so i followed the instructions that are in the garage at miata.net, car in 5th, parking brake on and long breaker bar...the pulley still spins and the bolt does not come loose. am i turning the wrong way? what can i do to get this off. i read in a few threads that some people did a starter bump...im not sure how that is done or how it works but any advice on this would be great.

 

are you turning it COUNTER clockwise? i use a breaker bar and rest it on the right side of the car and go start it

 

After exhausting all other options, I removed the radiator and snuck in a
1/2in. impact gun and a shorty 21mm or 22mm socket and it came right off. It is normal thread, off left/ on right.

Be careful not to smash the a/c condenser with the back of the gun, it's a close fit when the bolt comes off. If your good you can save all the coolant and reuse it, or if it's been a while replace it.

 

FM Crank Shaft Bolt Tool

 

If the crank is turning with it in gear and the parking brake on, then your clutch is probably toast. Either that or your parking brake is misadjusted and you're running alongside the car turning the wrench.

--Ian

 

my cluthc is def toast, i noticed it slips if i run through the gears once, (it warms up) then the second time going into 2nd or 3rd fast will cause rpms to stay high (clutch slip) before engaging again.

i have the radiator off and used a air impact gun and it still wouldn't budge, im going to borrow a crank bolt tool from a friend and try to do it by hand.

 

I have my ghetto tool here with me.
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Buy a better gun, or turn up the regulator (around 110-130psi should loosen just about anything. Seriously, if that won't do it idk what to tell ya?

 

i used lev's "special" tool and got the bolt off and changed everything i had planned.

 

Cool, what is this special tool you speak of? Some sort of jedi crank weapon or the like?

 

Click the link I provided for a special tool that gets the job done.

 

It's easy to make an FM-style tool. I used a length of angle-iron I had lying around, maybe 3/4" or so? Folks have been building those since the earth's crust solidified.

Or, the starter bump. Pull the spark plugs (reduces resistance to turning), and put the breaker bar onto the nut, such that the end of the bar is a few inches above the ground, on the RIGHT SIDE as viewed from the front. Then you just hit the starter.

 

all you really need to do is get a piece of steel or metal that is strong enough and trace out the holes on the crank pulley, i was just near his work so i borrowed his. i should take a pic of lev's tool its so ghetto looking lol.

 

Thanks, I did my belt a couple months ago when I had the head off so i'll be good for a while (hopefully), but i'll keep that in mind.