m20 Timing belt Crankshaft Gear Removal

[downforce22]

I noticed some broken teeth on the timing belt driven gear that turns the crankshaft. I managed to find one in the junkyard but have no clue how to remove it. Any ideas on how to take it off? I have heard it is torqued between 120-300 ft lbs, but I don't know if it is reverse threaded or not. Any ideas?

Thanks, here is what mine looks like and why it needs to be replaced:

[Cabriolet]

its torqued to 500ft-lb
we made a tool to break it loose.

[Jafxod]

its torqued to 500ft-lb
we made a tool to break it loose.

holy mother fuck

[downforce22]

Looks cool cabriolet, but how do you keep the crank from spinning? I've heard a screw driver is not strong enough to hold it.

[dnguyen1963]

Looks cool cabriolet, but how do you keep the crank from spinning? I've heard a screw driver is not strong enough to hold it.

Have you not noted the bed frame he used to hold the shaft?

[BrownBeanE30]

lol damn thats crazy
'

[acolella76]

Looks cool cabriolet, but how do you keep the crank from spinning? I've heard a screw driver is not strong enough to hold it.

Well unless your screwdriver can break something free that was torqued to 308 ft/lbs, no. A screw driver is in fact not strong enough to hold it.

Relevant thread: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101385

[paperplane94]

Well unless your screwdriver can break something free that was torqued to 308 ft/lbs, no. A screw driver is in fact not strong enough to hold it.

Relevant thread: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101385

The pic in that thread always cracks me up for some reason, ill be lauging until I have to do it myself...:razz:

[acolella76]

So does that timing gear just slide right off? I have seen some people need to use pullers to get the damn things off.

[digger]

So does that timing gear just slide right off? I have seen some people need to use pullers to get the damn things off.

remove the bolt and thick washer and screw the bolt partially back into the crank nose. Then get some decent thick plate drill holes the same spacing of the drilled and tapped holes on the gear and get some long bolts and screw them into the gear with the plate resting on the end of the bolt and use the bolts to pull it off. clear as mud?

[downforce22]

Well I sprayed liquid wrench on it for a few days and knocked it with hammer a couple times before spraying it and letting it soak over night. The electric impact did the job. For future reference the bolt is not reverse threaded and I didn't need a puller to get the old one off. Here is the old one, sheared all the way around. The PO had to see it because there were no metal shavings in the tray under the gear.

[Exodus_2pt0]

How the hell???

[acolella76]

Just tackled this this weekend.

Here is my OE-ish crank holder.


Also didn't need a puller to get that front gear off either... just got a prybar and it came off with ease

[BimrFett]

Here's hoping you are right!!!!:coolphoto:

[BimrFett]

But seriously. I can't thank you enough!!!!!!