Crank Pulley Removal Help.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
Crank Pulley Removal Help.
Alright I am down the taking the crank pulley off of my 96 vette to replace the optispark and cannot get it off. I have removed the bolts and cannot get it to move even the slightest bit. I have tried tapping it with my rubber hammer but it is not helping. Does anyone have any tips for getting this thing off?
Thanks in advance for any help,
Neal
Thanks in advance for any help,
Neal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 1,352
Did you take off the bolt in the center ? I know this may sound stupid but you wouldn't be the first person to overlook this. If all the bolts are out spray it with PB Blaster or similar and let it soak. You can then get underneath the car and hit it with a 2x4 and a hammer. You will want to smack it then rotate it and smack it again. You might have to remove the powersteering lines from the rack and pinion to get the 2x4 in there. I used a prybar after letting it soak overnight and pryed it off using the old opti for leverage. It didn't take much 
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake IL
If I remember right (its been a couple of years) that was the same problem I had. I think I had to get in there with a prybar (very carefully) to get it off. Maybe try spraying some WD-40 or something to help loosen it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: He who laughs last didn't get it... Georgia
Try a gear puller--Autozone/Advance. Click on the link below, he has some helpful hints on the removal as well.
http://www.hashmarks.com/techtips/hot_cam.htm
Nevertheless, I tried it and a slide hammer but neither worked so... Plan B.
I marked the hub/balancer, removed the three bolts from the balancer and the hub and the power steering lines. I cleaned the area of all flammables and made sure the area was clear. I used a propane torch ($7 from Autozone) and heated the hub evenly. Then used the gear puller to remove it--came off easily.
MARK THE HUB/BALANCER BEFORE YOU REMOVE IT.
Hope this helps...
http://www.hashmarks.com/techtips/hot_cam.htm
Nevertheless, I tried it and a slide hammer but neither worked so... Plan B.
I marked the hub/balancer, removed the three bolts from the balancer and the hub and the power steering lines. I cleaned the area of all flammables and made sure the area was clear. I used a propane torch ($7 from Autozone) and heated the hub evenly. Then used the gear puller to remove it--came off easily.
MARK THE HUB/BALANCER BEFORE YOU REMOVE IT.
Hope this helps...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
Did you take off the bolt in the center ? I know this may sound stupid but you wouldn't be the first person to overlook this. If all the bolts are out spray it with PB Blaster or similar and let it soak. You can then get underneath the car and hit it with a 2x4 and a hammer. You will want to smack it then rotate it and smack it again. You might have to remove the powersteering lines from the rack and pinion to get the 2x4 in there. I used a prybar after letting it soak overnight and pryed it off using the old opti for leverage. It didn't take much
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Make sure that center bolt is tight!!! Car has to be in neutral
Long breaker bar from under the car, hold it against the balancer.
Have a helper wack the bar 3 - 4 times
Using the center nut, rotate 90 degrees
Place the bar again, have helper wack it 3 - 4 times.
Rotated another 90 degrees
wack, rotate, wack, rotate, etc. eventually it will come off.
It took about 2.5 revolutions before mine came off.
Clean all the rust on the hub and the center of the balancer.
Put some anti-sieze on the hub and center part of the balancer where they go together.
Good luck!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
Alright I was able to get it finally...seems as though my opti was toast as suspected. If I shake it gently you can hear all kinds of goodies rattling around in it, I will open it up once I am done with the install to see how bad it really is.
