Cannot remove Crankshaft Vibration Damper/Pulley - Please Help !!!

[Ian B]

Hi Guys,

Need some of your knowledge/help please !

I'm replacing the Cambelt and Waterpump on my 06 plate 1.9 cdti following the HowTo and all was going well until I came to removing the lower Crankshaft Vibration/Damper Pulley. I've removed the four hex bolts but the pulley won't budge.

I've tried Plusgas, tapping (gently-ish) with a hammer, levering against sump woith a block of wood but it's having none of it.

Has anyone else encountered this problem and managed to work round it ?

Maybe I need a special tool/puller but been searching the forum and haven't had any luck with finding a solution.

Any help appreciated as I'd hate to have to put it all back together and sucumb to paying a garage

Oh, also does anyone know if the GM cambelt kits have a shelf life - I bought one off ebay (genuine GM kit) and the belt has a sticker on the box with a clock on the top half and underneath it there is an arrow pointing to the right with 09/14. I'm guessing this is an expiry date but wondered if it means it has to be sold / fitted before 2014 or if it is old stock and the belt is only good until 2014 (i.e I would only have 2years use from it safely) ?

Cheers in advance,

Ian.

[lee gsi]

Had to use one of these on a few I have done: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-VS7...item3a72e5f454

[Ian B]

Cheers for that, I had thought of trying a blowtorch on the centre part of the pulley but was worried about burning the rubber part. Can't believe how much of pain this bit is - makes tha actual cambelt change look a doddle in comparison !

One thing, do you think this could damage the pulley though as it looks like it may put stress on the rubber bit in the middle of the pulley ?

May be my only solution though !!!

[lee gsi]

It 'shouldnt' and I have not had a problem yet (Touch wood)

[Ian B]

Woooo-hooooo , just got it off

I think your link to that £50 tool made me a little more determined this time ! I put a metal plate across the back/sump side of the block, used a breaker bar prising against this and the pulley and kept hammering the edge whilst someone turned the crank slowly. Took some stick but gave in in the end and dropped off...

Only thing now - would anyone recommend putting a new pulley on whilst it's all in bits as I've heard these are prone to failing when the rubber breaks down. Just wondering especially after the extra grief I've just subjected it too.

[alcutler]

Should be ok as long as you haven't damaged it getting it off - check it very carefully for signs of damage and if ok I would replace the original making sure it was cleaned ie rust removed and coat the back of it with copper grease. If it should later need replacing it will come off easy enough. They are expensive to buy.

[Ian B]

Thanks guys for your guidance, I have run into another issue now with the timing - basically looks like whoever had it apart last may have set the timing out by one notch on the crank, either that or my sealey timing tool is not correct but I doubt that but I'll start a new thread as the title of this one will be a little misleading.