M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: PeabnutBubber on January 03, 2012, 11:36:23 PM

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: PeabnutBubber on January 03, 2012, 11:36:23 PM

Hey there, I just bought a low-mileage M42 and I need to get to the timing case. Has anyone loosened the crank bolt without the engine being in the car?

I was wondering if anyone has done this before I start getting clever in the backyard.

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: d.hitchcock on January 04, 2012, 08:18:40 AM

I've seen pictures of Robert-Peerless doing it on an engine stand. He has a jack handle on the crank-holding tool and another jack handle on the breaker bar.

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: DesktopDave on January 04, 2012, 08:51:56 AM

Maybe ask a BMW service department if you can borrow some tools?  They've been somewhat nice to me in the past, and I don't even get my car serviced there.  The crank locking pin and crank bolt-on thingey make this a lot easier, of course.

I've loosened them on other motors before with a big pair of vice-grip pliers on the crank pulley wedged against something firm (like the ground).  The vice-grip will hold on even as it twists, and will damage the crank pulley flanges.  It's a spare pulley, right?  You can bend or bang them back into shape if required though.

I remain unsure of why BMW figured it should be on that tight.  Sounds like a band-aid for a very choppy motor to me.

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: atdm3 on January 05, 2012, 01:17:02 PM

Here is the thread d. hitchcock is referring to:


http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101385

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: MikeDE on January 10, 2012, 01:34:23 PM

Is it on a stand or is the FW on, or installable ATM??

If the FW's on or can be quickly bolted on, do so then bring the motor to TDC.  There is a hole in the block where you can insert a drill bit(5/8, 15mm, IIRC) into a hole in the FW.  This is how I broke mine loose the second time(the first was with my impact at the junkyard).  It is normal thread BTW, righty-tighty lefty-loosy.

Title: Loosening Crank Bolt
Post by: nickmpower on January 11, 2012, 02:14:22 AM

once I had to wedge a block of wood between the crank and block (oil pan was off) while my dad stood on the motor which was laying down on the ground while I used a 5ft cheater pipe. That fucker was so tight. Impact wrench wouldnt touch it.