Difficulty removing timing gear from crank!
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: dallas TX
Difficulty removing timing gear from crank!
When I pulled my harmonic balancer, I broke 2 cheap rental pullers, and 1 cheap purchased puller. Finally I bought a 65 dollar tool that did the job from Jegs. Now that I am trying to remove the lower timing gear and have been using a 3 jaw puller with no noticible results... Is there some trick to getting these to remove easier? Heating it up for example to get it to expand? Has anyone else out there had a difficult removal, and how did they handle it?
[Modified by kfede1, 2:20 AM 11/9/2003]
[Modified by kfede1, 2:20 AM 11/9/2003]
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Joined: Dec 1999
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Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (kfede1)
3 jaw puller works just fine, every time. If the jaws open and jump off the gear try using a strap around it to keep the jaws in place. And please use a bolt in the crank to protect it, don''t put the pointy bolt of the puller in the crank snout.
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (kfede1)
kf -
A few people here on the Forum disagree with my method of removing the gear, but here's a trick I've been using for 30 years with 100% success:
First, stuff a rag into the exposed part of the oil pan so you don't get any debris into the pan. Then rotate the crank so the keyway in the crank gear points up at a 45-degree angle. Now, simply take a sharp chissle and a big hammer and whack the crank gear in the tooth "valley" that's right at the keyway (the weakest part of the gear). After a few hard smacks with the hammer and chissel, the gear will crack right into the keyway. You can then simply slip it right off the crank - no problem. This will not damage the crank in any way, and it's a lot safer than using a torch and much easier than using a puller. If you can't get a good "stroke" on the hammer it will take quite a few blows to crack the gear, but it will crack. The last one I did was on my '85 C4 when I changed the timing chain: there is no space at all in the front of the C4 engine to get a good blow with the hammer, so I had to hit it at least 20 times before the gear cracked. It then simply slid off the crank - no problem.
A few people here on the Forum disagree with my method of removing the gear, but here's a trick I've been using for 30 years with 100% success:
First, stuff a rag into the exposed part of the oil pan so you don't get any debris into the pan. Then rotate the crank so the keyway in the crank gear points up at a 45-degree angle. Now, simply take a sharp chissle and a big hammer and whack the crank gear in the tooth "valley" that's right at the keyway (the weakest part of the gear). After a few hard smacks with the hammer and chissel, the gear will crack right into the keyway. You can then simply slip it right off the crank - no problem. This will not damage the crank in any way, and it's a lot safer than using a torch and much easier than using a puller. If you can't get a good "stroke" on the hammer it will take quite a few blows to crack the gear, but it will crack. The last one I did was on my '85 C4 when I changed the timing chain: there is no space at all in the front of the C4 engine to get a good blow with the hammer, so I had to hit it at least 20 times before the gear cracked. It then simply slid off the crank - no problem.
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From: Zionsville, PA NRA Life Member
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (lars)
kf -
A few people here on the Forum disagree with my method of removing the gear, but here's a trick I've been using for 30 years with 100% success:
...........After a few hard smacks with the hammer and chissel, the gear will crack right into the keyway.....
A few people here on the Forum disagree with my method of removing the gear, but here's a trick I've been using for 30 years with 100% success:
...........After a few hard smacks with the hammer and chissel, the gear will crack right into the keyway.....
I realize you know what you're doing and are very experienced but..........I'm a machinist and that explaination made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. :eek:
KF, if you are going to use this method, wear safety glasses. Both the gear and the chisel are hardened and pieces my fly.
:seeya Jeff
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From: dallas TX
Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (Twin_Turbo)
Thanks guys, I will try a strap around the 3 jaw puller first and see if that helps.
[Modified by kfede1, 7:54 PM 11/9/2003]
[Modified by kfede1, 7:54 PM 11/9/2003]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: dallas TX
Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (kfede1)
Tryed using a 3 jaw puller to remove the gear with strap to hold jaws in place. THe 3 Jaw puller snapped off a jaw... THis is getting frustrating. I think this ls-6 crate motor was superglued at the factory? I have broken 3 damper pullers and now my 3-jaw on this beast. I may try using a diamond blade to partially cut the gear similar to Lars method, and then a few light hits with a chisel?? I don't know.... I am new to Chevy motors, having spent my youth as a Ford fan, and am having some learning curve issues here.
[Modified by kfede1, 5:34 PM 11/9/2003]
[Modified by kfede1, 5:34 PM 11/9/2003]
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 238
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From: dallas TX
Re: Difficulty removing timing gear from crank! (kfede1)
Thanks everyone! I got a new gear puller from sears. had a jaw locking mechanism that kept jaws from popping loose, but it was expensive... ANyway, it got the #@$@ gear off.
