Harmonic Balancer:1 , Breaker Bar:0

[ericgoum]

Hello all,

I was at a local junkyard yesterday looking for a 6 pin TPS, Crank sensor and 60-2 tooth harmonic balancer for my megasquirt setup. I found all three on a 1990 e32, however when it came to getting the nut off that holds the harmonic balancer to the crank I had some trouble. So much trouble that I broke a breaker bar trying to get it off (luckily its a craftsman, so I have already taken advantage of my free exchange). Is there something I'm missing here? I plan on leaving work a little early tomorrow to try again, this time with the new breaker bar and some penetrating oil. Will this get the job done? I don't want to have to visit sears again to trade out another broken breaker bar. Thanks for any advice or secrets that I am somehow missing.

Thanks,

Eric

[Danny]

Breaker bar + piece of random exhaust pipe slid over it = TONS of junkyard style leverage.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Breaker bar + piece of random exhaust pipe slid over it = TONS of junkyard style leverage.

This. We swapped out a balancer on a buick 3.8 on the side of the road that had shat itself like this.

[Erick]

Breaker bar + piece of random exhaust pipe slid over it = TONS of junkyard style leverage.

Or your hydro jack handle. I always carry my jack handles to the junkyard for extra leverage.

[Danny]

Or your hydro jack handle. I always carry my jack handles to the junkyard for extra leverage.

That's not as bad ass though ;)

[kronus]

If a breaker bar broke from having too much torque applied to it when trying to get something loose, applying more torque to a new breaker bar won't magically fix the problem.

Use penetrating oil, try WD40, or even apply a torch to it (but not all three!)

[Danny]

If a breaker bar broke from having too much torque applied to it when trying to get something loose, applying more torque to a new breaker bar won't magically fix the problem.

Use penetrating oil, try WD40, or even apply a torch to it (but not all three!)

More torque is always the answer.

[kronus]

More torque is always the answer.

Tell that to the two sheared off bits of bolt stuck in my engine block where the motor mount arm is supposed to go.

[ericgoum]

Yeah, that is how I broke the breaker bar the first time, 4 foot length of exhaust as a lever arm. I highly doubt that I could apply enough force on just a breaker bar to cause it to shear off the head without some added leverage. As I said, all I really have is the penetrating oil, I don't think they would let me on the junkyard with a torch even if I had one.

So there isn't a key-way or anything else that would be stopping me besides it being seized?

Thanks for any further comments.

Eric

[Danny]

tell that to the two sheared off bits of bolt stuck in my engine block where the motor mount arm is supposed to go.

the m30?!?!?

[slammin.e28]

"Don't force.....use a bigger hammer" ~Anonymous

I apply these words of wisdom to everything I do in life.;)

Seriously, if you broke the breaker bar with an extension, try some PB Blaster or something. Let it soak in good and apply again. Give it plenty of time to work then crank away. Other than that, a nice $20 butane torch from Lowes did the trick for me on many a rusted/corroded part. I see no reason you can't bring a torch in, I'd ask first and explain my situation. As long as you don't start an epic brush/tire fire they should be cool with you. It's a yard, shit get stuck on cars that sit around hardcore amounts of time. They should be reasonable.

Just my $.02

[browntown]

If it makes you feel better, I snapped the head of the bolt off when I tried the above.

[Adrian_Visser]

Get a bigger breaker bar. I bought a 4' 3/4" drive one just for doing this. Works great!

[deutschman]

try using a large heavy rubber malit to bang on the end of the braker bar. it has worked for me a few times. there is something about the repeated sharp impact that brakes things loose. wd40 will do wonders as well.

[whodwho]

Are you trying to get these parts for a M20 off of a 90 E32? If you are just trying to get the balancer you don't need to take the large crank bolt off??