Harmonic Balancer removal

[AlanS]

I've started the teardown on the Tornado engine to replace the oil pump drive gear. Looking for help in getting the Crankshaft pulley bolt broke free. What's a good way to keep the engine from turning.
Thanks.

[AlanS]

After thinking about it some, I made a brace out of a scrap piece of lumber. Used a hole saw to cut out the center hole and bought 2 1/2? bolts to bolt it to the harmonic balancer. Let the lumber rest against the passenger side fender. Then used a 3/4? drive breaker with a 2 foot cheater bar. Broke free without too much strain. Might work for someone else.

[Kaiserjeeps]

Sounds like you are on your way to a fix. Good idea..

[AlanS]

Thanks. Does anyone know why that gear gets chewed up? The only thing I could come up with is the oil pump gets loose and the gears don't engage properly.

[jeepdan]

Check to see if the distributor rotates freely.
That can put stress on the crank gear if the distributor shaft/bushing hasn't been lubricated enough through the years.

[AlanS]

Will do. I'm getting ready to start putting this back together. I was checking the fit of the oil pump and distributor in the timing cover on the bench. There is some wear in the shaft hole where the distributor mounts. Like a small groove. Nothing major and no burrs, but I was wondering about honing that out smooth?