Front seal

[btustison]

Hey guys, I need to replace my front main seal. What is teh safest way to remove the crank pulley ie. without breaking the water pump or the pulley. The puller I used to get the harmonic balancer off is too big to get on there, do I need to pick up a smaller puller or can I just carefully pry it off? Maybe heat it up with torch?

Just need some advice, I know someone has this figured out.Thanks a lotBrian

[c-rad]

Hey guys, I need to replace my front main seal. What is teh safest way to remove the crank pulley ie. without breaking the water pump or the pulley. The puller I used to get the harmonic balancer off is too big to get on there, do I need to pick up a smaller puller or can I just carefully pry it off? Maybe heat it up with torch?

Just need some advice, I know someone has this figured out.Thanks a lotBrian

I'm confused, you are trying to replace the front main seal as in the one contained in the oil pump/front cover? Are you talking about removing the crank sprocket? If so, I have no suggestion for you. I had to have the machine shop get it off.... they had to break it into the 3 pieces with a chisel.

[sideways danny]

sturdy screwdrivers and prybars is all i can suggest unless you want to remove the oil pump, in which case you can get some more leverage behind that

[btustison]

I'm confused, you are trying to replace the front main seal as in the one contained in the oil pump/front cover? Are you talking about removing the crank sprocket? If so, I have no suggestion for you. I had to have the machine shop get it off.... they had to break it into the 3 pieces with a chisel.

Yeah I meant sprocket, I am an airhead. Looks like this will be interesting.

[jt15833]

for pulley - use a puller with big teeth on the back so you don't chip your aged pulley

as for the sprocket (timing belt rides on), they may work but i've tried them and they are very annoying, frustrating and have a better chance of damaging your crank and oil pump, any damage in that area could cause leaking even with a brand new front main. when i removed mine I tried a bunch of different methods which included welding, prying, drilling, tapping, heating etc. the cleanest, safest, and probably easiest method is to drill two 5/16 inch size holes on each side of the sprocket. use a carbide bit and some motor oil as cutting oil to keep it lubricated, only have to drill in half way. tap the hole accordingly, use two right sized bolts and a slide hammer.

this is a slide hammer. when you screw the two bolts in, make it so the heads are on the opposite side of the farthest peice on the right. when you pound the hammer back, itll pull the bolts. if you do it one of the other shady tree mechanic methods like prying or chiseling above, your retarded. drilling is easy, tapping is easy, slide hammers are cheap/rentable. save yourself the headaches. you can buy the right size drill/tap combo at homedepot for like $6, given thats not a carbide bit, you can still try it. i have been through this and removing the crank sprocket is defintly one of the single most difficult things to do, just do it right the first time dont d!ck around. i may seem like im upset this is because this thread has brought back memories of me trying to get it off and it sucks, please slide hammer! please!

[float_6969]

I'm soooo glad mine practically fell off. Also use some PB Blaster. It's the best stuff EVAR!

[redamnavit]

Float is the lone soul who was able to get the sprocket off without any drama. I drilled two opposing holes and whacked it with a cold chisel until it broke off.

[NeedCAforS13]

mine came off just like Ryan's. But I have used the drill and chisel method on another motor in my garage.

Sean

[Akihisa]

I used alot of heat and two big chisels on mine.