How to remove crank shaft pulley from 1995 Mazda Protege?

Question

Having difficult removing the crank shaft pulley that holds the timing belt. Any suggestions on how to remove the pulley?

Answer 1

Easiest way to remove the crank shaft pulley's bolt is with a impact wrench.

If it's a manual transmission place the vehicle in reverse gear and place the parking brake on the vehicle to remove the crank shaft pulley's bolt.

If the vehicle has an automatic transmission and you don't have an impact wrench available.
Do the following with hand tools only.
1. Open up the inspection plate. There is typically an inspection plate between the transmission and the engine. Bottom of the engine at the end of the oil pan. If you can't find an inspection plate, take the starter motor out instead.

2. Jam something into the fly wheel/flex plate. (A tire iron typically does nicely) this keeps the crank shaft from spinning.

3. Now loosen the crank shaft pulley's bolt.



After the bolt has been removed by one of the three techniques. the pulley should pull off relatively easily. If it's stuck on there you can use a crank shaft pulley puller. (Also called a steering wheel puller)

Do not use one of those 2 or 3 arm pullers as they can damage the harmonic balancer.

Additional things you should remember:

Make sure your at TDC for piston 1 before removing the crank shaft pulley.
Do not turn the crankshaft once the belt has been taken off until you get a new belt on.
Be sure the crank shaft and cam shafts are aligned for TDC for piston 1 before re-assembling.

Answer 2

The first guy got it right, impact wrench works best. However, he failed to mention that many crank shaft bolts are reverse-threaded (left = tight and right = loose)! If you have or can borrow a service manual it should tell you this. Also, sometimes there is an arrow on the bolt (for direction to loosen).

After you get the bolt out you may still need a pulley-puller (if it is a tight fit on the end of the crankshaft). This is a device that grabs the pulley from two sides and has a bolt in the middle which you turn it to push against the crankshaft and pull the pulley off. You can often borrow one at an auto parts store.

Answer 3

even if it is the crank pulley/harmonic balancer you're attempting to get rid of, the straightforward way is placed a socket with a breaker bar on it. placed the bar hostile to the body contained in the direction of rotation and hit the starter. The starter will destroy the bolt free. Socket must be 21 mm. don't have everybody on the fringe of engine at the same time as attempting the starter. often pulley will actual come off. If not you should be able to both employ a puller, or some factors shops personal loan pullers and different forte equipment. solid success

Answer 4

With a pulley puller.