How to get main pulley nut off (already tried the normal method)
 

Ok, so now I am trying to get the main pulley nut off. I already got the pulleys off, but I am having problems with the 19mm nut on the e-shaft. How tightly is this thing put on? I had the flywheel stopper bar on and was trying to get the nut off using my socket wrench and a breaker bar when suddenly I hear a pop and it moves. When I went to move it some more, I discover that it actually broke my damn socket wrench. Apparently, I had to apply so much torque that it actually stripped the socket wrench out. This was a husky socket wrench, too, not some cheap-ass one.
So now what do I do? My wrenchs wont fit on it because its somewhat recessed, and I don't want to get another socket wrench just for it to braek again. Any suggestions?

well you're gonna need another socket regardless, whether its heavier duty or not. try heating up the seat of the bolt with a propane torch before trying to break it loose with the bar this time.

I don't have a propane torch, unfortunately. Maybe a neighbor has one. As for not wanting to break another socket wrench, I was wondering if there was another tool that could be used in place of a socket wrench.

yeah... its calle dbreaker bar

Oh dude... The best method:

Put the 19mm socket over the E-shaft bolt with a long'ish breaker-bar attached. Rest the breaker-bar over on the battery side of the engine bay, make sure it's kind of wedged in place, resting against the frame-rail/whatever. Hook up your battery.

Get into your car, put the key in the ignition and give the starter *one* split-second crank. The starter will break the E-shaft bolt loose immediately. This works every-time with no negative effects. :)

Good luck.

Oh, ok. Duh. I didn't get much sleep last night, baby's killing me. Looks like its another trip to sears for me....

you can find impact sockets at sears, they are more durable than regular chrome sockets.

the starter method doesn't always work, i have had the nuts cinch down quite tight over time. be lucky these aren't FD front pulley bolts, those bastards get TIGHT!

I just went to sears and got a 1/2 inch breaker bar and a 3/8 adapter so I can use the 19mm socket I already have. It sheared off the head of the adapter. So now I'm going to go BACK and get a 1/2 inch 19mm socket. Grrrr

I destroyed 2 sets of Craftsman tools trying to get an e-shaft bolt... Broke 3 "breaker bars"... lol

Best bet is to torch it and hit it with an impact (3/4 drive preferably)... ;)

1/2 will break... Don't buy it trust me... Save yourself the trouble and buy a small propane torch... :p:

i use 1/2" drive on all the large bolts except the flywheel nut. *shrug*

but the key word i used earlier is "torch".

Yea that's true... The 1/2's I broke were before I actually put the torch to it... But then I hit it with the 3/4 truck impact anyways... :D

I sheared off the impact one. Guess its time to go get a torch..... I needed one anyway to redo my grounds.
Edit: How exactly do you do that, just heat it up for a little while and take it off?

you gotta heat it up for a while... I used a 600ft/lb gun and it still didnt take it off without using the torch.

Get it red... Then throw the impact to it...

I used 1000ft/lb gun with a 1500 gallon dual-compressor setup and it wouldn't come off without a torch... Didn't shear anything off that time though... lol

Propane torch or mapp gas torch. Helps to break down the locktite. Heat it up for a few good minutes then put a socket and driver on it and give it a good whack with a heavy hammer or use a breaker bar.

Ok, I got a propane torch and a 1/2 inch breaker with 19mm socket. Do you heat it up then immediately take it off, or let ot cool a bit?

Immediately... While it's still red!

I got if off!! I kept it on there for 2 or 3 minutes and it never got red, so I just tried it. It came off without too much problems. Thanks for all the help.

What'd we tell ya??? You'd have to leave it on there for a pretty long time for it to get red... longer than I'd like.

i actually had to weld my flywheel to a metal table and get a 5 foot breaker bar to get that thing off. wasnt planning on reusing the flywheel so i said wtf.

^^^ :rlaugh:

^^^ thats hardcore, now this is just me but i'd think that if your getting the nut that hot that it would be hot enough to ignite something.

Well, I made sure that I had wiped down the area first. I also didn't get it red hot, I just left it on there for 2 or 3 minutes. It worked though. Came of with relative ease.