Crank sprocket q.

[DavidT]

It was a nightmare getting off the pulley, now the sprocket seems immovable.
1. How can I remove it?
2. Coolant drenched it when I removed the water pump. Is this a concern?
3. What is a good cleaning agent for the engine block behind the H2O pump, timing belt covers, intake (o/s and i/s),and the water pumptube that connects to the L rad. hose?etc... What do you not want B12 to come into contact with?

 

[rangerj]

DK,

Sorry I did not respond to your personal e-mail.
I have not been able to get into my e-mail for over a week. Some ISP glitch.

Any way, if you have the timing belt off and out of the way, you can clean up with a degreaser like Super Green (I think thats what its called).You do not want any cleaner to get mixed in with the coolant.

A couple of quarts of warm water poured over the area should rinse away the anti-freeze.

The crank sprocket should have two threaded holes in it for the puller screws. Put some oil on the screw threads when screwing them in. If the threads are badly rusted they shoud be restored with a thread restoring tap.

If the sprocket is stubborn, as you have indicated, try heating the sprocket with boiling water. Just the sprocket, so pour the water carefully.

Apply a cold pack (zip-lock bag or sandwich bag) of ice to the exposed crankshaft for about a minute. Then try the puller on the sprocket. Spray or apply a lubricant, WD-40, JB Blaster, etc, to the crack ahead of the sprocket.

The heated sprocket should expand very slightly, and the crank should contract ever so slightly. This may allow you to pull it. Again, be carefull about the crank threads when using the puller. And, you have to be careful about the CPS with hot water.

As a last resort you may have to heat the sprocket with a propane torch. I do not like to even mention this, as you risk destroying the CPS, and warping the reluctor (I think that is what it is called) that rotates through the CPS.

I have never had to do this, and I do not like the Idea. Does anyone elso have any ideas, comments, experiences, etc. If I were going to do this I would apply the heat to the sprocket, and wrap a cold wet towel around the crank end. The idea is to get the sprocket to expand, and not the crank.

DK, wait and see if you get some other ideas before trying this. rangerj

Water or coolant should not ruin the CPS as long as it dries before you start the car. You can clean up the timing belt with warm soapy water, and rinse it and let it dry. You're making progress, DK.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Quick hint: on the MTX's you can use the two longest timing cover bolts with the harmonic balancer puller yoke to remove the sprocket -- they are the proper size and pitch. Most kits do not have the correct size bolts. (For you ATX owners, there is only one long bolt...)

 

[sdpatt]

M6 x 80mm bolts will do the job on the crankshaft pulley.