crankshaft pulley removal

[kytarheel71]

87 Prelude Si Automatic
I am in need of help. I am trying to remove the crankshaft pulley. All of my belts including timing belt need changed. We have loosened 2 of the 3 drive belts so far. Having trouble getting the 2 drive belt in off but thats not the major issue. How in the hell do you loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt. The entire crank turns no matter what we do. It has to stay at TDC. I have searched every forum and the suggestions i have read are awful. Sounds like u could do some serious damage. The haynes manual says to place a long screwdriver in the ring gear teeth and hold while you crank away on the bolt. We cant find anywhere to put the screwdriver to get enough leverage and without damaging stuff around it. The only tool i have found is for 3 rd gen and it's a hexagonal shaped fixture that fits in perfect. This is perfectly round with nothing to fit against. I really need someone to help me out here! I cant afford to take this to a shop.

[91Si4WS]

impact gun is the easiest way, put the gun on forward and hit it just to jolt it then put it in reverse and it should come right out

[kytarheel71]

we have no way of keeping the pulley from turning. That's our problem. When we do anything the pulley turns, and it has to stay at TDC, right?

[OEM~KaOs]

It's like the tool that you use when you take off the flywheel for a tranny job. The screwdriver works too, you just have to get a real big screwdriver to get enough leverage.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM LAST YEAR - If it comes off TDC that's not a huge deal. You just have to make sure it's back at TDC when you put it back together, otherwise....bad news bears

[InvaderTrax]

It's like the tool that you use when you take off the flywheel for a tranny job. The screwdriver works too, you just have to get a real big screwdriver to get enough leverage.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM LAST YEAR - If it comes off TDC that's not a huge deal. You just have to make sure it's back at TDC when you put it back together, otherwise....bad news bears

Exactly. Hold it in place with a large screw driver and hit it with a good impact (not the $30 WalMart gun, but something like an Ingersoll 2135Ti) with about 150 PSI and hope it comes loose. It's not a big deal if it rotates a little bit. Just because the bolt it loose doesn't mean you can't turn it back to TDC. If you want, you can even tighten it by hand and rotate it so it'll come off easy

[91Si4WS]

it shouldn't rotate if the impact gun you're using is strong enough, most of the time they usually only rotate if you're trying to get them off with a breaker bar

[kytarheel71]

I don't mean to be a pain in the ___. I usually dont do a whole lot with cars other than the basics so could u be more specific for me. We are also in the process of putting new front axles on it. Where did u brace the srewdriver? I am still a little confused. If this was a motorcycle i could fix anything on it so i am familiar with mechanics i just really dont want to screw this thing up. It's hard enough to find parts for it let alone something getting broke by me. This car had been sitting for about 5 yrs so it needs alot of work, which is OK with me, i just want to do it right. Thanks for the help so far.

[Prelude85]

I remember doing this on an Eclipse. . .don't remember what we did. You tried putting it in gear with someone holding the brakes?

As for the rest of the belts you loosen whatever you need, the power steering, AC, alternator, then slide them off as well.

You'll need to loosen the tensions to get the timing belt off though. And again don't worry about keeping it TDC.

Once you're ready to put the new built in here's what you do.

1) Make sure the #1 piston is at TDC. To do this take out the spark plug for #1, keep turning the crank shaft till the piston is at the top and alight the marks on the pulley with the block.

2) Make sure the camshaft is aligned right, you gotta take the distributor cap off and make sure the rotor is pointed at #1, and the cam pulley is aligned with marking on the head.

3) Slide that shiny new belt on, and presto! all you gotta do is make sure it fits tight with the tensions!

Ha yeah right i wish it was that easy. . .

[bdizzel124]

I hate that bolt, but impact with 150 PSI sould to the trick