Almost every car enthusiast who likes to repair his car with his own hands has encountered the problem of removing the crankshaft pulley. At first glance, such a procedure seems not difficult, but at the first attempts to unscrew the bolt from the pulley, you suddenly encounter a number of problems. It immediately becomes completely incomprehensible how to stop and fix the crankshaft so that it does not spin. The second problem is how to get to the bolt that secures the pulley to the crankshaft.
During the removal process, due to strong tightening, there is a high probability of damaging the paintwork of the body and a large number of parts in the engine compartment of the car.
The whole problem is that the crankshaft pulley bolt (or possibly the nut, depending on which model) is very tightly twisted during installation. This is done so that it does not accidentally unwind. Since there is a possibility of serious damage to the car and expensive repairs. On top of that, when the motor is running, the bolt gradually tightens even more, and is also aggravated by coking, corrosion and sticking.
Some models of motors use a bolt to secure the pulley, while others use a nut. Consider these 2 options.
How to unscrew the crankshaft pulley nut?
crankshaft pulley
The nut at the end of the crankshaft is a feature of the motor of a classic rear-wheel drive car assembly. As a rule, these are cars of the Niva type, VAZ (models 2101-2107) and the like. Another such nut is called a "ratchet".
It is best to unscrew the nut using a viewing hole. It is necessary to put the gearbox in 4th gear to fix the crankshaft, and apply the parking brake. D To work, you will need tools such as:
- lever extension, which has the form of a pipe segment,
- ring or socket wrench 36 or 38.
While in the pit, you need to try to unscrew the nut with a wrench with a long lever. But if it still doesn't work, then it is necessary to put the gearbox in neutral and do the following:
- Remove candlesticks.
- Remove alternator belt.
- Being under the car, install the key and the extension so that the end rests on the side member or on the floor in the direction of rotation of the shaft.
- Turn the key in the ignition lock, which will give a short pulse.
In most cases, the nut breaks off on the first or second attempt, and is then unscrewed with a regular wrench.
How to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt?
Most often, a bolt is present on motors in a front-wheel drive car, when the block is located perpendicular to the axis of the car. In this case, it will take more time to remove the bolt, as it is more difficult to get close to it. For work you will need:
- a set of automotive tools;
- socket head (it should be the size of a bolt with a lever and an extension cord);
- "tragus" (stump).
Do-it-yourself crankshaft pulley bolt removal
In order to properly remove the bolt, you need to do the following:
- With the help of a jack, raise the right front part of the car and install it on the "tragus".
- Remove wheel.
- From the side of the hood, remove from above all the parts that would prevent access: the engine mudguard and the air filter.
- Remove alternator belt.
- In order to fix the crankshaft, open the plug on the clutch block and insert a pry bar into the hole formed. This is necessary to jam the flywheel teeth.
- Under the wheel arch, put on the pulley bolt the head with the lever and the extension.
- The bolt must be unscrewed counterclockwise.
Most often, the bolt can be removed. But if it does not unscrew, then you can try to add the length of the lever. If suddenly this does not help, then it is better to use the help of a starter. This must be done as described for removing the pulley nut in classic motors.
On the video: Tightening and loosening the crankshaft pulley bolt
In case of damage, it is not difficult. However, if such a malfunction occurs on the road, the car will not be able to move on its own. Even minor damage to the drive disk and the displacement of the pulley will cause problems in the engine control system. Also, if the pulley is damaged, the alternator belt may become unusable. That is why it is better to prevent a malfunction.
Purpose, design and types of crankshaft pulleys
The crankshaft pulley performs two main functions: it drives the alternator pulley through the belt and is partly responsible for the controller receiving information about the position of the crankshaft and its speed. The latter task is solved in conjunction with a crankshaft position sensor located opposite the pulley drive disk.
In Kalina, two types of crankshaft pulleys are used - all-metal and with a rubber insert. The latter plays the role of a damper, damping vibrations in the rotation of the crankshaft and helping to reduce noise during engine operation. For this reason, some manuals refer to the crankshaft pulley as a damper. In addition, the presence of the sleeve prevents more serious damage when the drive jams. At the same time, an all-metal cast iron pulley is considered more reliable. In addition to the material, there are no differences in design.
How to prevent damage to the crankshaft pulley
On Kalina cars of the early years of production, the destruction of the rubber bushing of the crankshaft pulley was quite common. In the future, the design of this part was finalized, so now it usually serves without failure for a long time. However, in the event of jamming of the drive or alternator belt, as well as excessive tightening of the latter, the sleeve may still collapse. Damper pulleys do not tolerate a strong temperature difference very well.
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To prevent frequent failure of the crankshaft pulley, timely diagnosis is first of all important. It is enough to check its condition when replacing the timing belt and alternator belt. If beating cracks and delaminations are detected, as well as traces of damage to the teeth of the driving disk, it is better to replace the pulley in advance.
In order for the new alternator pulley to last as long as possible, you should responsibly replace the alternator drive belt, adjusting its tension if necessary. In this case, it is also desirable to check how freely the generator pulley rotates.
The best way to prevent unexpected failure of the crankshaft pulley is to check its condition in a timely manner and replace it (if necessary). If you want your new crankshaft pulley to last as long as possible, pay special attention to the drive belt tension and check for binding when rotating the alternator pulley.
Why are special technological holes made in pulleys? In auto repair shops, there is a special device for fixing the shaft, which must be bolted to the pulley and lock the shaft.
If there is no special device for fixing the shaft, which is screwed to the pulley, then you need to put good recoil devices under the wheels of the car and put 4th gear on the gearbox.
Or, the third option is to rest the mount against the teeth of the flywheel and fix the crankshaft from turning while unscrewing the pulley nut.
Another option is to insert a pin into the pulley hole, and install a mount on the pin and the second stop, as in this figure. 
How to unscrew the crankshaft pulley
Depending on the design of the crankshaft, the pulley is attached to it either with a nut or a bolt. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, the pulley is generally held in place with a nut. 
The engines of some rear-wheel drive vehicles can be started with a special handle, for which special protrusions are made to engage the handle. This handle is also called a "crooked key", and the engagement for this key is called a ratchet.
The pulley fastening nut is set to a 36 or 38 mm turnkey size. Use a socket wrench. The key is reinforced by welding a long handle or a tube is put on to increase the "shoulder".
How to unscrew the pulley nut:
- Put the car on a pit or overpass.
- Raise the hand brake.
- Turn on 4 speed at the checkpoint, put stops under the wheels.
- Do not tap hard on the edges of the nut.
- Throw on the socket wrench, lengthen it with a pipe and rip off the stuck nut.
If the pulley nut does not loosen:
- Move the gear knob to neutral.
- Remove the spark plug wires from the spark plugs so that the engine does not start.
- Put a socket wrench on the nut and lengthen it with a pipe. Throw the wrench in such a way that the pipe rests against the ground or the machine side member on the right side to prevent the pulley from turning clockwise.
- We make a couple of short sharp turns of the ignition key to turn on the starter. The starter will start to rotate the flywheel, the crankshaft flywheel, and the pulley is fixed with a key. In this case, the usually stuck nut quickly “departs”.
The crankshaft pulley of front-wheel drive vehicles is mainly bolted. To remove the crankshaft pulley of a front-wheel drive car, you must proceed in this order:
- Raise the front right side of the car with a jack. Place a tragus, stump or a pair of wheels with disks.
- Remove wheel.
- Dismantle and remove the air filter with housing.
- Remove protective cover.
- Loosen the belt tensioner and remove the alternator belt.
- To fix the crankshaft, it is necessary to remove the plug in the clutch housing, then insert a pry bar into the hole and rest it between the teeth of the flywheel.
- Now you need to put on the socket wrench, lengthen it with a pipe and sharply try to turn it counterclockwise. The main one is to break the sticky pulley bolt.
If it is not possible to break the bolt from its place, then we use the method of unscrewing the starter. This method is shown above.
Useful advice from locksmiths who have seen a lot: use thinner or WD-40, or a similar rust preventative. After spraying on the thread (if the pulley is fastened with a nut), you have to wait 15 minutes, then try to unscrew it. If it is a bolt, then it is not easy to apply this agent to the thread, although it is sprayed around the bolt, it is possible that the liquid will pass through the micro-slits and decoke the connection.
Removing the pulley
Unscrewing the fastening bolt or nut is only half the battle. Next, you need to pull the pulley from the shaft. So the pulley will not simply be removed by hand, if its seat is not gouged. In addition, the pulley fits tightly on the shaft, then it is still fixed from turning with a key.
There are special pullers for removing the pulley from the shaft. There are mechanical and hydraulic pullers.
The design of the mechanical puller is simple. Usually it has three paws, with which it is necessary to hook the pulley itself, and rest the central rod against the shaft. After that, it is necessary to rotate the rod, the legs will straighten and pull the pulley towards themselves. 
There are even easier pullers that you can do yourself. 
If there is no removable device for the pulley, then pry bars can be used. If one person removes, then in turn, pushing back a little on each side so that there is no skew. If there are two, then simultaneously from different sides with a sharp movement the pulley is pressed from the crankshaft.
It also happens that when using a puller, the walls of the pulley grooves do not withstand and break off. Therefore, when using pry bars, they should be hooked as close to the shaft as possible.
Installing the pulley on the crankshaft
In order to install the pulley back on the ICE crankshaft, you need to check the seats. If there are burrs, scuffs, remove them with an emery stone. If the old pulley easily fits on the shaft, then such a pulley is not suitable. It should sit tight, sit down with a certain effort. Before installing the pulley, to reduce friction, it is necessary to lubricate with oil or lithol.
Video
In this video, useful tips on how to unscrew the nut securing the pulley to the crankshaft of an automobile motor.
Option for unscrewing the crankshaft pulley bolt with a V-ribbed belt.
How to remove the crankshaft pulley on the VAZ (2108, 2109, 21099, 2110, 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2115).
How to remove the crankshaft pulley bolt. Bolted connection.
How to tighten the crankshaft pulley very quickly.
Removes the crankshaft pulley on a Honda car (Honda) without a special key.
The crankshaft pulley is an important part of the engine, the failure of which leads to the impossibility of operating the entire vehicle as a whole. Like all elements, the crankshaft pulley is designed to perform certain functions and tasks, the list of which is presented below:
- decrease in the amplitude of the resonating crankshaft;
- noise reduction from a running motor;
- rotation of the mechanisms of a running engine;
- transmission of pulses about the number of revolutions of the crankshaft to the on-board computer.
The operation of the internal combustion engine and the entire car as a whole becomes impossible without a properly functioning crankshaft pulley. Due to the large functionality and scope of work performed, this part, like no other, is subject to wear. As a result, replacing the crankshaft pulley becomes a logical step for a responsible motorist.
Reasons why you may need to replace the crankshaft pulley
During long-term operation of the vehicle, the replacement of the crankshaft pulley may be required in the following cases:
- oil leak in the front crankshaft oil seal;
- the appearance of a strong resonance;
- the appearance of damper play;
- mechanical damage to the damper seat;
- when removing the crankshaft.
Crankshaft pulley replacement cost
Book a free engine diagnostic
All identified problems must be eliminated in the appropriate conditions:
The result that a timely replacement of the crankshaft pulley can lead to is very deplorable - it can be a delamination of the attachment belt, and the penetration of the strings of a damaged belt under the timing belt, which in turn can cause the valves to bend. All this leads to complex, expensive repairs, a waste of personal time and nerves.
The operating period of the crankshaft pulley and signs of its malfunction
When it is time for scheduled maintenance, the serviceability of the accessory belt should be checked. Scheduled maintenance for many vehicles is scheduled for every 60 thousand kilometers, during which it is advised to dismantle the crankshaft damper pulley. It should also be noted the basic signs of its malfunction:
- delamination of damping rubber;
- displacement of the outer race of the pulley to the polymer motor cover;
- visible traces of overheating;
- excessive wear or mechanical defects on the accessory belt.
The VAZ "ten" has long gained a reputation as a people's car, which is used for various purposes. Basically, the owners of these models are people with an average income and many of the work is done on their own in order to save money. For example, it is quite possible to replace the VAZ 2110 crankshaft pulley with your own hands, saving on the services of craftsmen.
The replacement process itself is quite simple and learning how to do it yourself is very important. Having mastered it, you will be able to get an idea not only about the operation of this system, but if necessary, you will be able to replace and adjust valves and other components of this mechanism.
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Purpose of the crankshaft pulley
The crankshaft pulley on the VAZ 2110 serves the following purposes:
- Reducing the amplitude of the crankshaft oscillation, during resonance. In particular, for this, some craftsmen install a lightweight version of the crankshaft.
- Reducing noise from the operation of the power unit.
- The rotation of mechanisms that are directly involved in the operation of the motor. This happens with the help of gears and a belt.
- The damper, in turn, addresses pulses corresponding to the number of revolutions of the crankshaft to the computer.
Possible malfunctions
The crankshaft pulley is removed in the following cases:
Dismantling and replacement
Work on the removal and replacement of the crankshaft pulley on a VAZ 2110 car is best done on a flyover. The presence of a partner is also desirable, because it will be difficult to cope with some work alone.
