"One of the recommendations was to bump the starter with a breaker bar on the bolt(s),"

Over the decades, I've heard of doing this many times. I've also heard the anecdote of the hapless soul who removed a harmonic balancer using this technique . . . and the snout of the crankshaft at the same time. Anyway, who wants to deal with the possibility of dodging an air-borne breaker bar?

I am VERY reluctant to oppose anything recommended by Art Benstein because his thoughts are always so well formed, but, I do not like the rope trick - I fear it could damage the engine internals. Perhaps if someone has calculated the breakaway torque of that crank bolt and it is in the same universe as the rated torque of a Volvo 4-banger, I will change my mind.

Until then, I'm sticking with the most predictable method, using a dedicated crank holder (either bought or shopmade).


Rich (near Pittsburgh)