I posted recently asking how to get the crankshaft gear off - doing a timing chain/gear replacement. It seemed really stuck hard on there and the haynes manual all it said was "use a puller". The only problem was - for those of yoyu that may have to do a job like this and never have - is when I used my 3-jaw puller, what happened is the center bolt just kept recessing into the shaft further and further, as more and more pressure was applied on it's bolt head, damaging threads on the puller bolt. That's not the way it's supposed to happen. And nothing came off.
What you have to do is get a real hard grade 8 5/16 inch bolt, that's about
3 inches long, so that when you saw off the head, you can put that little rod into the shaft of the crankshaft. The rod will come out to almost the opening of the shaft end and you can then use the 3 jaw puller to get the job done. The puller's center bolt can push hard on the rod and the rod won't budge because it is pushing against the back of the shaft, which is not going to give any. I tried using a steel rod that wasn't grade 8 and the puller bolt ate straight into it and so grade 8 really helped.I got my cranskaft gear off but now I wonder how hard it is to get the new one on! I read that you can put the gear in the oven and get it real hot and that will allow you to just slide it right on. Anyone know if this is true and ok to do? Because otherwise, it's gonna take some real force to slide it into place all the way and I don't really know of a good way to do that, because of the limited amount of room I have to bang, bang. There's the radiator and the condensor for example that are in place and won't be moved. A deep socket is always suggested but I don't know any deep sockets that are 3+ inches long that I could use.
As well, how critical is it to align the little arrows at 6pm and 12pm? Is there one "right" position or will several be ok as far as timing is concerned? My plan is put the crankshaft gear on and then loop the chain around it and put the camshaft gear on with the chain already on it.
Any comments, suggestions?