Crankshaft Bolt

[swooper]

I originally posted in the on one of the other forums on this site, but the M20 forum is probably a better place.

A mechanic friend of mine is helping me change the timing belt, but he mostly works on domestics. He managed to get the crankshaft bolt off of my 1989 325i about a week ago using by putting a breaker bar on the bolt and turning the ignition. He thought he needed to take it off to get the timing belt off.

Now I need to torque it back up to 300 foot pounds. Does anyone in Northern Virginia have a crankshaft holding tool that I can borrow.

If not, does anyone have any advice on how I can keep the crankshaft from moving when I toque the bolt? I've heard someone suggest putting a prybar in the flywheel. Will that work? Will it cause any damage? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Finally, the crankshaft seal doesn't seem to be leaking. Should I change it anyway since I have the bolt off?

Thanks

[shadowracer]

If you are already in there I would change the seal, you won't want to have a new belt in there and shortly after you have completed the job need to go back in because you now have a leak.

As for the bolt you can try a few things: you can try to wedge a piece of wood in the flywheel (1x2 2x4) it will give and not damage any teeth on the flywheel. You can also try if that doesn't work get a tie-down strap or old piece of seat belt and slowly wrap it around the fly-wheel until it's snug, now as you put pressure on the bolt it will get tighter and you should be able to torque the bolt properly.

...hope this helps, and good luck!

[bmwpower]

Oops. No need to remove the crankshaft bolt on the M20. The belt should slip right in.

You need the special tool. $47.70 from Pelican.

[mops]

This is how I normally deal with crankshaft bolts (not only BMW, tested on many vehicles so far, all manual transmissions).

Put your transmission in the top gear (i believe for auto tranny oput on park, but i'm unsure whether the auto tranny locking mechanizm will hold 300ft/lbs).
Apply hand brake. have somebofu push the brake pedal as hard as they can.

turn slowly, there might be some slack and car will try to move, but as long as the brakes are full on, it wont go anywhere...

[bmwpower]

This is how I normally deal with crankshaft bolts (not only BMW, tested on many vehicles so far, all manual transmissions).

Put your transmission in the top gear (i believe for auto tranny oput on park, but i'm unsure whether the auto tranny locking mechanizm will hold 300ft/lbs).
Apply hand brake. have somebofu push the brake pedal as hard as they can.

turn slowly, there might be some slack and car will try to move, but as long as the brakes are full on, it wont go anywhere...

I'd rather just buy the tool for $50. Much safer if you ask me.