Mudhiker

My timing belt desperately needs replacing. I have the FSM and the Haynes, and both are rather vague on how to do this. How, after getting it all aligned at TDC, do I get the darn thing off without it all turning? Haynes says to put it in 2nd and hold down the brake, which I did with a pair of vice grips, but I still get movement. If that darn lower dust cover wasn't there I think I could do the job without removing the pulley... Or does this have something to do with me taking the spark plugs out? If I leave them in will the compression hold things still?

But had to button things up before sundown. She still runs. Got an errant vacuum hose that I can't find a home for. Snapped a bolt on the new water pump but it still has 4 at least.

pulsar86

Do as the manual says with plugs in, in high gear and chock wheels to prevent car moving. Use a socket on a breaker bar and give the end of the bar a sharp hit to loosen the pulley bolt or nut as the case may be. You can loosen the pulley off and then align the marks the pulley is on a keyway so will still turn to align. pull plugs to align easily. Do final tighten with a sharp hit on breaker bar as well.

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Aussie 1986 PULSAR 23 years one owner, still going strong!

Mudhiker

Argh. Impact driver and penetrating oil and it still won't come off. Gotta find my dad's breaker bar.

__________________
"I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men."
"We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing."

Mudhiker

Got it off. We ended up bracing a gigantic breaker bar against the ground and tapping the ignition on a couple times until it broke. Once it was loose changing the timing belt was a cakewalk.

__________________
"I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men."
"We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing."