Re: Can't get crank pulley off...

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

Hi Wallace;

    Once the bolt is removed, you should be able to pull the crankshaft
pulley off - the section of crank which fits inside the pulley is not very
long. On my '91 200q, a green threadlocking compound had been applied to the
crankshaft nose to lock the pulley in place, but I was able to get the
pulley off by hand without too much problem. I believe this threadlocker is
a factory application, so if your belt is original your pulley may also have
the threadlocker holding the pulley and crank together.
    The only way to break this stuff is to apply a shear force (which you
did with the puller) or to weaken it with heat. If you use heat, be very
careful with the rubber in the harmonic balancer. You might be able to heat
the pulley core with a hot air gun and then try your puller again. Make sure
you pull on the center core (if possible). If you pull on the outer rim of
the pulley you may shear off the rubber isolating ring inside the pulley -
the flexible rubber will also reduce the effect of the puller.
    You could also try spraying a penetrating oil on the pulley/crank joint.
Does it look like the joint may be rusted together? This would make it
difficult to get off.

Good luck! Let us know how you make out - I'm sure someone else has/will run
into this problem.

HTH

Fred Munro
'91 200q  269k km
-----Original Message-----
From: Wallace White <wallace@remdesign.com>
To: Quattro <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Sunday, February 21, 1999 4:25 AM
Subject: Can't get crank pulley off...


>I'm in the middle of a timing belt change, and I can't get the
>crankshaft pulley and gear off of the engine. The crankshaft bolt came
>off without any trouble, as did the water pump and camshaft gear. When I
>couldn't pull the crankshaft pulley off by hand, I tried a gear puller,
>which didn't work either.
>
>Am I missing something, or should you be able to just pull the pulley
>and gear right off? (I didn't remove the four socket head cap screws
>that attach the pulley to the gear, if that matters.) Any ideas or
>advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
>
>As for the condition of the belt, I might get a picture scanned in to
>show. I don't have anything to compare the belt's appearance to, but I
>do wonder if this belt was the original...
>
>- Wallace
>  '87 5kcstq 152k