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rope trick in cylinder, how long?[900/1994] posted by Bill D. on
Sunday, 4 March 2001, at 2:31 p.m.
I will be using the rope down the spark plug hole method to unbolt the main crank pulley on my wife's car. Any advice on how much rope to use. I was planning on using some 1/4" nylon. Could it damage the valves? or use it only on compression stroke so valves should be fine?
Bill D.
Re: rope trick in cylinder, how long?[900/1994] posted by Don Foster on
Sunday, 4 March 2001, at 2:56 p.m.
Bill --
You can damage the valves. Be absolutely certain you're at cylinder #1 TDC between the compression and power strokes. This way the valves will be closed. You can tell this by feeling compression pressure, using your finger, in the spark plug hole.
Turn the crankshaft clockwise (facing the engine) about 1/4 to 1/3 turn. Stuff in about 2-3' of 1/4" soft rope — nylon or cotton clothesline should work.
Turn the crank counter clockwise as to unscrew the pulley bolt. The rope compresses and jams the piston. Using a breaker bar, loosen and remove the bolt.
To reassemble, use the same approach except stage the crankshaft about 1/4 to 1/3 turn counter clockwise from #1 TDC. Stuff in the rope. Turn the crank clockwise to compress the rope and jam the piston. Tighten and torque the center bolt following the "torque and turn" procedure.
Remove the rope, install the plug.
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)