How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

[Joe M.]

When my 1960 engine was rebuilt 8 years ago, my mechanic drilled and tapped the crankshaft and installed a safety bolt. I want to replace the balancer/damper, but don't know how to keep the crankshaft from turning while I am removing the safety bolt.

What is the secret to keeping the crankshaft from turning so I can remove the bolt?

[Joe L.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

When my 1960 engine was rebuilt 8 years ago, my mechanic drilled and tapped the crankshaft and installed a safety bolt. I want to replace the balancer/damper, but don't know how to keep the crankshaft from turning while I am removing the safety bolt.

What is the secret to keeping the crankshaft from turning so I can remove the bolt?

Joe------

Put the car in gear, set the parking brake, and chock the wheels. That should be sufficient to allow removal of the bolt.

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Thanks Joe. I have a Powerglide. I set the parking brake, put the car in Park, and the crankshaft still turned. I am assuming that the bolt is removed in a counterclockwise manner.

[Mike M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

snapon on makes a tool to turn flywheels using the ring gear. borrow the tool and have a buddy hold the flywwheel while you turn bolt counterclockwise.mike

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Thanks Mike. That sounds like a good plan. Forgive my ignorance, but where do I access the ring gear? Do I remove an inspection plate that exposes the ring gear?

[Richard M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Replace 2 of the pulley bolts with longer ones, then put a longbar between those 2 bolts as leverage to remove the crankbolt.

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Thank you Richard. I assume it comes out counterclockwise, correct?

[Tom D.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Yes. Use of a "hammer drill" such as the air tool used by nascar (and most other) tire changers will also work. An impact wrench.

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Thanks to all.

[Paul J.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

As Tom stated, use an impact wrench if you have air. It will come out.

[Donald H.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Joe,

If you have an air impact gun, try that first. I had a similar problem trying to get the pulley nut off an alternator. I tried using hand ratched and socket and various ways to hold the pulley. Finally broke out my impact gun and it came right off.

And yes, the bolt has standard threads and comes off counter clockwise.

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Unfortunately, I don't have pneumatic tools. I will use Richard's method of two long bolts in the pulley holes.

I saw an interesting YouTube video on how to remove the bolt. The mechanic placed the socket wrench against the A/C pulley of whatever car he was demonstrating on, bumped the ignition switch a couple of times and the bolt was loose. I can see disaster written all over that removal method if I tried it.

[Dennis C.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

I remember having to change a timing chain and nothing I tried to remove that bolt worked. Had several guy's try holding the flywheel and tried several different pneumatic guns.

Finally we located an extra long breaker bar and used that with the free end tight against the floor. Took the coil wire off the distributed cap and bumped the starter. The balancer bolt loosened right up.

This car was a daily driver, not sure I would want to try that on one of our cars.............

Dennis

[Joe M.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

I used the YouTube video trick and it worked. I braced the long handled socket wrench against the 3rd arm, bumped the starter a couple of times and the socket wrench fell off. I assumed nothing happened but when I put the socket to it again, it was almost loose enough to remove by hand. I took a half day to get the courage to try it. Maybe I got lucky. My GM service replacement harmonic balancer is a generic part; no part number, model #, maker mark; nothing. The service replacement balancer is off and I am waiting for the correct balancer to arrive.

[Bert L.]

Re: How to Remove the Crankshaft Bolt

Good one Joe, nice bit of info there!

Bert