removing balancer

[raleighstang65]

I'm installing a new cam and for the life of me I can't get the nut and washer off the end of the crank to get the balancer off. I have a puller for the balancer. I did a search and found some threads with tips for removing the balancer. I tried putting a screwdriver through one of the holes on the balancer so the engine won't turn over but all that did was bust up the timing chain cover.
I have another thread going about swapping valve springs and long story short I'm getting ready to get an air compressor.
Will an impact wrench do the trick or is there something else I can try before I get the compressor?

 

[coolblue65]

Is the car in gear? if it is the engine shouldnt turn, if not put it into gear. You can use a large 18" breaker bar to get it loose, although an impact wrench will work liike a charm.

 

[raleighstang65]

Haven't tried to put it in gear yet, thought I read somewhere that putting it in gear doesn't lock the engine, just the tranny. Willing to try anything though!

 

[Rusty67]

The BEST way to do it is to get an air compressor and an impact. The impact driver will take that bolt out of the engine without a thought.

I know you don't want to spend a ton of money but buy yourself a half way decent compressor. You can get a cheap impact driver and that will do for now but you want a compressor that is capable of puting out good PSI and one that has decent capacity because there is nothing worse then waiting for your compressor to recharge the air in the tank right after the bolt starts to turn.

 

[Big_B]

putting it in gear doesn't lock the engine, just the tranny.

This is correct. What I did to get mine off was to put one of the pulley bolts back in, then wedge a 2x4 between that bolt and the ground, so that the balancer won't turn when forced.


Edit: On second thought, I read coolblue65's response as "put it in park". So I don't know if that works. Guess I need some coffee.

 

[68keyblr]

If you don't have an air compressor just get an electric impact driver...works like a charm. They are cheap at Harbor Freight or A-Z tools and you will use the heck out of it.

 

[Rusty67]

Wrong way to do it:

This is correct. What I did to get mine off was to put one of the pulley bolts back in, then wedge a 2x4 between that bolt and the ground, so that the balancer won't turn when forced.

Right way to do it:

If you don't have an air compressor just get an electric impact driver...works like a charm. They are cheap at Harbor Freight or A-Z tools and you will use the heck out of it.

 

[raleighstang65]

Thanks all! Funny thing is this all started when I was trying to put a new alternator on... broke off one of the water pump bolts when removing the alt bracket so figured I'd go ahead a put that new water pump on thats been sitting in the garage... well another bolt had fused to the pump and cracked the timing cover when I pulled the pump, so what better time than now to go ahead pull the timing cover and put the new cam on thats been sitting next to the water pump! At least I'll have a great story behind my new air compressor when I get it....