Loosen Crank Bolt / Starter

[Franktea]

I have read on posts on other forums that people have loosen the crank bolt with a bar on the crank bolt and cranking the motor over with the starter. Anyone try this? Does it work?

Thanks,
Frank

[geargrinder]

"worked for a guy or two once" and "not a stupid" are 2 separate things.

Highly inadvisable. And i'm surprised it works, given how hard that bolt is to loosen. Just buy the eBay knockoff version of the crank holder tool and get a huge ass breaker bar from harbor freight.

[capebmw]

I would love to be standing 10ft away when someone tries this ingenious method..........it would be hilarious. Grinder has given you sage advice, I think the CORRECT tool is about $20, well worth the money and much safer. But, like many shade tree's on here, let us know how it goes when you ignore his direction.

[Kershaw]

I accidentally did this on an m20 once after adjusting the valves. Left the wrench on the crank bolt after turning it over by hand a few times, my friend turned on the car and wack! It destroyed the water pump, stopped on the frame rail, and loosened the crank bolt. Great learning experience. That day lasted longer than I expected. I'd never do it again.

[Franktea]

Sounds like it works but not advisable. I have the pin for the flywheel to lock the motor; i'll try that with large breaker bar with pipe.

Thanks,

[philly98540]

That worked for me using a BMW brand pin, but I was lucky. Sometimes they bend. Better to only hold at the front pulley for cracking the bolt free. After cracked, put the pin in to lock tdc.

[dannyzabolotny]

You do NOT want to use the flywheel pin when loosening the crank bolt. Get the proper crank holding tool.

[edjack]

Yes, the flywheel pin is intended for timing only; it will not withstand the torque necessary to loosen the bolt.

[juststeve]

reminds me of the time a HS buddy asked to borrow my harmonic balance puller for his 454 nova.
when I arrived, there were several dents and scraps running across the hood of his old man's buick and a large gash in the garage wall.
my buddy said: I got it most of the way off with a regular puller, then started the engine thinking it would just fall off.

turned out to be the outer ring of the balancer he was pulling off.. it flew out of the engine compartment, landed on the buick and just kept going.

[mooll]

breaker bar with jack handle on it, op.

[Franktea]

Interesting i have read that there is less force at the flywheel. Seems others feel this is not true. I'll look into tool to hold harmonic balancer pulley.

Thanks again!

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Too bad these posts don't have the like button as FaceBook does!

[geargrinder]

There is , purely because of the diameter of the FW. But all above is correct as that doesn't compensate for the tremendous force needed vs the teensy pin. I saw a sheared pin just a couple months ago.

[Franktea]

Anyone have a work around other than me buying another tool? Or place online i can get pulley holder cheap?

[JimLev]

You don't want to hold the harmonic balancer, you need to remove it and hold the flange.
Some have used a long piece of angle iron bolted to the flange with the other end resting on the ground or a block, depends on how long the angle iron is.

[Franktea]

I have read this worked for others who have BMW's; not the 540.
"Put your car in 5th gear, have someone hold the brakes, get a 1/2" drive breaker bar with ~5ft cheater bar and start pulling. If your clutch slips before the bolt loosens, then give the cheater bar quick and forceful pulls. This method hasnt failed me yet"

[JimLev]

I've seen a few 1/2" breaker bars snap at the joint.
I use a 3/4" breaker bar with my floor jack handle on it.

[Franktea]

I'll try the 1/2, if it snaps oh well.

Question - If i am able to break the bolt free with out Pin in flywheel how does one the get the engine to TDC without re-tightening bolt?

[philly98540]

Just resnug it and turn the engine to tdc compression stroke on cyl #1. Insert pin. Remove bolt.

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You'll likely break that 1/2" bar.

[Franktea]

I'll try this tomorrow; should be fun! hopefully nothing will go flying!

[mooll]

Just resnug it and turn the engine to tdc compression stroke on cyl #1. Insert pin. Remove bolt.

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You'll likely break that 1/2" bar.

shouldn't even with jack handle over it....

[philly98540]

shouldn't even with jack handle over it....

Why not? Joint at end of breaker bar is not saved by the jack pipe. All depends on how tight is bolt is, and how good that 1/2" breaker is. That bolt is pretty tight.

[geargrinder]

Anyone have a work around other than me buying another tool? Or place online i can get pulley holder cheap?

Seriously bro? Try reading the actual replies you get. they can be surprisingly helpful sometimes.

Just buy the eBay knockoff version of the crank holder tool and get a huge ass breaker bar from harbor freight.

It's not actually a bank-breaking undertaking TBH.

I have read this worked for others who have BMW's; not the 540.
"Put your car in 5th gear, have someone hold the brakes, get a 1/2" drive breaker bar with ~5ft cheater bar and start pulling. If your clutch slips before the bolt loosens, then give the cheater bar quick and forceful pulls. This method hasnt failed me yet"

As other guys are saying. The V8 bolt is seriously tight. "duh, I found this post about a Honda 4 cylinder so bet that'll work here" is seriously barking up the wrong tree.

It's a torque angle spec but final torque is up in the 300ftlbs range IIRC. And an original bolt with some corrosion around the head is gonna prob require well over the 'tighten a clean new bolt' spec to get it off. Which is why a 1/2" breaker bar is a joke. Guys have broken cheap 3/4" breaker bars trying to do this, let alone a 1/2".

I'll try this tomorrow; should be fun! hopefully nothing will go flying!

Best of luck w/ that.

Do you have all the cam lock / timing tools already, or are you going to improvise on those too?

[Franktea]

Geargrinder not Honda see link below, do some research before you criticize; are you not open to other possible options?
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ELP&styleid=51

Thanks for the positive feedback.

[dannyzabolotny]

Just buy the proper tool, it's not expensive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-M60-M62-...38.m2548.l4275

You can always sell it after your chain guide job is done.

[jp5Touring]

$39 is cheap buy the tool.