Hand-turning with Crankshaft Nut

[mferris]

It's been a while - but I have a new '66 w/1725 to work on and am stymied with the nut on the harmonic balancer.

All I want to do is hand-turn the engine while finding TDC/setting timing/etc.

The nut has, what I presume to be, the handcrank adapter welded to it (to fit into the hand crank which I wish I had). This is is keeping my socket from attaching and given the angles, I cannot get to it with a open/closed end wrench. I'd much rather not pull the radiator so I can cut off the extension.

Any ideas on how this has been done before. I'm not sure that the one-way connector on the end of the nut shaft will work with anything given that one of the "wings" seems to be broken - so a big screwdriver won't really work.

Appreciate any help in advance.

-M

 

[65beam]

nut

use a pipe wrench.

 

[mferris]

Now that I removed the generator - I can see that would work. Off to the home depot.....

 

[DanR]

Mike, if you just want to get top dead position. Put it in gear and rock it gently until there. It takes patience but it will work....

 

[mferris]

Well - I've got it up on 4 jack stands - so it's a little hard to do at this point.

Still struggling with the leaking carb I created today, and the lack of any reasonable firing.

Oh well.

-M

 

[oLD lIMEY]

I just set the valves. To turn the motor I used the fan blades by hand

 

[chazza]

I replaced the starting-dog on mine with a high-tensile bolt, onto which I can place a socket to turn the engine.

Try turning the dog backwards with a pipe wrench to get it off; mine was scarily loose

Cheers Charlie

 

[RootesRooter]

I just set the valves. To turn the motor I used the fan blades by hand

I used to do this too on my SV, until I launched a fan blade for the second time at high rpm partially through the bonnet.

 

[Stephen]

I use 1 and 15/16 socket I place on from under the car then 2 long extensions and breaker bar

 

[mferris]

I'm sort of able to use a pipe wrench on the hand crank shaft sticking out of the crank nut.

Sadly the fan belt slips before it will turn the crank and the socket I have won't fit over the hand crank shaft.

I'll get through a valve adjustment but slowly.

 

[chazza]

You could always make a crank handle like I did - let me know if you want to know the sizes,

Cheers Charlie

 

[Stephen]

Put car in second gear and rock it

 

[RootesRooter]

I use 1 and 15/16 socket I place on from under the car then 2 long extensions and breaker bar

Did you mean 1-5/16?

 

[sunbby]

Be sure to check out Jim Ellis' valve adjustment video tech sessions from a previous Invasion. Available on our Invasion website:

http://www.sunbeaminvasion.com/invasion-Video.htm

Some good tips including demonstrating rocking the car in gear to move the crank. However, if you have it on jack stands that won't help. Maybe remove all of the spark plugs to make turning it over easier if needed?

 

[bmohr]

Can you get a dremel or similar tool in there to cut off the dog(s) for the crank? After that you might fit a socket on there.

I also have heard it's not good to turn via the fan blade although if your belt is slipping that's probably not much of an option anyway.

Good Luck,

 

[mferris]

OK. Those Jim Ellis videos helped a lot. I'll take it off the stands and rock it for the adjustment. That seems like the easiest way forward.

-M