HARMONIC BOLT IS NO JOKE
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Racer
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From: Houston, TX
HARMONIC BOLT IS NO JOKE
Man you folks were not kidding about that harmonic balancer bolt that turkey is ON THERE. You all warned me, you sent me pics of dead breaker bars but i would not listen. I come from a long line of hard heads and I knew in my heart that it was coming out. I WAS WRONG. I sprayed it taped it cussed at it, tried a 1/2" 500 ftlbs Impact (It laughed at me) I sprayed it again. let it sit over night went out and bought a 600 Lbs Composite Impact and It still will not come off. Im going to pick-up a 4ft Cheater bar to see what's what.
Supercharged
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From: Back in Michigan - Full time!
FYI... use leverage. I used a 1/2" breaker bar with a 4' pipe. Total length was about 5' (almost touching the hood). I pushed and pushed and pushed, then it went. I'm sure I was close the limits of the breaker bar, so a 3/4" bar might be more practical - just make sure you can get a pipe on that big thing.
Deer Slayer
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I used a 6 foot long 3/4 inch pipe. Convinced me the TB had never been done before at 103,000 miles. 
Knowing everything's copacetic up front is buttery goodness though. No substitute for peace of mind.
Knowing everything's copacetic up front is buttery goodness though. No substitute for peace of mind.
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I bought this 3/4 in. socket set from HF. Others might get a way with 1/2 in. tools on this bolt, but you won't, nor will you on the rear axle nut if and when you do that. Go to Home Depot and get a 1 in. pipe (or whatever fits over the ratchet) that is 4-6 feet long.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=5494
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=5494
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From: Up Nort
Are we talking about the crank bolt? The 200 & some odd ft/lbs bolt? 3' 3/4 breaker bar worked fine for me when I did my last timing belt. Then again, this was less than a year after it was off last.
You are trying to turn it counter clock-wise, right?
Remember: Righty Tighty - Lefty Loosie.
You are trying to turn it counter clock-wise, right?
Remember: Righty Tighty - Lefty Loosie.
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From: The Great Northwest
With time, and sore muscles, most come around. 
[QUOTE=piccardo]Man you folks were not kidding about that harmonic balancer bolt that turkey is ON THERE. You all warned me, you sent me pics of dead breaker bars but i would not listen. I come from a long line of hard heads and I knew in my heart that it was coming out. I WAS WRONG. I sprayed it taped it cussed at it, tried a 1/2" 500 ftlbs Impact (It laughed at me) I sprayed it again. let it sit over night went out and bought a 600 Lbs Composite Impact and It still will not come off. Im going to pick-up a 4ft Cheater bar to see what's what.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=piccardo]Man you folks were not kidding about that harmonic balancer bolt that turkey is ON THERE. You all warned me, you sent me pics of dead breaker bars but i would not listen. I come from a long line of hard heads and I knew in my heart that it was coming out. I WAS WRONG. I sprayed it taped it cussed at it, tried a 1/2" 500 ftlbs Impact (It laughed at me) I sprayed it again. let it sit over night went out and bought a 600 Lbs Composite Impact and It still will not come off. Im going to pick-up a 4ft Cheater bar to see what's what.[/QUOTE]
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Similar to the crank bolt on a 944 engine - I got two 2'-0" lengths of 2" dia. black pipe and a coupler from Home Depot for about 10 bucks. That (assembled to full 4'-0" length) turning a Craftsman 1/2" drive breaker bar has never let me down. It conveniently breaks down to the two 2'-0" lengths to fit in a toolbox too. . .
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From: The Great Northwest
Now you're talking. I broke my 1/2" breaker recently trying to loosen the crank bolt.
I have some old comforters that I fold up multiple times and put on the fender so if something happens the fender is protected.
I have some old comforters that I fold up multiple times and put on the fender so if something happens the fender is protected.
Originally Posted by piccardo
yea well im not screwin around any more. Im going to swithch to a 3/4 breaker
with a 4' 1.69 thick wall black pipe. Either the bolt will come out or the car will turn over.
with a 4' 1.69 thick wall black pipe. Either the bolt will come out or the car will turn over.
Thread Starter
Racer
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From: Houston, TX
HARMONIC BOLT
Im doing the timing belt. This car had the timing belt changed six years ago. But only has had 4500 or so miles in that span. I decide that it was a risk to not change it. Im doing the TB the water pump belts hoses and a tune-up while im at it.
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From: Buckeye, AZ
Originally Posted by piccardo
yea well im not screwin around any more. Im going to swithch to a 3/4 breaker
with a 4' 1.69 thick wall black pipe. Either the bolt will come out or the car will turn over.
with a 4' 1.69 thick wall black pipe. Either the bolt will come out or the car will turn over.
Should work. Do it with the car on the ground so there is less chance you will flip it.
You could try letting gravity do the work for you by jacking the car up, getting the breaker on and wedged against the ground and letting the car down on it, but I found there is not enough room for the breaker to swing before it hits the side rails. This idea works better with the rear axle nut.
Make sure the flywheel lock is as tightly seated as possible and have at it. I remember one car that was pretty tough like this, but it finally gave up with a LONG breaker bar.
Fleet of Foot
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From: We are there!(San Diego)
I'm in the same boat... 
Even went out and bought an I/R impact that SUPPOSEDLY has 1000 lb/ft of torque in reverse... didn't even budge. I have never had this problem with any previous 928, the impact has always done the job. Looks like the flywheel lock/breaker bar method is next up for me too. 
Even went out and bought an I/R impact that SUPPOSEDLY has 1000 lb/ft of torque in reverse... didn't even budge. I have never had this problem with any previous 928, the impact has always done the job. Looks like the flywheel lock/breaker bar method is next up for me too.
Burning Brakes
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From: Suburban St. Louis in Illinois.
Hell....the axle shaft nut was WAY, WAY, tighter...and harder to loosen than the crank /harmonic balancer nut. 3/4" drive with a 1 & 1/16" socket, and about a 30" bar and it came loose easily...Maybe I was lucky...Dunno. But I CAN say definitively...the axle shaft nut is a booger. 336#/ft. and they MEANT IT...NOT looking forward to that one again. Good luck Piccardo. It WILL come loose. just keep after it. 