Once every car owner is faced with a problem that cannot be
solved without prior preparation. One of them is to remove the crankshaft
pulley. For more references, check out: crankshaft pulley removal
As a rule, difficulties are associated with dismantling and installing new cuffs, which are deformed and cease to fulfill their functions. As a result, an oil leak appears, which must be eliminated. For an experienced car owner, dismantling the crankshaft pulley is not a problem. Another thing is beginners who are just learning the basics of car repair.
What do you need to remove the crankshaft pulley?
If you open the manual for the technical operation of the machine, the repair procedure is described briefly, and the algorithm itself is simple and easy to implement. But this is at first glance. In practice, the work takes a lot of time. A number of difficulties are worth highlighting here.
The pulley is located in the engine compartment, where not every element has access. As a rule, the necessary part is "hidden" behind the generator and body parts. To gain access to the unit, it is often required to loosen the tension bolts, as well as dismantle the power steering and generator belts . But even after that, removing the crankshaft pulley takes a lot of time.
The fixation of the part of interest (still at the factory) is carried out using a nut or bolt. In this case, the broaching occurs with the maximum torque (to ensure a tight fixation). During subsequent operation, the nut is clamped even more.
In addition, environmental factors and increased temperature conditions lead to rust and oil coking. As a result, the bolt or retaining nut literally "sticks" to the pulley housing. At the same time, it is not always possible to “rip off” the part the first time.
Before unscrewing the crankshaft pulley bolt, it is worth dealing with fixing the pulley itself on the crankshaft. Otherwise, it will not work to unscrew the nut. The service uses special devices, and in a garage, it is enough to put supports under the wheels and move the gearshift lever to the fourth speed position. Another option is to fix the flywheel by resting on its holes or the toothed part of the mount.
How to dismantle the crankshaft pulley?
Once you have figured out the potential difficulties of dismantling, you can get to work. As a rule, the pulley is secured with a nut (on rear-wheel drive machines) or a bolt. The greatest problems arise precisely with the first option of fasteners.
Mounting nuts are often provided with lifts to allow them to engage with the ratchet. In terms of service, craftsmen use hex keys for "thirty-eight" or "thirty-six". To speed up the twisting process, an elongated handle and a special fixation device are used, which is put on the pulley. But how to unscrew the crankshaft pulley when there is no access to a special tool?
In such a situation, proceed as follows:
· Drive the car to a suitable place (it can be an overpass or a pit).
· Move the gear knob to the fourth speed position (secures the crankshaft).
· Raise the handbrake to the extreme position (to avoid accidental movement of the car).
· Take a socket wrench (for the size of the fastening nut), install an additional "elbow" (a metal pipe will do), and then try to rip off the bolt. Many people ask the question in which direction to unscrew the crankshaft pulley bolt. Here the answer is unambiguous - only counterclockwise.
