Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tennis ball trick for pulling crank bolt?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-08-2007, 05:29 PM
  #1  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
deadmanTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Midland, NC
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lightbulb Tennis ball trick for pulling crank bolt?

I found a couple threads under a search that said you could put a tennis ball in a cylinder and put the head back on and it would stop the motor from turning? Well I can't get a screwdriver to stay wedged against the flywheel and I don't have a tennis ball, but I do have a golf ball and the old 853 casting are expendable. Do you think this would work just as well; My only concern is the safty of my piston. Tell me what you think.
Old 07-08-2007, 05:35 PM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
vettenuts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Little Rhody
Posts: 8,092
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

Sounds like a very bad idea to me. I would use some soft braided nylon rope to distribute the load evenly across the piston, but then again it would be better to just buy the right tool to hold the flywheel. Using the piston puts the piston at risk in my opinion.
Old 07-08-2007, 05:36 PM
  #3  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
melchoir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I think pulling the heads just for the crank pulley bolt is insane. (personal opinion). Buy a flywheel locking tool or try to get your hands on some air tools, I've personally seen crank pulley bolts get loosened without anything jammed in the "flywheel" of an automatic with a pneumatic impact gun.
Old 07-08-2007, 05:48 PM
  #4  
TECH Resident
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
deadmanTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Midland, NC
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The heads are already off. I don't have any air tools but I'm about to go borrow my brothers electric impact and try that. Probably just go to advance tomorrow and get a locking tool if it doesn't work. Thanks for the input guys.
Old 07-08-2007, 06:24 PM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (18)
 
DONAIMIAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NW Houston, TX
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I bought the kent moore flywheel holding tool brand new off ebay for 45 bucks. The same tool used at the dealership. Its a good investment.
Old 07-08-2007, 06:29 PM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
ProjecT 9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

never heard about that before....

for a minute i thought you were talking about this tennis ball trick
Old 07-08-2007, 06:46 PM
  #7  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
melchoir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ProjecT 9
never heard about that before....

for a minute i thought you were talking about this tennis ball trick
Not to thread jack, but I just wanted to let you know that the trick is BS.
If you know how locks work, you would know why that simply injecting some air into the lock cylinder wouldn't magically make the door become unlocked. I'm sure the music overlay in that video is to mask someone hitting the keyfob to unlock it at "just the right time".
Old 07-08-2007, 07:49 PM
  #8  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
ProjecT 9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by melchoir
Not to thread jack, but I just wanted to let you know that the trick is BS.
If you know how locks work, you would know why that simply injecting some air into the lock cylinder wouldn't magically make the door become unlocked. I'm sure the music overlay in that video is to mask someone hitting the keyfob to unlock it at "just the right time".
i know, i just thought it was funny.
Old 07-08-2007, 10:55 PM
  #9  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Xtnct00WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sterling VA
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

If you just want to keep the flywheel from turning, you can wedge a piece of 2x4 wood in there (going from the grond to the flywheel). When I did my clutch swap, thats what I did and it worked great when I was torqueing down the flywheel bolts.
Old 07-09-2007, 05:27 AM
  #10  
14 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Hemi Killer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bossier City, LA
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I used a large hexagonal flathead screwdriver, not on the flywheel. I don't see how the hell that works. I took the inspection cover off of the bottom of the tranny. Rotated the motor until the part where the converter meets the flywheel came over and wedged the screwdriver up in there. Then when the motor tried to turnover, it stopped and allowed me to tighten/untighten the bolt. Next time, I will be getting an impact wrench, much easier. But, this worked for me. Good luck!
Old 07-09-2007, 05:58 AM
  #11  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (21)
 
RZRSEDGE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Tellico Plains, TN
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, I just used an impact and it cam right out with no problems.
Old 07-09-2007, 07:43 AM
  #12  
TECH Resident
 
01Z28M6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Taxme, Ohio
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Have you called Autozone to see if they have the proper tool as a loan-er?
Old 07-09-2007, 04:48 PM
  #13  
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
shazow1969's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

wow man the tool is only like $35 from Summit. It is the most useful hand tool I have bought in a few years. click on the link and it should take you right to it .

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku

-Kevin
Old 07-09-2007, 05:02 PM
  #14  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (28)
 
Krab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Why not just use your serpentine belt and route it so that it will hold the pulley when you loosen the crank bolt? I've done it numerous times and it's worked just fine.
Old 07-09-2007, 09:44 PM
  #15  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
eallanboggs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

I use a chain wrench I bought plumbing dept at Sears, but the Serpentine belt method uses the same concept and doesn't cost anything. The chain wraps around the pulley as does the serpentine belt which acts like a strap wrench. I like the chain wrench because it has a long breaker bar which the chain links are fastened to. The breaker bar is placed firmly against a frame member once the chain has been tightened down around the pulley then the bolt can be removed without the pulley turning.
Old 07-09-2007, 11:40 PM
  #16  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (27)
 
cals400ex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Collinsville, IL
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

the impact worked for me. i can't imagine an electric impact will take it off. i had to turn my compressor up to 90 psi and put my IR impact on it to get it off. my impact is only a 1/2 inch drive so a larger one would work easier though.
Old 07-10-2007, 12:27 AM
  #17  
Banned
iTrader: (14)
 
The PAT WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Keller
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

why would u go throught all the trb of pullin your head?!??!?!?!!

wats wwrong with just puttin it in gear?
Old 07-10-2007, 02:36 AM
  #18  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (28)
 
Krab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by LightEmUpLs1
why would u go throught all the trb of pullin your head?!??!?!?!!

wats wwrong with just puttin it in gear?
It doesn't work that way with A4's, only on M6's.
Old 07-10-2007, 08:41 AM
  #19  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (77)
 
01 BERGER CAMARO SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: 2 Miles from the Brder Wall, Tx
Posts: 718
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

A high powerd impact will do the job.
Old 07-10-2007, 07:08 PM
  #20  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
GuitsBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 6,249
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by melchoir
Not to thread jack, but I just wanted to let you know that the trick is BS.
If you know how locks work, you would know why that simply injecting some air into the lock cylinder wouldn't magically make the door become unlocked. I'm sure the music overlay in that video is to mask someone hitting the keyfob to unlock it at "just the right time".
My father was convinced that you could unlock your car "over the phone" by having someone with a second key fob click it into the phone, and then you hold your phone next to the car.

I laughed my *** off at that one...

< / Threadjack >



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 PM.