Tool for holding the crank while undoing the crankshaft bolt

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:10 pm

Hi, does anyone in Melbourne have the tool to hold the crank while undoing the crankshaft bolt. I need to use it to change my timing belt.

If you have it would you lend it to me, please.

I prefer not to undo my bolt by turning over the engine

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:27 pm

why not its the same thing provided you have the socket fitted correctly as well as the correct size.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:28 pm

Its not very safe

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:31 pm

OK then.

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:44 pm

Hit the breaker bar with a hammer.

Dann

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:47 pm

It shouldn't be that hard??
I've done 3 engines with just a modest breaker bar.
Never found loosening the bolt difficult?

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StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:52 pm

It really isnt that unsafe.....provided you just look & make sure its all connected. I've done it countless times.
at the end of the day If you feel unsafe with it.....it will probably go wrong then. So hopefully someone does have this tool for you.
But if not just keep your head screwed on . You'll be fine.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:58 pm

I am not sure a pulley/crank holder Will help loosen the crank bolt.
Usually that tool is used when tightening the crank bolt.
If you can not undo it with a breaker bar i do not think holding a pulley with minimum leverage will help.

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JBT · Postby **JBT** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:15 pm

Put socket on the bolt and breaker bar into socket so that it is pointing to about 3 o'clock as you look at the car from the front. Put car in gear and firmly apply park brake. Use a floor/trolley jack to apply some tension to the end of the breaker bar in the anticlockwise direction by just raising the breaker bar end about 20 - 40mm or so. Now sharply tap the socket end (at the crank bolt) with a hammer and the bolt should release. The car will come down by however much you raised it, so make sure nothing vital is going to land on the jack. I've used this technique successfully on several cars.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:24 pm

Dweezle wrote:I've done 3 engines with just a modest breaker bar.
Never found loosening the bolt difficult?

You've been lucky so far. Mine was a total prick first time. I ended up making a steel plate that bolted to the harmonic balancer holes and the oil pump to lock it (a typical pattern is on miata.net at http://www.miata.net/garage/LongNoseRepair/index.html) and using a 4 foot extension on the socket wrench. I now have a selection of bent socket wrenches.

An Aldi air rattler took the nut off the old Astina in about 2 secs.

toddl1 · Postby **toddl1** » Sat May 19, 2012 12:01 am

While it's not exactly the reccomended method, I have had success in the past (not on an mx5) putting a breaker on the crank and then up against the chassis and cranking the engine. Not sure if it's a good idea or not, but it does work.