re: timing belt

[C1J1Miller@aol.com]

Fred Monroe wrote:
<You really don't need the idler pulley removal tool VAG 3034 - you can
<cobble something up yourself to do this. There are several posts in the
<archives describing home-made tools for this purpose.
I've found that a round electrical box (say for installing a ceiling fan) 
that has a round center punch-out works well.  You can also buy the cover 
with punchout to further reinforce the box. Use a bolt/washer combo to engage 
the _larger_ threads in the idler and it will pull it right out.  Cost: $3-4.

<You don't really need the oil seal installer VAG 2080A if you can drive
<a seal in straight by eye. It probably does a nice job, however - I'll
<probably make one for my next t-belt change.
The big thing to watch for in reinstalling the seal is that you don't catch 
the keyway on the shaft, and turn over the inner lip of the seal.  The 
installer tool is quite nice; plastic piece that covers this keyway, with a 
larger drift set up to push the seal in the proper depth (without letting it 
go in off-center, too).  Plastic, pretty inexpensive from the tool dealers.

I bought the seal extractor, and Peter Schulz bought me a seal installer; 
since mid-april, it's probably been used on a dozen or so I-5s... (out on 
loan pretty much since then...).  The seal extractor, although not the proper 
size, can be used to pull the camshaft seal, as well.

I'd vote for getting the crank locking tool, as we broke three 1/2" craftsman 
breaker bars on the last two timing belts we did... hate to have your "other" 
method fail with that kind of torque.
hth, chris miller, windham nh, c1j1miller@aol.com
'91 200q20v ==> http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/index.html