Help! Cannot remove crankshaft pulley for timing belt

[adam325i]

So I am in the middle of doing my timing belt and I'm stuck. I don't know how to remove the crankshaft pulley. From the guides/instructions I've read, I understand there are 2 types of crankshaft hub assemblies (1 and 2 piece). My understanding is for the 1 piece, you just hammer the pulley off, but for the 2 piece, you have to undo the 22mm bolt in the center of the pulley.

How do I tell if I have a 1 piece or 2 piece hub?
Here are some pictures of mine:







How do I remove my pulley?

I've read somewhere online that people have done the timing belt without removing the pulley but I can't seem to get the lower timing belt cover off with the pulley on. HELP ME!

[scottinAZ]

the pulley will come off. seems like yours is a bit rusted on. Soak the center bore in wd-40, pb blaster (military grade explosives) and give it a bit of time to work. then GENTLY pry around the edges with a prybar (large screwdriver) and it should just pop off

[hotballs]

You need a harmonic balancer puller tool. Sears sells one for $20. I've used it a couple times on a couple different cars. Works fine. Also removing that crank bolt will make it easier.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947626000P

[adam325i]

It did end up just popping off. Thanks everyone for your help.

I rented a puller tool like the one above, but there wasn't enough clearance between the AC condenser and the pulley to use it. Ended up just using 2 pry bars and wiggling it off.

[scottinAZ]

You need a harmonic balancer puller tool. Sears sells one for $20. I've used it a couple times on a couple different cars. Works fine. Also removing that crank bolt will make it easier.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947626000P

That puller wont help. the part that needs to come off is not threaded. The threads are part of the crank snout and do not come off with the balancer.

[riceh8r]

you don't want to loosen that center bolt...probably cannot anyway. it's only torqued to 200+ ft/lbs. that's how you begin removing the crank ass'y.

[hotballs]

That puller wont help. the part that needs to come off is not threaded. The threads are part of the crank snout and do not come off with the balancer.

Um what? There are threads right there in the picture. All harmonic balancers have those threads you can use against a yolk to pull it off.

you don't want to loosen that center bolt...probably cannot anyway. it's only torqued to 200+ ft/lbs. that's how you begin removing the crank ass'y.

Air tools. The crank isn't going anywhere.

[jlevie]

Um what? There are threads right there in the picture. All harmonic balancers have those threads you can use against a yolk to pull it off.

Yes there are threads in the pictutre, but they are in the crank hub. There are no threads in the harmonic balancer for the puller to mount to. An M20 harmonic balancer is unlike those on domestic engines and can't be pulled with the tool you suggested.

[hotballs]

Wow, you're right the threads are in the crank hub. I have no idea how I did it now that I think about it, but I've used one of those tools to remove a stuck harmonic balancer. Strange, I probably used screws that were too big and made my own threads in the HB. I don't get it, it doesn't make any sense now that I think about it but I really remember using one of those tools. Oh well, shouldn't work.

[adam325i]

Yup, just wiggled it back and forth using 2 pry bars, one from the top, one from the bottom, and broke the rust free.