Anyone know how to break this bolt loose?

Question

We're working on a 1990 Honda CR-X trying to replace the timing belt. To get to the timing belt we have to remove the harmonic balancer. The bolt that hold the harmonic balancer on is hopelessly stuck. We've broken 3 ratchets trying to get it off. We sprayed it with Bolt-Breaker and it still won't come loose. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

extract it? really, get the hell out of here with that noise! get a handheld propane or mapp torch and heat the bolt head, do not hold the torch on for an extended period of time or you WILL heat the rubber front seal and cause a bigger problem for yourself! after a few times heating the bolt it should come out quite easily

Answer 2

Never use a ratchet to loosen tight bolts or nuts. Loosen with a power bar and then use a ratchet to loosen. The ratchet is not designed to do very hard work, it is meant to speed up the removing and tightning of a bolt or nut that is allready loose.

A trick that I use very often when removing the harmonic balancer/ crankpulley bolt is to put a strong power bar with the right socket on the bolt's head. Then let the handle of the powerbar press against something solid and operate the starter with the ignition switch. Turning the key on and off quickly will cause the engine to fire for a second and that will loosen the bolt. Just make sure that the powerbar is against something that can take the punch. A pipe over the handle pressing on the ground does work very good. Make sure about the way the engine turns because if you do it the wrong way around you can damage a lot of things. Also make sure to turn the ignition off very quickly.

When done right this works very good, I used this method hundreds of times. Another advantage of this method is that you don't have to stop the engine from turning while you try to undo the bolt. Just be carefull.
Let us know if it worked!

Answer 3

Found this info about half way down page hope it helps.

Two 10" long quality 1/2" drive extensions resting on a spare jackstand

After breaking 3 cheap 1/2" drive extender bars, I bought two 10 inch long 1/2" drive extender bars (lifetime warranty) so that I could put a breaker bar outside of the fender. I set a spare car jack so that the breaker bar end of the extenders rested at the same height as the crankshaft bolt so that it would keep all the torque in the right direction and not twist out of place while turning. 5 feet of pipe on the breaker bar and a hefty pull and the bolt turned. Didn't sound like a bolt turning, sounded like something major broke but it was the bolt turning.

To tighten to 120 ftlb of torque, just reverse the steel bar so it jams in the other direction.

Answer 4

Use a S&K long (16 in.) handled 1/2 wratchet or a 1/2 braker bar with an additional two foot piece of 3/4 in black iron pipe on the end of which ever tool you choose handle. Craftsman stuff isn't up to the task if that's what you're using. Even if you get the bolt out you'll need a very specific threaded puller that pulls close to the hub to get it off. Do not pull from the exterrior outside diameter or you risk ruining the dampener

Answer 5

If the bolt is accessible ( in a place where you can easily get a swing) a good rap or two with a hammer will break the rust loose. You need to strike directly on the head of the bolt, which may not be possible in your case.
I've done this and it works almost every time.

Answer 6

There is a special tool you can buy just for this process. You align the tool, and add 1/2" breaker bar and turn it as hard as you can.

You can also shoot it with impact wrench, but it must use a good quality impact wrench. I tried that also while doing this job, and my cheap $150 ingersoll rand impact wrench was not able to turn the bolt lose.

Answer 7

You might want to find out if it is a left hand thread, that may be why it's "stuck." Otherwise an impact wrench is likely the only solution. They can generate over 300 ft pounds of torque and break just about anything loose.

Answer 8

try use a good 1/2 inch drive air gun if not a good 1/2 inch breaker bar will take a lot more then a ratchets

Answer 9

Youre gonna have to extract it. Buy an extract set from your local hardware store. You will drill a hole in the center of the screw, and get a left threaded extractor. Hammer in the extractor and grab a crescent wrench. Turn counter- clockwise. Good luck

Answer 10

bigger ratchet, a breaker bar ,but a 1/2 inch air gun works the best, they do have electric 1/2 inch impacts also