How do I get this darn crank sprocket off!

[fred79]

I finally got every think off of my friggin engineto get to the sprocket and now I can't get the damn thing off. none of the bolts in my dampener puller or steering wheel puller will fit so I use what did and use the long timing cover screws. well all that happened is I bent teh screws over. Is there a way to get this thing off what do I need?
also any one know what those 8mm timing cover bolts thread type is I am sure I will have to find a replacemement at a hardware store since ford hates this car.

 

[shojuan]

Get new bolts obviously. Take the old ones to the hardware store to figure out the threads if nobody here knows offhand. I sprayed PB Blaster in between the crank timing gear and crank. Make sure you have the little foot on the end of the steering puller that you're using. Sorry I'm not more help. It's been almost a year since I did this.

 

[TYSHO]

Oh, real great. jpshakeh I've been freaking trying to get my crank bolt off for probaly a week now and see this. oh_my Thanks for posting this, time to wrap things up and put it back together and sell the POS.

 

[shojuan]

TYSHO:
Oh, real great. jpshakeh I've been freaking trying to get my crank bolt off for probaly a week now and see this. oh_my Thanks for posting this, time to wrap things up and put it back together and sell the POS.

Lol, not so fast! You probably won't have any troubles getting your timing gear off once you get your crank bolt off. Texas, low rust factor there. Just spray the PB Blaster. Hey, maybe you just need a stronger battery to make the starter bump method work for you. How much you wanna bet all the sorry bastards who the starter bump doesn't work right away for have weak, old, and pathetic batteries? Swap in a nice strong one. Steal it out of your sister-in-law's car if you have to, even if just for 20 minutes. A properly juiced starter is very strong. The bolt will come out eventually.

 

[projectSHO89]

Like said, make DA*NED sure you use that foot inside the crank. We don't want to hear you asking what size tap it takes and where to get it. BTDT.

You can buy bolts from almost any hardware store. If the only ones you can find are too long, 1/4 inch sockets make good spacers. The puller from AutoZone that I got the last time had the correct bolts in it for some amazing reason.

Steve

<small>[ July 17, 2003, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[sdpatt]

I have purchased an extra pair of those longer timing belt cover bolts for the purpose of pulling the crankshaft pulley off of 3.2L engines. I found them in the bolt section of Pep Boys. They are, IIRC, M6 x 80mm bolts in the standard thread (1.5?, 1.75?) and only cost about 25 cents each. Take a spare or removed timing cover bolt (even a short one) to match the thread pitch.

If you bent the bolts, the damper puller must not have been square to the crankshaft. It is important that the puller ****** stays perpendicular to the crankshaft. Tighten each bolt only a little at a time before moving to the other one.

 

[fred79]

does the center bolt stay on top of teh hole or should it go down in. my pullers screw is to big to fit into the shaft but I could put some thing between it and the bottom?
also how have you all gotten the sprocket and dampener bck on a pusher or are you just driving it in with a piece of wood and a hammer?

 

[shojuan]

fred79:
does the center bolt stay on top of teh hole or should it go down in. my pullers screw is to big to fit into the shaft but I could put some thing between it and the bottom?
also how have you all gotten the sprocket and dampener bck on a pusher or are you just driving it in with a piece of wood and a hammer?

No! The little foot that should be part of your steering puller set is to prevent the center bolt from going down into the crank where it will screw up the threads (hence Steve's comment).

The sprocket and dampener slide back on with no effort. Really! I put a thin layer of quality grease on mine to prevent corrosion and they slid into place with no effort.

 

[DavidT]

yuck! You are bringing back RECENT nightmares
I had the very same problem... with my crank pulley AND sprocket. I bet you may have bent your woodruff key. I did. I think leaking coolant seized the sprocket and pulley to the shaft... because I took them off just a few months prior to my incident... with EASE.
I waited 3 weeks or so to find a replacement woodruff key... it finally came in and it would not fit.
I had to eventually straighten my bent one in a vice.
I had a heck of a time getting them back upon reassembly, too.
With preserverance, it will come off. I too had to get the long t. belt cover bolts (with the puller) to remove the sprocket. It was a nightmare. I went through all the bolts in the puller kit.

 

[TYSHO]

So it's better off taking it to the Ford house or something? Believe it or not, I'm still stuck on that pulley step. I have even took a break and sat in the chair with my feet proped up above the radiator, then... sleep

*Feelings toward the rounded crank bolt* finger cuss

What sucks is trying to go to sleep and it taking more than over an hour just becuase my mind is set on how to take that darn bolt off, then putting my clothes back on and having faith in the middle of the night.

 

[fred79]

how rounded is it have you been useing a 12point or 6 point socket. I went and bought a 18" breaker bar and a 6 point impact socket and it zip right out. maybe you can find one of those sockets for pulling rounded bolts.

also hoppe you already ordered another one or located one to replace the rounded one.