More on timing belt replacement

[erict@cta.com (Eric Thorstenson)]

A few additional comments re timing belt replacement:

1) Several folks have asked where I got the special tool to lock
the harmonic balancer. Don't have the info handy at the  moment. If
there aren't any suggestions today from the list, I'll get the info
tonight and post it tomorrow. As I recall, it was from a guy in
Florida, got it in two days for about $70.

2) The use of the other special tool, the socket extension, does
indeed affect the toque applied to the bolt. As Nick mentioned,
if you use an extension as long as your torque wrench, the applied
torque will be twice the indicated torque. Just wanted to add that
the reason for this is that a toque wrench doesn't measure torque,
rather it measures force, in this case, the force that you apply
by pulling on the handle. This is why, if you read your torque
wrench instructions carefully, they will tell you to pull only on
the handle, and not somewhere else along the length of the wrench.
If you had an instrument that really and truly measured torque,
then the use of the special socket extension would not have any
effect on the applied torque. BTW, the use of other tools such
as crowfoot wrenches has the same effect as the use of the audi
extension - basically anything that displaces the centerline of the
wrench head from the centerline of the bolt will alter the 
effective torque applied to the fastener.

3) I used Loctite blue on the nut when I put it back together. Just
make sure you clean out the threads in the end of the crank
really well.

4) 
Standing on the brakes works fine, provided you have a manual
transmission, and that you don't mind subjecting it to twice its
design loading. Personally, I'm pretty conservative in this respect
and would rather use the tool to lock the balancer.

5) If you don't use the special extension, you need to apply a
torque of approximately 400 lb-ft. (This figure assumes a length
for the extension of 16", which is what I have been told. If anyone
knows for sure, let me know and I'll revise that torque figure.)
Realistically, I suspect that if you are anywhere close to this
figure, you will be fine, particularly if you used the Loctite
properly.

Eric T.
'86 5000 S