i have been attempting to replace a leaking front cover gasket (86 GXL) for sometime now and i have finally got the damn thing on but when i went to torque down the main locknut i ran into a few problems...

1) i cant torque the stupid thing down cause it keeps spinning

2) the nut stops half way

3) my thermo pellet thing is now stuck in my e-shaft for no reason

4) i took out that little piece of metal (flywheel key?) to wipe locktite off and now it wont go all the way back in and i cant figure out why?

can someone please help me my car has been out of commission for 3 months+ and i have been stuck busing and driving a stupid automatic bmw 525I with no radio

 

anyone? please i miss my car sooo much at least an idea for how to stop the engine from spinning over while i torque it down?

 

this site should help:

http://fc3spro.com/TECH/PROBLEMS/P1/LEAKS/OIL/fseal.htm

 

Thanks for the effort but i have already read that and its putting it back together that is the issue i used the starter trick to get it off now what do i do to get it back on?

 

May sound silly,but is the engine IN the car?.If so,get someone to step on the brakes,while you tighten it up.
If not and the engine is On the ground,and the flywheel is in plain view,Put a Piece of Chain on one of the Pressure plate bolts and put the other end of the chain to a Bolt on the rear housing.That will stop the Engine from spinning and allow you to put the bolt on the front.

 

Thanks yes the engine is still in the car get someone to step on the brakes with it in gear?

 

You are supposed to have the clutch pressed to the floor (wedged with a piece of wood or something) when removing the front cover. It sounds like you dropped the bearing, aka you just gave yourself a ton of extra work.
This is probably what happened (pics from mazdatrix)



The spacer is now smashing the bearing, and you cannot tighten the bolt all the way.
Check here for the full answers
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/pulley.htm

 

clutch has been pushed down with a piece of wood for most of the time only coming up to put the car in gear to try and tighten the bolt back down still a chance that i dropped it?

 

I got it back together!!!! checked for end play had some didn't pinch the bearing everything else back on car starts one problem though when the car runs its rough as hell it vibrates so much at idle i am afraid its gonna crack my trim is this just a poorly adjusted CAS or vacuum leak (one of my vacuum hoses is done cause i let one of my Honda buddies touch my car ) something more severe? Thanks