How to Keep a Motor Pulley From Spinning
To keep a motor pulley from spinning while you remove the pulley bolt, a special crank pulley tool is used. Crank pulley tools are wrenches that feature a hollow extension that fits into a cutout on the crank pulley. Holding the wrench keeps the motor pulley from spinning while you use a conventional socket wrench to remove the bolt.
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Instructions
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Obtain a crank pulley tool. These tools can be purchased at most automotive parts dealers, as well as automobile manufacturer service departments. Ensure that the tool you purchase is made specifically for the manufacturer of your vehicle, as different manufacturers use different cutout patterns on the crank pulley. For example, Honda crank pulleys feature a hex cutout, while Subaru crank pulleys feature opposed circular cutouts.
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Leave the serpentine belt installed in the pulley system. This applies tension to the crank pulley and helps keep it from spinning. Once you break the crank pulley bolt loose, you will then be able to remove the belt.
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Assemble the socket wrench with a socket and extension that fits through the middle of the crank pulley tool. Insert the pulley tool into the cutout on the crank pulley so that you can easily grip the tool handle. Insert the socket extension through the center of the pulley tool.
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Hold the pulley tool handle firmly while you loosen the crank pulley bolt with the socket wrench. Crank pulley bolts tend to be very tight, so it helps to use a socket wrench with a long handle to increase your leverage. Once the pulley bolt breaks loose, you can remove the pulley tool and fully unthread the bolt.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not allow the crank pulley to spin in the opposite direction that the motor spins when under normal operation. For example, if the crank pulley and other motor pulleys rotate clockwise when the engine is running, ensure that the pulleys do not spin counterclockwise when you remove the pulley bolt. Spinning the crank pulley in the opposite direction that the engine runs can damage to delicate parts, such as the cylinder valves.
