Best Hack Ever! How to Remove Harmonic Balancer or Crank Pulley

[@bmakoto1291]

I have been trying to get the harmonic balancer pulley loose on this 2012 Malibu for 15 minutes. I decided to look up a video and this is the first one I came across. Thank you so much I had that sucker loose in 3 seconds flat. I'm not even qualified to be a shade tree mechanic, I just know how to turn bolts. This is a wonderful suggestion and solution.

[@LeaRNing2b1]

My husband was supposed to replace the balancer today but now, without even trying, he says "the previous mechanic used an air gun" and absolutely refuses to warch your video to get the damn bolt off and replace the part. Why do men think they know everything and refuse to watch a 3 min video??? He says I dont know anything about cars & he does. Im gonna make his behind watch this now bc I need my car fixed!!! My stubborn know it all husband is gonna fix this today!!! So thank u SO much for the tips and narration! I feel like Im gonna end up taking that bolt off though, otherwise my car is gonna be sitting in the driveway for another month 😡

[@Farmer2492]

I have been trying all day to budge the bolt on a 2014 Holden Colorado i will try this tomorrow when you put the balancer back on how do you tighten that nut back up with out engine turning over

[@djwalter28]

Tried many times with multiple tools and had lost all hope and then found your video. Thanks for posting.

[@jasonswartz6973]

Just wanted to add a thank you working on my buddies 68 road runner took a few tries, but it worked made life easier

[@xlr8auto1]

Awesome! Glad to hear it helped. Thank you for watching!

[@jaguarpaw46]

Did same thing with Honda Pilot Crank nut Starter bump trick

[@205sunrise]

On the newer chevys and cadis, they have a starter fuse that would blow when you do that trick.

[@xlr8auto1]

Haven't tried it on any yet. Seems like by the time it realized it had to much resistance you'd already be done before it blew.

[@frequentlycynical642]

Why? The starter won't draw any more current that normal starting. I can't speak to the latest cars, but most used to have a fusible link. It was a short length of wire two gauges smaller that the starter wire. It would melt before the main wire or the starter burn up.

[@fengfu2330]

Tried everything and did not work. Find your video and tried it, bolt off right away, great job!

[@frequentlycynical642]

What my brother and I came up with some years ago. Works perfectly every time. Recently on my 3.L V6b GM engine, the socket/extension assembly would come off of the bolt head when I hit the starter. I glued the socket to the head with Shoe Goo. Held it long enough to loosen the bolt.

[@Daniel_Antonio_Arellano782]

I never had a problem either doing this same thing. UNTIL NOW. The pulley bolt on my 1988 Toyota 22re seems to be welded there. I have never seen a pulley bolt so tight in my life. I broke several sockets trying to break it.

[@mzakes577]

Same here today, it's 2021 Renault Sandero. I have no idea what has that Bolt so tight like that. Never in my life have I struggled like this.

[@xlr8auto1]

Wow! Ive never seen one that wouldn't come off like that. What did you end up doing to get it to come loose? soak in PB blaster and try again?

[@xlr8auto1]

Mzakes577 how did you get yours loose?

[@mzakes577]

@xlr8auto1 Turns out it had a thread-locking fluid. I had to heat the bolt and didn't even need the starter method after heating it.

[@Daniel_Antonio_Arellano782]

@@xlr8auto1 I had to buy a special socket. You hammer it in to get the best grip you can. I then rigged a steel and bolts pipe to hold the crankshaft in place. After heating it up I put the socket in and my sons popped it lose. The secret is to hold the crankshaft pulley in place. Then using a thick socket that fits snuggly on the bolt head BEFORE you try it any other way. If not, you will have to buy a special socket like the one I did.

[@PaulHenreid]

Did you lock the flywheel when removing the crankshaft bolt and pulley? Nissan J-48761 VQ40 Ring Gear Stop

[@terrytorkildson2831]

and for what you get, they are not cheap. plus you get to pull the starter too.

[@toddh6234]

Just want to add for anyone reading the comments to keep in mind that newer cars have a push button ignition switch. Use the key not the push button.

[@WilliamThaGreat1]

Pull the fuse to prevent your engine from tuning over. Dummy.

[@xlr8auto1]

Good advice! Thank you!

[@smorgan5830]

Could always bypass that and just jump the starter for a sec

[@mattramos1005]

This video just saved me. Thanks bud. That exact type of puller is what I bought Tonight and I finally got that crank pulley off

[@xlr8auto1]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@hoobered1232]

If this was me I'd add some steel parallels behind the puller jaws adding strength to the balancer wall. use bench grinder to match the radius down below the jaws. 1/4 thick, 5/8 deep more or less, 3'' long. Use vice grips tight to hold when grinding. I'm an experienced tool maker sharing advice using your starter advice.

[@xlr8auto1]

Thanks! I always replace these anyways, but im sure the advice will help others!

[@frequentlycynical642]

Yeah, that made me a little nervous, too.

[@justintran3265]

Tried a small impact, but wasn’t able to remove it. Fortunately, I had a heavy duty one as well. No issues taking it off.

[@hotflashfoto]

I've done the HB on 2 Xterras and used those "little" holes. They're just fine. Then I used plumber's tape (thin, perforated metal that's easy to bend by hand) to attach them to the puller, and off they came. I didn't break anything at all. And I didn't need to use the starter, either.

[@xlr8auto1]

Thanks!

[@505ighter1]

What size bolts did you insert in hb pully?

[@hotflashfoto]

@@505ighter1 I don't recall the size but they were included in the puller kit.

[@timcarter9146]

Make sure your engine doesn’t spin counter clockwise lol

[@dan27052]

This doesn’t always work. I locked up a starter doing this once

[@xlr8auto1]

Yes I only bump the key. If that doesn’t work you should definitely stop. I always try to soak it down in penetrant for at least a day or more before hand if I have time as well.

[@dndzoned4134]

Seen a kid do this at a shop I worked at he broke the crank bolt clean off

[@TJsVette]

So what if you have a balancer that has come apart that does not have the belt part and the screws are stripped? How do you get it off???

[@xlr8auto1]

Just have to find a way to pull it. If you cant use a puller ive pulled some with multiple pry bars between engine and pulley. Lots of WD40 and perseverance.

[@TJsVette]

@xlr8auto1 I got it, had to use a brand new pulley that I bought off Amazon. I wound up selling it and buying a toyota.

[@chriscusick6890]

Doesn't work on a counter clowise turning crankshaft!

[@SuperJmur]

Thats my issue

[@jacktripper5911]

Why not? You just put the position of the ratchet and bar the other way, and the direction of the ratchet the other way.

[@thomaskotero8906]

Same here. But I finally got it today. I hit it with some penetrant yesterday and let the chemicals do their thing. Then I ordered a beefy 19mm socket made just for this bolt. Hit it with an electric impact and boom, she budged.

[@frequentlycynical642]

Is that a serious comment? Can you not figure out how to use this on a CCW engine?

[@Asimo44]

@@frequentlycynical642 is yours a serious comment? I don't understand why people think you can do the same thing with a ccw engine. Think about it. It would just tighten it.

[@grantcovey3144]

Can it be d I ne without pulling the motor

[@ic3man5]

THANK YOU. I couldn't believe this worked after my impact failed setting it to 160 PSI. Guess the starter is stronger than I thought.

[@thecarfixchannel3046]

I watched lots of videos on how to remove the crank pulley bolt but I never seen a vedio on how to install and torque the bolt, the pulley on this Nissan is not pressed on it should slide out you may need a rubber hammer to tap the pulley out.

[@xlr8auto1]

Unfortunately I’ve never came across one that easy to remove and I’ve done several of these. In theory that should work but I’ve never been so lucky.

[@Andrew-kl1bl]

Do you need a puller to remove the plate

[@jonesy4588]

does no one use impact wrenches anymore

[@yayaicu]

Hey man , I have the same issue I gonna try it in Ford Falcon 221 6 cil argeentinnian engine. cheers from argentina. Thanks

[@dominic6283]

I tried bump starting today to remove bolt but it didn’t work. I tried everything, not sure what to do next

[@lilrican1971]

Put some heat on the bolt get it nice and hot then do the bump start again .

[@Asimo44]

Every crank bolt you've ever taken out you've done this way? Guess you've never worked on a counter clockwise rotating engine.

[@thomaskotero8906]

That’s my problem

[@Asimo44]

@@thomaskotero8906 what car do you have?

[@thomaskotero8906]

94 honda accord. Already snapped 1/2” extension. I hit it with some penetrant yesterday so we’ll see if the chemicals did their thing and try again today. Also bought a beefed up socket that should arrive today.

[@Asimo44]

@@thomaskotero8906 are you holding it with the hex tool?

[@thomaskotero8906]

Yes sir. Had two 1/2 breaker bars. No luck. Cracked that sucka today though! That beefy 19mm socket with a battery impact did the trick!

[@Rock-bottom-78]

Works like a charm, this is how remove the bolt too.. like he said no problems

[@xlr8auto1]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@TWizzleMyNizzle94]

Now how do you put it back?

[@1010D0101]

Please make sure you take coil lead off first if your car is a runner. ! You don’t want the engine starting

[@frequentlycynical642]

There's no coil lead with most modern engines. You either have to remove all the plug wires from the coils, if it's that kind, or just be quick to shut it off!

[@ericmeyn4380]

Use penetrant, not WD-40 lubricant. WD also makes the penetrant.

[@MrDwaine]

That's well and good if you have the engine as a goer BUT with no head on etc how do you 'turn the motor" ??

[@timothyblevins1346]

I tried this on a rave 4 And the fing fuel tank fallout. Wtf .

[@spancashew2018]

There is 0 Coolant in my engine and it is disconnected from the motor mount can I still do this? I’m so tired of seeing this trick

[@xlr8auto1]

Yes, you can still do it. Get everything ready and then just bump the key.

[@damianjones6546]

I have tried nearly everything to get my pulley bolt off, it will not budge. I'm not sure what to do now.

[@xlr8auto1]

Trying this method didn’t work?

[@skrewdreyever]

Ahhhh yes, the ol' key bump method... 😎

[@MiguelaCordero-j6u]

Great job thanks for your help 👍

[@NinjaFish22392]

What size is that jaw puller?

[@xlr8auto1]

Hi! honestly cant remember. I have a drawer full of them and took this video a while back. Very sorry I couldnt be of more help. Hope the video helped!

[@Tyler_Bergman]

I am in the process of doing this and the car won’t turn over after removing serpentine belt and I tried charging the batter and still nothing

[@xlr8auto1]

Sounds like you have a bad connection or dead battery.

[@tracyhill6754]

@@xlr8auto1 Donna wagner

[@527stoners]

So crank/start the car ?

[@xlr8auto1]

Just bump the key, don’t let it spin long enough to start. You can also disconnect the fuel pump fuse/relay.

[@RachelZabel-g4w]

Will this work in a 2006 Volvo v70

[@topflight2358]

why is there no vids with a broken balancer that has shattered leavening only the center part ???

[@xlr8auto1]

Not a very common occurrence. Hope you got it fixed!

[@darrelbennett4305]

I tried that and it did not work

[@jayjb833]

Ya well if u almost have the head off that won’t help

[@luckyc4739]

It worked, thanks

[@joshuamacwithey7831]

Matt Shaughnessy

[@xlr8auto1]

Hope it helped, Thanks for watching!

[@davefreeland6217]

You aint never broke a starter hood that way?

[@xlr8auto1]

Never broken anything! Its a great trick, just gotta be careful.

[@davefreeland6217]

@@xlr8auto1 I've used it before...n broke a starter hood too there aint much care you can do starter hoods aint that hard to change lol

[@TheGt5ive]

You are a lifesaver!

[@garypappasjr151]

I tried this. It did not work.

[@bigdavedownunder]

This is great if you can turn the car over

[@chancey1979]

Pretty Much All Nissans are the same going back to the 60's i hear but you'll need Regular Pulley Puller with TWO M6-1.25 x 80mm long bolts. Will get the crank off no problem. Did 2 of them in the last 3 weeks. 1 Was a badly abused 205k Xterra with water leaking everywhere. The Other a Frontier. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpfOenajhrF0qKc and link to details at Club Frontier is in description of video showing how simple those VG30 VG33 Cranks are to pull. THey come off Easy once crank bolt is broken. Do Not Use a 3 Jaw Puller. NIssan put the 2 little M6 bolt holes on either side of the crank for a reason. Watch the video i posted they're simple to get off

[@tracyhill6754]

Donna wagner

[@xlr8auto1]

Hope it helped!

[@jjack6896]

It didn’t work.

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Broke the flywheel teeth

[@bobbymadison8717]

Try that shit in a honda

[@leviwaters520]

This works.

[@robertgingerich5893]

Another way is to put a cargo strap around it and tighten it

[@steverutherford1871]

Yeah umm… what happens when you work on a vehicle that was born after 2006?? One bump of the key and the engine STARTS. Obviously this trick will NOT work on everything. Toyotas and Hondas are predominantly made this way. So on Most American made cars built BEFORE say mmm 2000 ish? Yeah ok fine do it this way- but I have a 2008 Acura MDX that starts on the slightest bump of the key. #dontbestupid #imashadetreemechanictoo

[@reinersantos8819]

Full it of more Explanation .😂😢😮

[@xlr8auto1]

Thanks.

[@RideWithYaH]

CAP.

[@235LAKIS]

😉👏👏👏👏👏

[@xlr8auto1]

Thanks!