strap wrench
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: milwaukee wi
strap wrench
has anyone used the sears strap wrench [the larger one in the new two wrench pack] to rotate the balancer on a BB?? like when doing valve lash adjustment etc is the strap long enough to circle the balancer?? any thoughts would b welcome.
Pro
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 735
Likes: 174
From: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Re: strap wrench (64BB)
I would not use a strap wrench for that service. Most balancers are two piece, the outer ring is attached to the center with a rubber flange arrangement (difficult to explain). I would be afraid of twisting the outer ring on the center, it may throw off the timing marks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Grove AL
Re: strap wrench (GreaseMonkey)
I have one of those wrenches with the same thought in mind. It will probably fit over the pulley, but not the balancer. As an alternative, I have moved my engine by using a pipe wrench on the fan flange where it bolts to the water pump. GREAT CAUTION must be excercised to avoid maring the fan flange. Note: The engine will back up with less effort than normal rotation. Removing all the spark plugs will make a significant difference. Another alternative, which is really a pain if you don't have a lift, is moving the flywheel with a large screwdriver or pry bar.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 1,098
From: Aggieland TX
Re: strap wrench (64BB)
Some of this was discussed in earlier thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=217955
Maybe JohnZ will weigh in on this one again. I have mentioned to a guy who helps me with my car about the outer portion of the balancer slipping and he just gave me a funny look and disbelief. He's wrenched a lot of cars. What's the real "skinny" on this happening?
Thanks!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=217955
Maybe JohnZ will weigh in on this one again. I have mentioned to a guy who helps me with my car about the outer portion of the balancer slipping and he just gave me a funny look and disbelief. He's wrenched a lot of cars. What's the real "skinny" on this happening?
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: strap wrench (DZVette)
I've found the strap wrench to be very convenient to use on the damper, but ONLY if the plugs are removed - you don't want to over-stress the bond of the rubber isolator between the hub and outer ring. You can avoid this by removing the belt(s) from the crank pulley and using it on the O.D. of the pulley - it grips very nicely on the pulley. When an engine is on a build stand, I either use a special socket that has a round I.D. with a slot in it that matches the keys on the crank snout if the damper isn't installed yet, or an adapter that bolts to the pulley holes in the damper hub that accepts a 1/2"-drive ratchet.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,808
Likes: 28
From: CA central coast
Re: strap wrench (62fuelie)
62Fuelie, try http://www.summitracing.com they sell sockets and nuts for this purpose (SUM-G1063 and SUM-901064, respectively)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: milwaukee wi
Re: strap wrench (waynec)
thanks to one and all for the advice. the problem i have is that when i try to turn the engine counterclockwise, while using a socket on the bolt that holds the balancer to the crankshaft, the bolt loosens. i can only rotate the engine clockwise. i thought a strap wrench on the balancer or pully might help.
SINCE I HAVE A BOLT ON BALANCER, WHAT CAN I USE TO TURN THE ENGINE COUNTERCLOCKWISE [PLUGS REMOVED]??
SINCE I HAVE A BOLT ON BALANCER, WHAT CAN I USE TO TURN THE ENGINE COUNTERCLOCKWISE [PLUGS REMOVED]??
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: strap wrench (64BB)
If you don't have the adapter I mentioned or a strap wrench, you can just thread a couple of bolts into the pulley holes in the damper hub and use a bar across the bolts to turn it.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
Re: strap wrench (DZVette)
I would be awfully careful here. I had my balancer seperate at 55 mph on my 66 sb. Its not a one piece disk but two with rubber between the outer ring and the center disk. In my case the aged rubber seperated and the metal ring did hula hoops around the base of the balancer marring the timing cover slightly and making one heck of a racket. I thought I had thrown a rod. I would suspect twisting the balancer by the ring to turn the crank shaft will put more stress than the rubber laminate can take and pull it away from the metal peices its attached to..