I don't understand the need to risk damage to the crank pulley from a chain wrench, just to loosen the pulley bolt. I always just removed the 'dust cover' at the flywheel, and used a large screwdriver inserted at a bolt to hold the crank from turning.........
Bob,
> I have successfully used a chain wrench to hold the crank pulley. On my old
> Legacy the air wrench wouldn't fit unless the radiator was removed. The air
> wrench can remove the bolt successfully but can't perform the needed
> torquing when re-assembling. The 24 inch wrench should be big enough for > most cars.
> **** C A U T I O N ****
> When using a chain wrench you need to cushion the jaws of the wrench.
> Otherwise you will dent the edges of the crank pulley. I used a three inch
> section of old radiator hose sliced on one side. This fits under the jaws
> of the chain wrench nicely and will allow you to apply enough pressure to
> re-tighten the bolt.
> Also, be carefull not to apply more pressure than needed to hold the
> pulley. Excessive pressure could bend the pulley and make it wobble. Bad.
> JD.
> > I have yet to replace the timing chain in our Subys but I have seen the
> > questions posted re how to hold the crank in order to unscrew the > crankshaft
> > bolt. (I have been assuming I can do it with an air wrench, but that does
> > require removing the radiator to make space.)
> > The latest flyer from Harbor Freight has their number 42717-2HAB 24" chain
> > wrench on sale for $9.99. It is the "spitting image" of the wrench shown > in
> > the Haynes manual (Haynes number 89100) for exactly this purpose, Haynes'
> > figure 6.7 captioned "Use a chain wrench to lock the cranshaft pulley > whike
> > removing the crankshaft bolt..."
> > I will be checking to see if our local HF store has these in stock, the
> > catalog with this item is for ordering from. (You can see the tool at the
> HF
> > web site,
formatting link
if you enter the item number42717,
> > but it will appear at the $19.99 regular price. If you use their "Order > from
> > Printed Catalog" button and enter the complete number above you will get > the
> > reduced price.) My experience with HF tools of this sort is that they are
> > not works of art but are apt to do their job well enough.
> > Bob Wilson
> >
> >
>
>