck]

rope did the trick.  leave it in until i put it all back together i assume?

Nope. It's done it's job.

[mudkicker715]

rope did the trick.  leave it in until i put it all back together i assume?

Nope. It's done it's job.

Than how would you properly tighten the bolt without turning the motor when putting it together?

[carnuck]

Breaker bar tapped with a rubber mallet. Tap the balancer on with the mallet, tighten the bolt, tap the balancer again and re-check the bolt till it's not loose. Torque wrench to double check at the end. Motor usually will sit still long enough for that. Otherwise the motor will turn with the rope still in there. Without a knot in the end, it may go all the way in!

[mudkicker715]

Motor will turn until it hits the rope again. Than its done turning.

[EAGLER]

take apart the starter and block the flywheel is far better and easier than the rope trick, both them work the same . good luck on the work

[eaglefreek]

Glad it worked out for you. A compressor and air tools are invaluable for working on vehicles. Another method is to use a breaker bar by putting on the ground, disconnect coil wire and bump the starter.

[BenM]

I'd pull it back out because it'll draw moisture. As long as it can't get sucked it it shouldn't be too bad for a short while, just don't forget about it.