Why does the e-shaft front pulley bolt needs to be torqued soooo damn tight (180-200 ft-lbs), with sealant (meaning loctite that seems more like epoxy, haha), and then this plate, too?

Does the rotary have some terrible habit of this front bolt coming loose, or was Mazda just trying to prevent the un-informed from potential thrust-bearing damage?

PS - I found that Mazda calls this a "Plate, Crankshaft Pulley" with p/n: N3C1-11-408.

 

i'm going through the same thing!.. just yesterday i was trying to get the bolt off and snapped a socket!! weird that this post came up... and no, i don't have that plate

-Kevin

 

I dont have the plate either, but with cast iron sockets and a 8 foot breaker bar, makes it a piece of cake.

 

Be careful...that pulley could cost you your engine.

 

Its on there tight because if it was to come off your engine would quickly turn to trash. Use a 3 foot pipe or Impact and put the car in gear.

 

1. Because harmonic vibrations in the eccentric shaft would quickly loosen the bolt if it weren't torqued and held in place with a locking plate.
2. Because your accessories rely on that pulley. If it stops turning, so would your alternator and water pump, among other things.

 

I don't know why it needs to be that tight. It isn't that tight on a TII, I've removed several and I have never heard of them coming loose.

I don't think it is an accident that Mazda changed the spec though, so I'd stick with the high torque.

 

The Racing Beat catalog claims that a tighter front pulley bolt helps keep the E shaft from twisting and bending during high and high torque operation. Check it out if you have time!

 

I think it gets tighter after the heat cycles it goes thru in the engines entire life. my 2 cents anyways