Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[V6Astra F]

Hi

I need to replace the front crankshaft oil seal on the 3.2 . The problem is we dont have a pneumatic wrench and we have tried to leave the car in gear with someone applying the brakes but we could not get it to budge . Some guys talk about using a strongbar thats jammed up against the chassis and with the coilpack disconnected swing the motor for 1/2 a second to loosen it , but how safe is that . Heres a picture of my problem .

[Marks DTM Calib]

You must NOT use any of the methods you describe.

You need to make up a tool that bolts in place of the front pulley to hold the crank.

If you try and lock it or rotate it at the flywheel end, you will strip the woodruff key off the bottom crank sprocket

[Kevin Wood]

What you need to do is to lock the pulley itself in  position, not the crank.

Remove the 6 outer bolts and split the pulley so you're left with just the inner section. Then make up a bracket that locates on a couple of the holes where the 6 bolts were, and bolts to a convenient hole on the block (perhaps a water pump or cam belt idler mounting bolt).

With the inner pulley locked in place you should be able to remove the bolt. A daily dousing in plus gas for a week before removal will help.

Locking the crank risks shearing off the woodroffe key that located the pulley. You need to lock the pulley itself.

I wouldn't use an impact wrench except as a last resort, personally. I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

A long breaker bar and a fat git on the end of it are what you need.

Kevin

[Kevin Wood]

D'oh! Too slow.

kevin

[V6Astra F]

Thanks for the info guys 

[Andy B]

......
I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

 ......

You do on an Astra 
I've used the spin-the-starter method of removal in the past & also beat-it-with-a-lump-hammer method. I disagree that the woodruff key has a possibilty of shearing. there are loads of purpose made tools for locking fly wheels via the starter ring clicky

[Marks DTM Calib]

......
I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

 ......

You do on an Astra 
I've used the spin-the-starter method of removal in the past & also beat-it-with-a-lump-hammer method. I disagree that the woodruff key has a possibilty of shearing. there are loads of purpose made tools for locking fly wheels via the starter ring clicky

Well your wrong in this application Andy, on the V6 the key is part of the lower crank pulley which is a sintered part so very brittle........place any stress on it and it shears straight off

[2woody]

I always grind them off.

remove the damper outer pulley ( six torx-headed screws ) the centre bolt is then fully visible. chop off level with an angle-grinder, making sure that you don't touch the damper.

when you're close to the end-game, the bolt will come out by hand ( careful - hot )

fit a new bolt and you're away.

[Andy B]

......
I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

 ......

You do on an Astra 
I've used the spin-the-starter method of removal in the past & also beat-it-with-a-lump-hammer method. I disagree that the woodruff key has a possibilty of shearing. there are loads of purpose made tools for locking fly wheels via the starter ring clicky

Well your wrong in this application Andy, on the V6 the key is part of the lower crank pulley which is a sintered part so very brittle........place any stress on it and it shears straight off

We've had the same conversation before   

[Marks DTM Calib]

But you still need to counter hold it to re-tighten to close on 300Nm

[Andy B]

But you still need to counter hold it to re-tighten to close on 300Nm

there's now no bolt head to tighten up against the end of the crank shaft 

[Marks DTM Calib]

......
I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

 ......

You do on an Astra 
I've used the spin-the-starter method of removal in the past & also beat-it-with-a-lump-hammer method. I disagree that the woodruff key has a possibilty of shearing. there are loads of purpose made tools for locking fly wheels via the starter ring clicky

Well your wrong in this application Andy, on the V6 the key is part of the lower crank pulley which is a sintered part so very brittle........place any stress on it and it shears straight off

We've had the same conversation before   

As said, its very different on the Astra, the bolt is fitted to only half the torque and the pulley is a pressed steel assembly.

General purpose tools available or not, on the V6 you will shaft your crank sprocket.....

Horses for courses, and on the V6 its a definately do not 

[Andy B]

......
I doubt you'd get enough torque from one anyway.

 ......

You do on an Astra 
I've used the spin-the-starter method of removal in the past & also beat-it-with-a-lump-hammer method. I disagree that the woodruff key has a possibilty of shearing. there are loads of purpose made tools for locking fly wheels via the starter ring clicky

Well your wrong in this application Andy, on the V6 the key is part of the lower crank pulley which is a sintered part so very brittle........place any stress on it and it shears straight off

We've had the same conversation before   

As said, its very different on the Astra, the bolt is fitted to only half the torque and the pulley is a pressed steel assembly.

General purpose tools available or not, on the V6 you will shaft your crank sprocket.....

Horses for courses, and on the V6 its a definately do not 

As I have no plans to remove the pulley from my car ..... I shouldn't have need to worry   

[Marks DTM Calib]

But you still need to counter hold it to re-tighten to close on 300Nm

there's now no bolt head to tighten up against the end of the crank shaft 

Lol, I am assuming that a joke


When refitting, you need a new bolt (you should use a new bolt anyway)......and on re-tightening, the bolt flange applies a turning motion to the crank pulley as it tightens....hence it can yet again tear the woodruff key off and worse still....result in a crank pulley that is no longer correctly timed to the crank. 

[V6Astra F]

Will something like this work , might be able to make one