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My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!

Old 06-25-2008, 03:12 PM
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Angry My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... ****!

Well... so much for my 258k mile $200 motor. I came home from work for lunch and heard a strange noise from under the hood when I started it up to go back. I looked everywhere and then noticed that the rubber seal under the water pump where the 2 halves of the timing belt cover come together was sticking out a little. I poked at it and just happened to brush the crankshaft pulley AND IT ******* MOVED!

I know it's been there for awhile and I even did a few all out runs through the gears on the EBC when I came home... no problems detected so the motor is still solid except for this.

****, I'm a little pissed right now but not entirely un-surprised. It lasted 4k miles of screaming abuse. I'm pretty sure it came out of a '92 so I don't think it's a shortnose. I've gotta go back to work but will pull the **** apart and report back with pics later this evening.

I'm hoping this thing is just a loose bolt or is worthy of the Loctite fix. You will know as soon as I do.
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Old 06-25-2008, 03:20 PM
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Sam, it moved with the touch of your hand? Mine has a possible slight wobble but i can only see it if its running. Mine doesn't move with my hand. Subscribed for the pictures.
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Old 06-25-2008, 03:40 PM
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MY engine developed a wobbly pulley. The section that the a/c and p/s belt rode on was completely off-kilter. I had to install one off my spare motor and problem solved.
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Old 06-25-2008, 05:40 PM
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Default Pics!!!

Entire assembly wobbles about 1/4". It's not just the accessory pulley... it's both.
Wish me luck in getting it off cleanly
Attached Thumbnails My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01538-medium-.jpg   My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01539-medium-.jpg  
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Old 06-25-2008, 05:42 PM
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It's probably the pulley sam, though if left unchecked could screw up the front of the block. i've been seeing a lot of bad pulleys lately.
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Old 06-25-2008, 05:50 PM
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Default Hahahahahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!

So relieved right now I'm gonna get crunk!
So, when looking down at the pulley from the top, I couldn't tell that 2 bolts were missing as the rim of the pulley was blocking them from view. The two bolts now on the left were positioned on the bottom and looked to be fine. When I rotated the crank a little I could then see that the other two bolts were missing, and both of the others still there are on their last threads.

Hopefully no damage at all to the crank-nose.

I've got 2 spare bolts from my original motor sitting on the workbench.

Be back in a few minutes with a report.

BTW, Sony DSC-T200 with uber-macro-focus FTW!
Attached Thumbnails My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01542-medium-.jpg  
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Old 06-25-2008, 05:53 PM
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Mmm pulley wobble, I wonder.. I noticed a slight wobble to my pulley at idle about 10 min ago. Very very slight. Seemed to go away when I put a little throttle on. Is this the same thing?
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Old 06-25-2008, 06:23 PM
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mine was so bad it made horrid noises, no idea what caused it, but it was bad. swapping the pulley fixed it.
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Old 06-25-2008, 06:37 PM
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OK, pulley off no problem. I discovered what may have caused this. If you torque things properly, this shouldn't happen... but I need best advice on how to get this thing out. There's precious little room down there as I've got an RB sway and the swaybar reinforcer piece.

It's soaking in BPBlaster now and I'm gonna hit it with some Liquid Wrench in a couple hours for good measure. I can take my time with this, so game on for suggestions.

I was thinking easy-out, but no idea how I'm going to pre-drill the hole down there. In the end, I may end up with just 3 bolts holding the pulley on.
Attached Thumbnails My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01544-medium-.jpg  
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Old 06-25-2008, 06:51 PM
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if you've got the time, just jack the car up, take the plastic tray off, then the 4 bolts for the sway bar, and it'll pivot outta the way for more room.

have you tried tapping it around with a bunch and hammer? good luck
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Old 06-25-2008, 07:05 PM
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Cold chisel and a hammer? Looks like enough sticking out to bite on with a good set of needlenose vise grips, Clamp them down with some big pliers, not by hand so they are tight.
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Old 06-25-2008, 07:19 PM
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same thing happened to mine. do you have a spare? just unbolt the crank bolt and pull the plate off....
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Old 06-25-2008, 07:28 PM
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Looks like you have room for an die grinder... grind a slot in the "exposed" portion of the bolt and back it out with a screwdriver? Maybe?
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Old 06-25-2008, 07:29 PM
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Dremel a slot, then use a big screwdriver with a square or hex shank and a wrench.
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Old 06-25-2008, 07:55 PM
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All great idea, you gize are the kewlest!

I'm gonna let it sit another couple hours bathing in penetrant... huh... huh... penetrant. In the meantime I'll pull the swaybar for more room (since I've got the time) and cut a slot in it maybe get a screwdriver in there.

Like Brain said, I can always just pull it off... might be the easiest thing, but look what I just bought>

I just bought myself a 90* drill-driver from Sears... $37 maybe it'll *** in handy... get it... ***+handy=HAHAHAHAHA!
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Old 06-25-2008, 08:00 PM
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I'd rather use a good stubby screwdriver to at least get it started turning. The electric driver will probably be harder to keep in the cut-in slot than a hand screwdriver will, especially if it doesn't have the continuously vari trigger.
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Old 06-25-2008, 09:33 PM
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When you sleep tonight, you will deam of my greatness

ViceGrips, stubby flat-blade, and Gods' own Miracle Juice. I think I love Liquid Wrench so much I'm going to put it on a salad with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

PS: My Chiltons has diappeared... what's the torque on those bolts?
Attached Thumbnails My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01545-medium-.jpg  
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Old 06-25-2008, 10:01 PM
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Nice! lucky im glad yours was only missing bolts.
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Old 06-25-2008, 10:05 PM
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Yup, I am the greatest. I think this puts me up there with some of the smartest men ever to live... L. DaVinchi, A. Einstein, C. Bell... a job well done deserves a cold one. Here's to us really smart and extremely attractive types.

I'm sorry to those of you who PM'd me. I asked he wife and she says I can't father any more children for my online buddies. Get back to me in a week though, I'm gonna work on her some more.
Attached Thumbnails My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01547-medium-.jpg   My crankshaft pulley is wobbly... FUCK!-dsc01548-medium-.jpg  
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Old 06-25-2008, 10:18 PM
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Glad the engine is ok Sammy. BTW, the engine is from a '93.

Jim
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