Using a harmonic balancer removal tool is essential for removing a crankshaft pulley without damaging the balancer. Never use a jaw type puller. Lubricant and tapping the removal tool with a hammer can help. Proper tool alignment is crucial to avoid damaging the crankshaft.
To properly perform crankshaft pulley removal without damaging the crankshaft pulley or harmonic balancer as it is more commonly called, it is best to obtain a harmonic balancer removal tool. This tool can also be critical, depending on the style of the tool, when installing the balancer. Attempting to complete pulley removal without the aid of a specialized removal tool will almost always result in a damaged balancer requiring replacement. The crankshaft should also be protected during the removal process by installing the harmonic balancer bolt back into the muzzle of the crankshaft and placing the puller on that bolt instead of the muzzle of the crankshaft. This is best accomplished by removing the washer that is on the crankshaft bolt before reinstalling the bolt on the crankshaft.
The best tip in crankshaft pulley removal is to absolutely never, under any circumstances, use a jaw type puller to remove a crankshaft pulley. There are various types and styles of removal tools on the market. Some of these tools can be used to install the harmonic balancer without damaging the soft rubber ring on the balancer. Using a jaw type puller will typically result in the rubber tie ring, used between the two pieces of the cast iron harmonic balancer, being ripped or ripped when pulling on the outer edge of the pulley. A crankshaft pulley removal tool does not apply pressure to the outside of the pulley; it bolts to the center of the pulley and applies all the pulling force to the center of the assembly, thus eliminating pressure on the rubber ring.
Often a light injection of an aerosol type of silicone lubricant sprayed directly into the front of the muzzle of the crankshaft and pulley will help free the pulley. For a stubborn crankshaft pulley removal tip, once initial pressure is applied to the pulley with the removal tool, a few taps on the center of the removal tool with a hammer will usually break the pulley. Crankshaft pulley removal is usually a straightforward exercise as long as the proper tools are used from the start. One of the most frequent problems with crankshaft pulley removal comes from not having the puller tool straight and square on the crankshaft muzzle bolt. Any attempt to remove the crankshaft pulley while the puller is twisted will usually result in a difficult to remove pulley and could even result in a damaged crankshaft.
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