Lower Timing Belt cover & Crank Pulley?

[dosh8er]

Is it possible to get that friggin' lower timing belt cover off WITHOUT taking off the crankshaft pulley? I'm changing my timing belt finally.

I'm stuck here! That stupid thing won't come off!!!

[dosh8er]

well, this was a great help.. guess I won't be going into work on monday after all.

[doug]

well, thing is I've never seen or heard of anyone who has been able to do a timing belt without taking off the pulley from the crankshaft. at least not a stock set up. So the pulley is gonna have to come off at some point. and taking the lower cover off is pretty much necessary, too unless you happen to be an exceptional magician. So, make life and the job as easy as possible and just take the pulley off.

[AZmike]

I just replaced my timing belt a few days ago and yes you definitely need to take off the pulley. the cover goes all the way around the crankshaft end so there no way to get around it. to break that bolt loose i ended up putting it in 5th, having someone else stomp on the brakes and using a 16in breaker bar and pushing on it with my leg. it's still not working yet since i had to go out of town before i could get it reassembled.

[jteuton]

cover is impossible to get off.....too thick to cut. Get a big long ass breaker bar and use 1/2in socket at least 3/4 if you have it. you'll need about 2 to 3 feet of leverage. I left my cover off cause my car is setup for racing so i wouldn't recommend it driving everyday in the rain like that. I have no wipers so i don't have to worry about it. But without the cover i think its highly possibly to change in 30 minutes without messing with the crank

[DBMaster]

Yeah, it is interesting that the timing belt cover has a rubber gasket going all the way around it. I guess to keep out dirt and water. I changed the timing belt on a 93 Escort we used to have and the cover on that one was basically a dust cover, no gasket.

It takes way longer to get all the accessory drive belts, the crank pulley and the cover off than it does to actually change the timing belt. I am just glad it doesn't need to be changed that often. I have changed mine twice in the 13 years I have had the car.

[88WhiteLX-i]

yeah my dad just changed his crankshaft pulley and belt on his 93 escort. The crankshaft pulley has a piece of rubber sandwiched between two pieces of metal. It's such a stupid idea, probably to reduce harmonics?? But the ford dealership said that they stop producing the part after 10 years, so he had to go to the junk yard and get one. Pain in the ass to say the least..

[YK86]

Use a chain strap wrench (made by the company that makes vise-grips), wrap it around the crank pulley, and use that to keep the pulley from spinning while you break loose the bolt with a long breaker bar. You could also jam a screw driver in the timing hole in the tranny to keep the flywheel from spinning. Whatever seems easier.

[dosh8er]

much thanks... although I was pissed.. Now i feel it was worth all that friggin' work.. I even took off some uneeded parts, the a/c compressor belt.. (if it doesn't work take it off!)

Man, the exhaust job was MUCH easier than that stupid timing belt. (Glad my old man was around to assist me in tugging and holding the screwdriver.)

Yeah... Now i've got an OEM exhaust system, sounds great IMO. But then again, I DON'T really like all that loud $hit.. c'mon, it's my daily driver.

My car feels new again.

3G Pride, the way it should be.