On 9/28/03 11:27 PM, in article 3F77B4BC.D1EF2FF@hotmail.com, "w_tom"
<w_tom1@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Crankshaft bolt is normally torqued to something like 70
> foot pounds. Yes, it takes quite a sharp force to break this
> bolt loose. However it can be broken loose if, for example,
> the mechanic gave the shaft a good quick jerk to move valves
> into next position. We don't know why that bolt is loose, but
> we do know that it takes a strong rotation with a torque
> wrench to loosen it AND that mechanics rotate the crankshaft
> by attaching a torque wrench to that bolt. From those facts we
> can only speculate.
>
> redeyedevil wrote:
>> I do not know about the Accord, but on the Civic the bolt is pretty
>> stuck on with a couple (maybe even few) hundred foot-pound, and
>> there's no way turning the engine would loose the bolt.


70? No. Try somewhere in the neighborhood of twice that much. There is no
way it is coming loose by giving it a "quick jerk". Loosening this bolt
normally involves air wrenches or 4 foot long breaker bar extensions and
lots of cursing.

The only scenarios that have been put forth here that would have it loosened
are 1) recently removed by someone for access to the timing belt/water pump,
or 2) some clown left a wrench on it and tried to crank the engine.