Has anyone used the rope trick successfully with a five cylinder interference engine to fix the crankshaft to pull the dampener? I want to know if I need to spend fifty-bucks for the volvo tool. I've used this method on the red blocks with complete success but I am not sure if I need to be more careful with my v70.
--
I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....

can you please explain the 'rope trick'?
--
1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

A tool to keep the engine from turning. With the #1 cylinder about to go to TDC, insert clothsline rope into the sparkplug hole. This will keep the cyl from reaching TDC and prevent the crankshaft from turning while you remove the bolt on the pulley.
It is just a little harder for the white block engines because the plug hole is in the center of the combustion chamber rather than angled from the side like the red blocks. That and the plug hole is way down in the head making it hard to get the rope to circle the piston crown.

This method is not intended for the casual mechanic, who shouldn't be removing the crank pulley anyway.

Klaus
--
Common sense trumps a PhD

I see that makes sense.

I was not aware that removing the crank pulley was to be considered an intricate job. I know that it can't move because it will go out of sync with the cams....

My haynes book describes how to fabricate a tool to hold the crank while the pulley is removed so the seal can be changed. It also describes how to fabricate a tool to lock the cams in place from the back (dist side) to allow the front seals to be change on these as well.

I've got ~200k miles on my V70 and I need to do the timing belt within the next 10,000 miles. I had been planning on replacing the cam and crank seals while I had everything off... should I be reconsidering?
--
1998 V70 AWD Turbo 190k+

So long as the seals are not leaking, I would leave them alone. The rear cam seals are easy to do, but so long as the crankcase pressure is kept under control, they should not leak.

If the water pump has never been done, do that, along with the belt rollers.

Klaus
--
Common sense trumps a PhD

So long as the cylinder is at top dead center with the valves closed, it will work. You will not need as much rope, the combustion chamber is not as large as the red block engines.

Have fun,

Klaus
--
Common sense trumps a PhD