Tim Mullen wrote:
> Thanks for the suggestions so far, any one got any more??
Since I've not seen it posted already, I'll offer a way that has always
worked for me (from Fiats through Pontiacs), in the expectation that
someone will tell me why it's a very foolish thing to do.
Use the starter motor to get it off. Use a breaker bar with the
appropriate-sized socket, connect the socket to the bolt (nut), support
the breaker bar so that the natural rotation of the engine will unscrew
it. Hit the starter and (in every case so far, at least) off it comes.
Our local import car specialist here swears by the method and uses it
exclusively. I generally drape a heavy cloth over the bar just in case
things want to start flying around, but it's never been needed.
I suppose that there may be some engines in which this would tend to
tighten the bolt, which would seem to be against good engineering sense.
(And just for the record) Another technique, which sounds inapplicable in
this case, is to use a cold chisel (a favorite technique of Fiat
mechanics around here in the days when there were Fiat mechanics around
here). There wasn't room on 850's for air tools with the engine in situ.
The bolts were good for a couple of removals, then had to be replaced.
Best of luck!
Lou Smogor (who managed to make the installation of a new fuel pump on a
'72 Pontiac LeMans into a 7-hour job)
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