my civic and its timing belt
Well I just thought I would tell the world that I actually
did my timing belt myself! This is a big deal for me, since I've never done something like this before, though I would like to say that I am somewhat mechanically inclined. Some interesting things I learnt (and maybe others will want to know?): -The crank pulley bolt was really freakin tight. No, really it was quite ridiculous. I took it to Honda and they broke it for me (free of course!), it took them almost 25 minutes to get that little b5@%ch off. -I busted a water pump bolt whilst installing my new water pump. I was not happy. However, it appears that I realized in time that the bolt just wasn't getting tight, so I stopped trying to tighten it, and reversed. I must be lucky, because the broken portion of the bolt followed the head out of the hole, and I didn't have a mess on my hands. I have no idea how the hell I would have gotten a drill with an easy out in there, without lifting the motor 1/2 way out of the car. Yeesh. - Its a good thing to check over everything while you are underneath the car. I happened to notice that my Alternator pivot bolt was MISSING! I have no idea how the hell that happened, all I can say is "I didn't do it!" i had it in to do the alternator about a year ago. So sometime between then and now, the bolt worked its way out. Talk about SCARY. Anyways, enough of my rant. I'm just elated that I got it done. t |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote
> Well I just thought I would tell the world that I actually > did my timing belt myself! This is a big deal for me, since > I've never done something like this before, though I would > like to say that I am somewhat mechanically inclined. > > Some interesting things I learnt (and maybe others will want > to know?): > > -The crank pulley bolt was really freakin tight. No, really > it was quite ridiculous. I took it to Honda and they broke > it for me (free of course!), Of course? They didn't even lecture you about how you should have it done there? If not, you must have charm! > it took them almost 25 minutes > to get that little b5@%ch off. Wow. They should have called Caroline's Garage (underwritten by Eric, Mike, Curly, Jim, Rex, George et al.). Woulda had it off in five. > -I busted a water pump bolt whilst installing my new water > pump. I was not happy. However, it appears that I realized > in time that the bolt just wasn't getting tight, so I > stopped trying to tighten it, and reversed. I must be lucky, > because the broken portion of the bolt followed the head out > of the hole, and I didn't have a mess on my hands. I have > no idea how the hell I would have gotten a drill with an > easy out in there, without lifting the motor 1/2 way out of > the car. Yeesh. "Whew" indeed. > - Its a good thing to check over everything while you are > underneath the car. I happened to notice that my Alternator > pivot bolt was MISSING! So one bolt was holding it in place?? If so, pretty cool that the one bolt was sufficient. Good update. |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote
> Well I just thought I would tell the world that I actually > did my timing belt myself! This is a big deal for me, since > I've never done something like this before, though I would > like to say that I am somewhat mechanically inclined. > > Some interesting things I learnt (and maybe others will want > to know?): > > -The crank pulley bolt was really freakin tight. No, really > it was quite ridiculous. I took it to Honda and they broke > it for me (free of course!), Of course? They didn't even lecture you about how you should have it done there? If not, you must have charm! > it took them almost 25 minutes > to get that little b5@%ch off. Wow. They should have called Caroline's Garage (underwritten by Eric, Mike, Curly, Jim, Rex, George et al.). Woulda had it off in five. > -I busted a water pump bolt whilst installing my new water > pump. I was not happy. However, it appears that I realized > in time that the bolt just wasn't getting tight, so I > stopped trying to tighten it, and reversed. I must be lucky, > because the broken portion of the bolt followed the head out > of the hole, and I didn't have a mess on my hands. I have > no idea how the hell I would have gotten a drill with an > easy out in there, without lifting the motor 1/2 way out of > the car. Yeesh. "Whew" indeed. > - Its a good thing to check over everything while you are > underneath the car. I happened to notice that my Alternator > pivot bolt was MISSING! So one bolt was holding it in place?? If so, pretty cool that the one bolt was sufficient. Good update. |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
That's right, the only bolt holding the alternator in place
was the tensioner bolt on the bracket attached to the water pump. I guess I am very fortunate that it held. As far as the crank pulley bolt, I took it to a friend's shop first. We went at it with his 650 ft-lb gun and a 7.5 HP compressor with 20 Gal tank. No go. We then proceeded to try using a huge breaker bar (6 ft long), I stood on the brake and put it in 5th. We wound it around until all the slack in the tranny was used up, got to the end of the slack, and just could not budge the bolt. The dealership I use here in Winnipeg is pretty good. They know what I can do and what I can't, and they also realize that I am a poor starving student who can't afford their high shop rates. So they cut me deals like this fairly regularly. later t |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
That's right, the only bolt holding the alternator in place
was the tensioner bolt on the bracket attached to the water pump. I guess I am very fortunate that it held. As far as the crank pulley bolt, I took it to a friend's shop first. We went at it with his 650 ft-lb gun and a 7.5 HP compressor with 20 Gal tank. No go. We then proceeded to try using a huge breaker bar (6 ft long), I stood on the brake and put it in 5th. We wound it around until all the slack in the tranny was used up, got to the end of the slack, and just could not budge the bolt. The dealership I use here in Winnipeg is pretty good. They know what I can do and what I can't, and they also realize that I am a poor starving student who can't afford their high shop rates. So they cut me deals like this fairly regularly. later t |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote
> That's right, the only bolt holding the alternator in place > was the tensioner bolt on the bracket attached to the water > pump. I guess I am very fortunate that it held. > > As far as the crank pulley bolt, I took it to a friend's > shop first. We went at it with his 650 ft-lb gun and a > 7.5 HP compressor with 20 Gal tank. No go. We then > proceeded to try using a huge breaker bar (6 ft long), I > stood on the brake and put it in 5th. We wound it around > until all the slack in the tranny was used up, got to the > end of the slack, and just could not budge the bolt. Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. Your approach is of course one of many, but I'm not sure it's all that reliable. Or it may be, but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. ;-) I don't think I've ever read of a special pulley holder tool (bought retail or made at home, customized to the particular pulley) failing to work. Anyway, you're home free now. Next time should be much easier, no? > The dealership I use here in Winnipeg is pretty good. They > know what I can do and what I can't, and they also realize > that I am a poor starving student who can't afford their > high shop rates. So they cut me deals like this fairly > regularly. I wish some of these Canadian dealerships would move South! :-) |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote
> That's right, the only bolt holding the alternator in place > was the tensioner bolt on the bracket attached to the water > pump. I guess I am very fortunate that it held. > > As far as the crank pulley bolt, I took it to a friend's > shop first. We went at it with his 650 ft-lb gun and a > 7.5 HP compressor with 20 Gal tank. No go. We then > proceeded to try using a huge breaker bar (6 ft long), I > stood on the brake and put it in 5th. We wound it around > until all the slack in the tranny was used up, got to the > end of the slack, and just could not budge the bolt. Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. Your approach is of course one of many, but I'm not sure it's all that reliable. Or it may be, but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. ;-) I don't think I've ever read of a special pulley holder tool (bought retail or made at home, customized to the particular pulley) failing to work. Anyway, you're home free now. Next time should be much easier, no? > The dealership I use here in Winnipeg is pretty good. They > know what I can do and what I can't, and they also realize > that I am a poor starving student who can't afford their > high shop rates. So they cut me deals like this fairly > regularly. I wish some of these Canadian dealerships would move South! :-) |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
Now that you've done it, congrats. Doing the water pump is definitely worth
the time and money spent. Here is a trick I use on all timing belts. I paint marks on the belts and pullies prior to disassembly. I mark them so each pulley has a unique mark, so they can't be placed on the wrong pulley. I then transfer the marks to the new belt, counting each tooth, to be sure it is the correct belt. Then I place the new belt on, lining up all my marks. This helps alot if the car has 4 cams. -- Stephen W. Hansen ASE Certified Auto Technician "disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote in message news:1300090c0317113784bbd719dec0956b@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com... > Well I just thought I would tell the world that I actually > did my timing belt myself! This is a big deal for me, since > I've never done something like this before, though I would > like to say that I am somewhat mechanically inclined. > > Some interesting things I learnt (and maybe others will want > to know?): > > -The crank pulley bolt was really freakin tight. No, really > it was quite ridiculous. I took it to Honda and they broke > it for me (free of course!), it took them almost 25 minutes > to get that little b5@%ch off. > -I busted a water pump bolt whilst installing my new water > pump. I was not happy. However, it appears that I realized > in time that the bolt just wasn't getting tight, so I > stopped trying to tighten it, and reversed. I must be lucky, > because the broken portion of the bolt followed the head out > of the hole, and I didn't have a mess on my hands. I have > no idea how the hell I would have gotten a drill with an > easy out in there, without lifting the motor 1/2 way out of > the car. Yeesh. > - Its a good thing to check over everything while you are > underneath the car. I happened to notice that my Alternator > pivot bolt was MISSING! I have no idea how the hell that > happened, all I can say is "I didn't do it!" i had it in to > do the alternator about a year ago. So sometime between > then and now, the bolt worked its way out. Talk about > SCARY. > > Anyways, enough of my rant. I'm just elated that I got it > done. > > t > |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
Now that you've done it, congrats. Doing the water pump is definitely worth
the time and money spent. Here is a trick I use on all timing belts. I paint marks on the belts and pullies prior to disassembly. I mark them so each pulley has a unique mark, so they can't be placed on the wrong pulley. I then transfer the marks to the new belt, counting each tooth, to be sure it is the correct belt. Then I place the new belt on, lining up all my marks. This helps alot if the car has 4 cams. -- Stephen W. Hansen ASE Certified Auto Technician "disallow" <loewen_t at yahoo.ca @> wrote in message news:1300090c0317113784bbd719dec0956b@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com... > Well I just thought I would tell the world that I actually > did my timing belt myself! This is a big deal for me, since > I've never done something like this before, though I would > like to say that I am somewhat mechanically inclined. > > Some interesting things I learnt (and maybe others will want > to know?): > > -The crank pulley bolt was really freakin tight. No, really > it was quite ridiculous. I took it to Honda and they broke > it for me (free of course!), it took them almost 25 minutes > to get that little b5@%ch off. > -I busted a water pump bolt whilst installing my new water > pump. I was not happy. However, it appears that I realized > in time that the bolt just wasn't getting tight, so I > stopped trying to tighten it, and reversed. I must be lucky, > because the broken portion of the bolt followed the head out > of the hole, and I didn't have a mess on my hands. I have > no idea how the hell I would have gotten a drill with an > easy out in there, without lifting the motor 1/2 way out of > the car. Yeesh. > - Its a good thing to check over everything while you are > underneath the car. I happened to notice that my Alternator > pivot bolt was MISSING! I have no idea how the hell that > happened, all I can say is "I didn't do it!" i had it in to > do the alternator about a year ago. So sometime between > then and now, the bolt worked its way out. Talk about > SCARY. > > Anyways, enough of my rant. I'm just elated that I got it > done. > > t > |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in
> Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. >but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress > Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in
> Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. >but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress > Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
My son and I tried to do the belt on his '94 Acura, and the weenie 230 ft-lb
impact I had didn't even come close. The 18 inch breaker bar was inadequate, too. Now I'm looking at better impact drivers - there is a 500 ft-lb Husky for $100 at Home Depot, but I'd like to see more powerful choices. NAPA had a 1" drive 1400+ ft-lb mama listed in their catalog. Betcha that would do the job, if it didn't rip the engine out of the mounts! I'd love to rent one of those babies for the crank bolt. Imagine - the bolt head is smaller than the drive end. When I first did the belt in our rear wheel drive Volvo, I put the breaker bar on a floor jack and lifted. Nearly had the front wheels off the ground before it started moving. (I'm sure glad they were new engine mounts.) There just isn't any room for that in the Honda. I think you were lucky, Ricky, or not the first person to loosen those bolts. Mike "Ricky Spartacus" <rickyspartan@mailandnews.com,ricspa@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1099906667.WMLXbw3I7hz3dG5VwcVtaQ@bubbanews.. . > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in > >> Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. >>but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress >> Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. > > Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. > I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. > > > > > > > > |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
My son and I tried to do the belt on his '94 Acura, and the weenie 230 ft-lb
impact I had didn't even come close. The 18 inch breaker bar was inadequate, too. Now I'm looking at better impact drivers - there is a 500 ft-lb Husky for $100 at Home Depot, but I'd like to see more powerful choices. NAPA had a 1" drive 1400+ ft-lb mama listed in their catalog. Betcha that would do the job, if it didn't rip the engine out of the mounts! I'd love to rent one of those babies for the crank bolt. Imagine - the bolt head is smaller than the drive end. When I first did the belt in our rear wheel drive Volvo, I put the breaker bar on a floor jack and lifted. Nearly had the front wheels off the ground before it started moving. (I'm sure glad they were new engine mounts.) There just isn't any room for that in the Honda. I think you were lucky, Ricky, or not the first person to loosen those bolts. Mike "Ricky Spartacus" <rickyspartan@mailandnews.com,ricspa@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1099906667.WMLXbw3I7hz3dG5VwcVtaQ@bubbanews.. . > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in > >> Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. >>but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress >> Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. > > Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. > I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. > > > > > > > > |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"Ricky Spartacus" <rickyspartan@mailandnews.com,ricspa@yahoo.com>
wrote > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in > > > Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. > >but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress > > Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. > > Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. > I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. groups.google for the numerous reports and cussing on the subject consistent with my statement above. |
Re: my civic and its timing belt
"Ricky Spartacus" <rickyspartan@mailandnews.com,ricspa@yahoo.com>
wrote > "Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in > > > Hm. All reports here are that the pulley bolts can indeed be hell. > >but those who get it to work show signs of Post Traumatic Stress > > Disorder immediately after the bolt cracks free. > > Every Acura/Honda I've worked on show no difficulties or PSDs. > I never use impact guns, breaker bars, special pulley holders. groups.google for the numerous reports and cussing on the subject consistent with my statement above. |
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